Results 1,201-1,220 of 1,585 for speaker:Micheál Carrigy

Seanad: Cost of Living: Motion (15 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: The reality is that the Government will never be in a position to compensate people for the cost-of-living increases. In fact, Ireland and the rest of the world are facing a cost-of-living crisis. It is driven by inflation, which is largely caused by factors beyond our control. Sinn Féin is criticising and asking what Fine Gael has done. It is demanding social welfare increases. The...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the witnesses. It is important that everyone acknowledges the significant Government support that has been put in place for the industry over recent years. The reality is that is taxpayer's money. We talk about low availability and last minute. Last April, I tried to book a room on a Saturday night. My young lad had a rugby match on the Sunday morning and we said we would come...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank Ms Campbell for her comments. It is great in one way that we are having this discussion because two years ago, when we were having a similar discussion, we were looking at 2024 or 2025 as the year of the recovery of our tourism sector. It is good to see recovery now. I cannot understand the following, however. If a hotel bed on a Saturday night this September costs €150 per...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I myself am involved in the tourism sector. I am involved in the tourism committee of my home county. We need tourism, but this issue needs to be addressed.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I wish to raise a couple of issues. The first relates to childcare and is becoming a major issue in the community childcare facilities with which I work in Longford. I am sure the situation is replicated across the country. Some facilities are at a point where they are struggling to get staff in order to provide services and are turning away parents who are looking to get their children...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister and the Minister of State. I concur with the comments of Senator Cassells on the Future of Media Commission. It is important that our committee gets an opportunity to discuss any recommendations. Deputy Cannon and I were involved in putting in a submission on behalf of Fine Gael in respect of ensuring a fund is in place to support all forms of local media, whether...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: Okay, that is perfect. I thank the Minister. Regarding-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I also thank the Minister for her support for the tourism industry. My colleagues mentioned the extension of the VAT rate and the high prices being paid in that context, particularly in the hotel end of things. This has not occurred in the restaurant sector. Several other countries in the EU have a split VAT rate. If this price gouging continues, perhaps we may seriously need to consider...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I concur with the Minister of State’s comments. Senator Malcolm Byrne mentioned the IABA and I also have my concerns in this regard. To be quite honest, there must be wholesale change at the top of that organisation. An independent review was commissioned at short notice because this committee was seeking to look at the governance of the IABA. The review was undertaken by the same...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: Changes need to be made at the top of this organisation and not at the bottom with the athletes and the clubs. The change must be made at the top. Sometimes it is necessary to bring in new personnel to make those changes. This is what should be done here.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: A Safe and Respectful Working Environment in the Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I compliment the Minister. She has comprehensively dealt with an issue brought up by the committee. She has taken it on board and it has been dealt with comprehensively, so all I can say is "well done". She has set out clearly in her opening statement what will happen if organisations do not adhere to this.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I support the amendment tabled by Senators Cassells and Byrne. Senator Cassells hit the nail on the head. The Bill is about the protection of Irish citizens and, in particular, Irish children. That has to be our number one priority.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: With regard to section 139D and the issue of age-appropriate online content, the Bill refers to content that is unsuitable for children, either generally or below a particular age, having regard to their capabilities, but it does not actually state an age. What is an appropriate age? There was a recommendation from the Oireachtas joint committee to have a minimum age for social media...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: On amendments Nos. 208 to 210, inclusive, the joint committee noted that no implementation date is set. It is important that we add a date. Whether it is feasible to set a date of 1 January 2023 or 12 months from now, I do not know. The latter might be more feasible because we do not know when the Bill will be enacted. We have a long way to go yet before that happens but we are getting...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Leader. It is a great honour for me coming from Ballinalee in County Longford to welcome the sixth class pupils from my own local national school, Scoil Samhthann, and their teacher, Ms McCormack, and the vice-principal, Mrs. Farrelly. I hope they enjoy their stay. The name "Samhthann" comes from an abbess at a Christian site in our community that...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I want to speak on amendments Nos. 173 and 174. To add in these lines will only strengthen the Bill. They are simple and short measures, but it is important that they would be added. I compliment the Irish Heart Foundation, which many of us met during the pre-legislative scrutiny phase., on the work it has done and for the interest it has taken in this Bill in the interests of children's...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I, too, welcome the representatives of St. Sinneach's National School. I welcome the principal, Ms Glynn, sixth class teacher, Ms Lavelle, and all the students to the House. I hope they enjoy their trip to Dublin. I concur with the Cathaoirleach's comments that there is a homework pass for this evening and perhaps for the rest of the week. It is a fantastic school in south Longford....

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: What this Bill and this discussion have done is highlighted the lack of consultants and highlighted the fact that we, as the Government, have made those promises, announced the positions and they have not been put in place. Collectively, the Government has to take responsibility for that and to make sure both that people are recruited to fill those positions and that the numbers are...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: The amendment has a lot of merit. I would not like a complainant to be left waiting indefinitely so a time limit would ensure that a decision is dealt with and the person informed.