Results 1,541-1,560 of 6,783 for speaker:Seán Kyne

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: I support the sentiment behind all that has been expressed. Having been a member of the previous Government, I know that there was a concerted attempt to ensure more equality in the appointment of members of State boards, for example. Ministers and Secretaries General were always very much conscious of the need to ensure that if three or four appointments to a State board were to be made,...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: We all have relations, and I have nephews and nieces aged 15, 16 and 17, who work, thankfully, in hospitality during the summer period, Easter breaks and weekends. Of course, it is a sign of a buoyant economy and plenty of jobs because there is full employment. That is a reflection of the Fine Gael Government putting measures in place during the early part of the Covid pandemic to ensure...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: It was in the early part of 2020. That was before the coalition.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: That is only a side point. There is no doubt about it, there are very mature 16- and 17-year-olds and very immature 18-, 19-, 20-, 30- and 40-year-olds.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: Age is no definitive sign of one's maturity. That is quite clear. Interestingly, based on surveys, if 16- and 17-year-olds in the UK had the vote during the Brexit referendum in 2016, evidence shows the result would have been different. Clearly, they were more enthusiastic about the European Union, more pro the latter and had more to lose by being outside it. That is one of the sad points...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: May I respond?

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Seán Kyne: It was not my intention to say that. It was anecdotal that younger people may vote left. To quote the phrase in American politics, all young people vote Democrat until they start making money.

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

Seán Kyne: I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for accepting this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. As he knows, 22 August will be the 100th anniversary of the death of General Michael Collins. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste will address the annual Béal na Bláth commemoration on Sunday, 21 August, as a sign of reconciliation in this decade of...

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....