Results 1,381-1,400 of 6,615 for speaker:Seán Kyne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Monuments (29 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Minister of State for his very frank response. I was not at the event in Woodfield. I know from media reports it was suggested that a statue would be commissioned. Did the Taoiseach give a commitment on that day that a statue should be commissioned or that he would look into the matter? According to the Minister of State, the Taoiseach has not requested that the Minister of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I too welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the Japanese ambassador and the mayor of Waterford city and county and his wife. I welcome the announcements today of the Ministers for Social Protection and Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputies Humphreys and Darragh O'Brien, regarding changes to the community employment, CE, Tús and rural social scheme, RSS, schemes. As we...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I would like to be associated with the remarks of the Leas-Chathaoirleach and those of Senator Murphy on the latest atrocities in Ukraine. It is heartbreaking for all involved. We all know that the cost of living is an issue that has come to the fore with rising inflation and the associated impact of the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Fuel prices are certainly putting people to the pin of...

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

Seán Kyne: I concur with the comments by my colleague, Senator Crowe, on the childcare sector. I second his call for a debate on the matter. There are issues surrounding core funding. We know the importance of the childcare sector, which is of growing importance in society. I have spoken previously and requested a debate on the many positives of greenways, blueways and plans for active travel across...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (22 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, although I am disappointed that of three Ministers of State and the Minister in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage not one of them could be here to discuss this matter. Nonetheless I welcome Deputy Madigan. I have been raising this issue for many...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (22 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: That is a very disappointing response. There was mention of money to reverse the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, and the money used during the Covid-19 pandemic. All local authorities were eligible for those and received them, and they were not particular to Galway County Council. As Senator Dolan commented, this is about staffing resources to provide services...

Seanad: Neurology Nurses: Motion (22 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate the Independent Group on tabling this very important motion. It addresses a very worthy topic and a series of facts and conditions that can affect any family at any time. Neurological conditions can strike very suddenly. Strokes and acquired brain injuries can happen all of a sudden. Any of us present could get a phone call at any time to...

Seanad: Neurology Nurses: Motion (22 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: The Minister of State should have been here.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (21 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this issue for debate. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, to the Chamber to discuss, once again, healthcare matters in the west of Ireland. As I always say, it is great to have a Minister of State from the west, who has an interest in this particular area, answering the questions. As he knows, the national development plan, NDP,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (21 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I acknowledge and welcome that there are plans and a commitment to develop this very important centre, although the timeline is not spelled out. According to the experts, what is urgently needed is the functional cancer centre at University Hospital Galway, including inpatient beds, operating theatres, cancer ICU, an ambulatory rapid access...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: On Thursday, 23 June, and Friday, 24 June, there will be a public consultation for the Galway hydrogen hub, GH2. The consultation takes place in the Galway Harbour Hotel. It starts on 23 June, running from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m on that day, and continues from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 24 June. Along with many other people, I attended a launch of the public consultation yesterday. The members of the...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I will try not to be as controversial as the last speaker in terms of county boundaries and breaches. I can see a lively discussion at the next Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting about issues like this in relation to Athlone and other places but I take the point the Senator is making. In fairness, we have a small but important part of south Mayo in the constituency of Galway West....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: As the Deputy Leader will know, the INTO is carrying out pre-budget lobbying today. It has a number of very valid issues and concerns, including the need to tackle the chronic underfunding of primary schools. Primary schools receive a standard capitation grant of €183. This is in contrast to the grant of €316 paid to post-primary schools.This is a concern as they have a large...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Tánaiste to the Chamber and the introduction of this important legislation. The Sick Leave Bill 2022 will provide a statutory sick leave pay scheme for all employees, which will be phased in over four years. As the Tánaiste pointed out, we are one of the few countries in Europe without a mandatory sick leave entitlement. Therefore, this is a welcome catching up, if...

Seanad: Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: It is important to put this in the context of the broader package of reforms in the whole area of insurance over a long number of years. It is one of a number of Bills being looked at this year that will address various issues that have arisen since the action plan on insurance was published. It will result in the implementation of the proposed ban on price walking and other measures to...

Seanad: Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: Next Tuesday.

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

Seán Kyne: I second the motion and welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to the Chamber. I thank my colleague, Senator Maria Byrne, for setting out the motion. The scourge of inflation is hurting everybody in this country. The rise in the cost of living caused by inflation is hurting families, single people, students, adults and every sector of society. Inflation is, in the main, outside of our...

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

Seán Kyne: Senator Flynn will have a chance to contribute to the debate. It is important that people who work hard, pay their taxes and do not benefit from the benefits other receive are looked after as well. We will continue to adjust the tax threshold to ensure that people will pay the higher rate of tax at a higher rate of income. If we do not do that, everyone will end up paying a higher rate of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I welcome Mr. Reid, Mr. Watt and the team. Mr. Reid spoke about financing, including population-based resource allocation. That always concerns me when it comes to smaller regional communities with dispersed populations. They still have important facilities which need upgrading and ongoing staffing. There are concerns about the plans for Clifden district hospital. Ms Crehan-Roche is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: While the population may be low, in the case of Clifden it might be an hour away from a major city like Galway. We also need to take cognisance of that. I welcome the methodology and thinking behind the integration. Many issues arise with people being sent from private nursing homes to emergency departments. We need a greater focus on GPs, especially out of hours. Could we do more in...