Results 1,341-1,360 of 3,998 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 17, after “member” where it secondly occurs to insert “not below the rank of Sergeant”. The amendment ensures that the person who would be a court presenter would not be below the rank of sergeant. This is the standard case throughout the country anyway and has been for many years. In fact, in most courts, an inspector...

Annual Transition Statement: Statements (15 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: I am sharing time with Deputy Martin Browne. Last Monday night, I attended a meeting organised by the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA, in the mart in Ballymote, County Sligo. Climate action was one of the issues discussed. Of course, farmers are very exercised by the increase in the cost of inputs, including diesel, and all of the issues that make up the bigger problem we are facing....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Industry (14 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: The other Deputies are not available so I will be raising this Topical Issue matter on my own. I raised this issue, and asked my colleagues to do so as well, because many farmers all over the country are concerned about the rise in the price of agricultural diesel. Last night, I attended an Irish Farmers Association, IFA, meeting in Ballymote mart. There were many farmers there who are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Industry (14 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: I accept the reply that the Minister of State has given on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Changes were made. We can read out at length the data and the tables regarding the various taxes and tax rates, etc., but the reality for the farmer is that when they go to fill a 5-gallon drum with diesel, it is costing them twice the price. That is the reality. There needs to be a check...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: We are supporting this amendment. When this situation arose a few weeks ago, many Deputies throughout the country would have been contacted by people in the legal profession and by members of An Garda Síochána who were very concerned about the outcome of the amendment and the potential risks it involved. As the Minister of State stated in his remarks, a considerable body of work...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Television Licence Fee (14 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: 1333. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions that were made in 2020 and 2021 for failure to pay a television licence. [30106/22]

Higher Education Investment and Costs: Statements (2 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: I have an acute knowledge of the situation where many families are sending their children to college. At the moment I have two children in third level education and next year, we will have three of them there. It is one of the few disadvantages of having your children close together. Apart from that, it makes me conscious of the very high costs for the many families who are unable to get a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: During an earlier exchange, the Taoiseach mentioned there is a cap on rent across the country of 2%. A landlord shocked his tenants in Tubbercurry a number of weeks ago. Anna Gallagher, who came to me about this issue, has been renting a three-bedroom semi-detached property in Knockanashee, Tubbercurry, with her husband and small child at the rate of €800 per month for the past two...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: Okay. An increase to €1,400 is a 75% increase in the rent. We all know of situations where tenants can have problems and can be in arrears. That is not the situation. There are five other tenants in the same estate with the same problem. It is happening across the country where unscrupulous landlords are pushing rents through the roof and it is destroying people's lives.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2022)

Martin Kenny: The RTB is under-resourced.

Food Price Rises: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: I listened to the Minister of State's speech. While the Government may claim it is doing everything it can to assist people, the reality is that assistance is not reaching many of them. That is the experience I come across every day of the week and I am sure the Minister of State and other Deputies come across the same experience. Last week a lady called to my constituency office. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: I thank all of the witnesses for their participation. I have read the opening statements and other associated material and I was struck by how all of the witnesses have requested that proper resourcing be put in place. I imagine from my own experience - I am in the north west, in the Sligo-Leitrim area - that it is very much an ad hocsystem run by the county councils. I believe that is one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: It has been a most interesting conversation. I have a couple of points to make. The issue of inquests and the verdict, which often is not one the family expects or is satisfied with, was mentioned. One of the questions put to those coming in here was whether there was an alternative or better way to appeal such verdicts. What mechanism should be put in place to allow for appeals where...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (25 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: The issues around this all stem from Covid and the difficulties we had for the two years when the country was closed down. It was a terrible situation for the licensed trade, the tourism industry and people involved in businesses, particularly in our tourist areas, but also in towns and villages across the whole country. They found they had no way of making an income because of the...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: I recently listened to a representative of the DUP speaking on the radio. The point he made very strongly was that the North of Ireland should be treated no differently to any other part of the United Kingdom. He kept reiterating that point. It brought me back to the days at the very beginning of the negotiations on the Good Friday Agreement. Everyone recognised at the time, and it was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: 14. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current status of the report of the high-level group considering the role of An Garda Síochána in the prosecution system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26065/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: I want to find out the current status of the report on the high-level group considering the role of An Garda Síochána in the prosecution system and would like the Minister to make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: It is going to be a busy couple of weeks. I am aware of the work done on this. It needs to be considered very carefully because it is quite unusual that the investigating authority or service is also the prosecuting service. That is the case regarding many aspects of what An Garda Síochána does. Other jurisdictions have a different system that has served them better. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: Will the report cover the oversight of investigations? In most other jurisdictions, there is some form of judicial oversight, particularly regarding serious crime, to ensure that everything is done correctly and properly. There is a barrister or other individual in charge of the investigation to ensure everything is done as it should be. That majority of Garda investigations, even the most...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Martin Kenny: Many key findings of the report point to there being no strategic analysis of the risk of corruption or the dangers of corruption that may exist in many aspects of An Garda Síochána's work. Like many parts of our public service, the gardaí's work is based on trust. We have to trust that the person in the organisation will deliver and is doing the best for everyone concerned....