Results 121-140 of 494 for speaker:Patricia Ryan in 'Dáil debates'

COP27: Statements (29 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: The war in Ukraine has brought home the risks of dependence on volatile fossil fuels. The floods in Pakistan, the drought in the Horn of Africa, and European heatwaves and flash floods, have given us a glimpse of what the future looks like if we do not make significant progress. The Government must take bold action, reduce energy poverty and wean the country off fossil fuels and it must be...

Forestry: Statements (24 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: Like many policy areas, the crisis within the forestry sector has increasingly worsened under this Government. We have a target to achieve 18% forest cover by 2050. While the Government set a target of 8,000 ha of new forestry each year, it has only achieved 25% to 30% of the target each year to date. COFORD advises that 16,000 ha of annual afforestation is required to achieve our...

Abuse at Certain Educational Institutions: Statements (24 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: Over 230 people have made allegations of abuse against 77 Irish Spiritans in ministries across the island and other countries where the order operates. A large proportion of the allegations were from pupils of Blackrock College. Further allegations of sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders, including Castleknock College, have emerged in recent days. I commend the survivors on...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: Otto von Bismarck said that politics is the art of the possible. We saw what was suddenly possible during the pandemic when the rule book went out the window and hospitals were effectively nationalised. It was suddenly clear to the Government that it was not possible to exist on the basic rates of social welfare. While I welcome recent discussions around linking social welfare rates to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I asked a parliamentary question in June about the number of dentists accepting medical cards. The answer I received was that just one dentist in Laois is accepting cards. This is one public dentist for a county with a population of 90,000 people. In Kildare eight dentists have left the scheme over the past year with just 28 submitting claims in May. I am inundated with people looking for...

Declaration of a Housing Emergency: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I see the Minister of State got the short straw again this evening. It seems to be a common thread. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is missing every time I talk about housing. The dogs in the street know the Government is presiding over a crisis in housing. Whether we call it an emergency, a crisis, a mess or a disaster, it all adds up to the same thing. In the words of President...

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I wish to speak briefly about Iran, which was addressed at the recent European Council meeting. I send my solidarity to the ordinary citizens of Iran, especially the women who are putting themselves at risk in challenging appalling human rights abuses. There needs to be a stronger response from the EU, not just on this issue, but on Iran's continuing support for Russia in the latter's...

Energy Regulations: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: We can see by the number of motions on energy prices and energy security in recent months that this is very much an issue affecting the vast majority of our constituents. This morning, we have yet another motion on energy prices. It highlights the cost that households are paying but also the lack of action by the Government as well as the market structure that links gas prices with the...

Science Week: Statements (15 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: Science Week takes place every November. This year, it started on Sunday, 13 November, and will end next Sunday, 20 November. It is run by Science Foundation Ireland and has been running since 1995. Science Week includes a wide variety of events involving industry, colleges, schools, libraries, teachers, researchers and students throughout the State. I say a big "Well done" to St....

Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (10 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: We in Sinn Féin support the objective of the Bill and want to be in a position to support it. My colleague, an Teachta Daly, has met with several relevant stakeholders, such as the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, ICCL, and has tabled a number of amendments to the Bill. Sinn Féin will work constructively with the Government, other Opposition parties and Independents to strengthen...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: On page 92 of the programme for Government there is a commitment to ensure that Men's Sheds and Women's Sheds are properly resourced and that the network of teen sheds is established. Last week we saw an allocation of money to Men's Sheds which was vastly disproportionate to that given to Women's Sheds. While I understand there are more Men's Sheds, we need to invest more in the...

Long Covid Health Services: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I too thank an Teachta Naughten and the Regional Group. I also thank the advocacy groups which have stood up for people with long Covid and made the world listen when many people were being told to cheer up and get over it. Those groups have organised an email campaign. I am sure many of the Teachtaí here have heard the harrowing stories of their local constituents. I wish to...

Home Care: Motion [Private Members] (8 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I welcome the Ceann Comhairle back and wish him well. Undoubtedly, the Minister of State is aware there is a crisis in home care provision. More than 40,000 home care hours are not being delivered weekly and more than 6,000 people approved for funding are still on the waiting list for care. The crisis is the recruitment and retention of staff. The root cause of this issue is sectorial...

Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I welcome the opportunity to speak to this Bill. It is a relatively short technical Bill that will amend the Credit Guarantee Act 2012. These amendments will support the needs of businesses to access additional finance in response to the economic difficulties resulting from the brutal war being waged by Putin against Ukraine. It will do this by creating a specific Ukraine guarantee scheme....

Energy Security: Statements (27 Oct 2022)

Patricia Ryan: The situation in which we find ourselves in regard to our energy security is as a result of the failure of successive Governments to deliver the generation capacity, through power stations, renewables, gas storage facilities and batteries, to meet the very significant increase in demand. The Government is quick to blame the war in Ukraine but, in reality, the increased demand from industry...

Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Oct 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I have had many emails and phone calls from survivors of mother and baby homes over recent weeks. The survivors are understandably angry about some of the provisions of this Bill. While we in Sinn Féin support the introduction of a redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby and county homes, it must be one that it is inclusive and based on human rights and equality standards. ...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Patricia Ryan: The Tánaiste may be aware of significant delays with applications for charitable status to the Charities Regulator. A number of entities in Kildare are awaiting a decision, including Newbridge Community Development CLG, which started the process in February 2021. There is also the issue of Ó Modhrain Hall and those awaiting funds through the cy-prèsscheme. I tried to ask a...

Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Patricia Ryan: This is emergency legislation to fast-track the delivery of 450 MW of emergency back-up electricity generation. The Bill seeks to bypass some of the usual elements of the planning system, in particular parts of the environmental impact assessment. While Sinn Féin recognises the need to act to prevent blackouts and brownouts we have been vocal in criticising the rushed nature of this...

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Patricia Ryan: It is one and a half years since the Minister ended the Covid-19 eviction ban. Since then, homelessness levels have increased almost every single month. We all take having a roof over our heads for granted, but imagine waking up tomorrow to find out that you were going to be made homeless? That has been the reality for 78 families so far this year in Kildare who are tenants in receipt of...

Social and Affordable Housing Supply: Motion [Private Members] (26 Oct 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I thank People Before Profit for tabling this motion. It is timely we are having this conversation because on Monday my colleague, Councillor Noel Connolly, brought a motion to Kildare County Council seeking the establishment of a dereliction task force. The meeting was told the council is in the process of setting up a town regeneration team, which it is hoped will make some effort to...