Results 1,341-1,360 of 1,879 for speaker:Sharon Keogan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: There were stumbling blocks, unresolved issues in respect of the Department of Justice, or was it the Department of Social Protection? The ambassador said there were unresolved issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The ambassadors, Mr. Zurabashvili and Mrs. Miculet, are both very welcome today. Many of the questions have already been asked. I will not, therefore, go over some of the stuff that has already been dealt with. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the Moldovan people with regard to the Ukrainian crisis. They have shown incredible generosity; 90% of those displaced are living in the homes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: There are 30,000; I know many of them. I can tell everyone they are extremely warm and welcoming people. They have set up great lives in Ireland and contribute to our communities. They will be a great asset to our country when they come here. I thank Ms Miculet for that. I would like to know what exactly the EU is doing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the ambassadors and thank them for their opening statements and for answering all the questions put to them. People in Poland are hosting people in their houses. Poland has no refugee camps, which is absolutely incredible. The Polish people should very proud of their government and all the volunteers on the ground doing this great work. How is the transfer of people from...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I, too, want to talk about the energy crisis. The vote by the Cabinet to reduce the excise duty on petrol and diesel was the correct response to a wild and unsustainable fluctuation of price in a commodity which experiences elastic demand. The idea behind the excise cut is, of course, that the reduction is passed onto the consumer and helps tackle the cost of living, with the implications...

Seanad: Proposal for a Council Decision on Hate Speech and Hate Crime: Motion (10 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the Minister. Everybody opposes hate crime and hate speech. The problem is that everyone thinks they know what hate speech is, such as a gang of football hooligans hurling racist abuse at individuals on a street or a boy or girl who is made to feel small and unwelcome because of his or her appearance. The thing about hate speech legislation is that it governs much more than these...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank my colleagues, the Members of this House and the international community, including the ambassadors representing Turkey, Korea, Cyprus, Singapore, the Vatican City, the Philippines, Jamaica, Colombia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Iceland, Portugal, Georgia, Norway, Indonesia, Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, Australia, Estonia, Latvia, Israel, Greece, Lesotho,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I want to start by wishing women everywhere well on International Women’s Day, which, oddly, we will be making statements on tomorrow in this House. It is a great shame that our slot was put back until tomorrow. I wonder if we can we have a debate in the House on public liability insurance for businesses and community groups? The cost of insurance has been inflating for years and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Properties (3 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank him for coming here to discuss this important matter for the residents of the Stamullen and Gormanston areas. The Defence Forces currently own land of 261 acres in the Gormanston area, upon which Gormanston Camp is based. The camp and the disused aerodrome occupy a certain portion of this land and much of the remaining land is leased for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Properties (3 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: There are 261 acres.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Properties (3 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State. I am disappointed by the answer, though. The State has 261 acres and only 50 acres are being used for military training currently, so losing 5 to 6 acres would not make any difference to it, but it would make a major difference to the community. The Franciscans sold their site for the development of a new school. This means that the soccer club has to get...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Up to now, I have not spoken on the Ukrainian war but I do so today. Over the past week, approximately 1 million people have crossed the borders into safe jurisdictions. These 1 million people will be looking to resettle in Europe. Yesterday, there was a call by the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, for volunteers to come forward to see how we could help and house the people that...

Seanad: Credit Union Sector: Statements (2 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. He has been instrumental in bringing the credit unions forward in terms of how we do banking in this country. Now is an important time for credit unions in this country. As we come out of Covid and the economy picks up again, the reinvigorated movement of money around the country presents great opportunities to examine our financial systems...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (2 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Senator Ruane is moving the motion and sharing her time with Senator Flynn. Is that agreed? Agreed. I formally welcome the Senators' guests from Housing Action Now in collaboration with a collective of artists.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I draw attention to the recent announcement by the United Kingdom Government that the country will end telemedicine abortions by autumn, a decision we should follow. The UK provision was first introduced in March 2020 by the British Government as a temporary Covid-19 response. When our then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, followed suit in early 2020, modelling the system on the UK...

Seanad: Mental Health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Statements (24 Feb 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad to discuss the very important issue of mental health and particularly the mental health of our young people. I could not even read the Maskey report. I regularly deal with the parents of children who are fighting for mental health support. It is scandalous that in 2022 the State has once again let down 46 children that we know of and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sport and Recreational Development (23 Feb 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I also welcome the Minister of State. This is the first time I have addressed him. I congratulate him on his appointment and offer him continued best wishes. I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to discuss this matter of the utmost importance, which will continue to impact more and more women as time goes by.We have a wonderful tradition of sport in this country and our...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sport and Recreational Development (23 Feb 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State. Certainly, what he has outlined and indeed done himself with regard to funding women's sport and its organisations has been very impressive. However, the question I have is that when we speak about women, we need a definition of that category and we need to protect that category of women within sport. I understand that last year, a freedom of information...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Feb 2022)

Sharon Keogan: It is lovely to see the parents of Senators coming in. I am little envious that I do not have my mother anymore. Senator Hoey does not have her father anymore and Senator Carrigy does not have his mother anymore but it is so lovely to see that Senator Dolan is able to share these moments with her parents. On Monday the Children’s Rights Alliance published its annual report card,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Ireland has always been at the forefront of speaking up for those who have been oppressed. We recognise the interconnectivity of the countries of Europe and the world at large and that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We have had calls in this House to address serious human rights abuses occurring in all places over the world, from China in the East, to here in the...