Results 1,541-1,560 of 3,998 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Second Stage (19 Jan 2022)

Martin Kenny: In his speech, the Minister said he is pleased that the Birth Information and Tracing Bill is going to do what no other legislation has done in the past. I accept his bona fides on that. Compared to what we have had in previous attempts at dealing with this issue, this is a genuine effort and I acknowledge that the Bill is a huge leap forward. However, we must also listen to the reality of...

Appointment of Member and Chair of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (15 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: I am sharing time with Deputy Carthy. We have no issue with this new appointment. I wish Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, the outgoing chair, all the best for her future on her retirement from the role. I met her on a number of occasions and she was certainly diligent in trying to do the right thing and progress things. She felt handicapped on many occasions, particularly in regard to funding...

Appropriation Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: Precisely, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Appropriation Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: As has been said, we all understand this is a housekeeping Bill and it is required for Exchequer funds to be spent by Departments on various capital projects. I, in common with most Deputies, am concerned about capital funding across our constituencies and particularly Sligo, Leitrim, north Roscommon and south Donegal. We have issues with various capital projects we hoped to see progressed...

European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: It is clear that the primary discussion at the meeting this week is going to be around the pandemic, the managing of it and how that is progressing. Really the TRIPS waiver is the issue for the world that we need Europe to lead out on. Talking about COVAX and everything else simply does not cut it. It has simply failed. There needs to be recognition of that. Ireland needs to take this...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (14 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: 104. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will grant a work permit extension to workers who are temporarily laid off due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61254/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (14 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: 178. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason prison records of ex-prisoners that come under the Good Friday Agreement are being used to refuse employment by Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61136/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (9 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: 15. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to form a successor stakeholder group to the Beef Market Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60764/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (9 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: 17. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects to receive and publish the wool feasibility study; the measures he will adopt to develop an indigenous wool sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60765/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: 64. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is considering plans to incentivise the owners of derelict properties in rural Ireland to refurbish and redevelop these buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60079/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: 256. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if exceptions can be made in relation to the previous 12-month income threshold for social housing support in cases in which the circumstances of a person change such as a dramatic reduction in income due to losing their job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60364/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (7 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: 441. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when an application for asylum by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60255/21]

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: How many charges have been brought?

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: On the Minister of State's assertion that the old legislation failed or did not work, it was not a failure of conviction; it was a failure of detection. I expect very few people were ever actually detected, arrested or charged with smuggling persons into the country in the first place. It is very unlikely in such circumstances that any legislation is going to work unless we are able to...

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: I understand the position the Minister of State is putting forward. He gave the example of a person from Libya or another such country coming here and being able to make the defence that he or she had been working for a humanitarian organisation, a defence that cannot be verified. Consider the case of a family from Africa who have been in Ireland for several years and learn of a relative in...

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: I am glad we have had the opportunity to come back to this. It was quite rushed the last night. We were somewhat under pressure. The events that were happening the very night we were here debating the Bill brought into very sharp focus what all of this is about and the issues involved. All of us are of common mind in our determination to find a way to ensure that the people who engage in...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: I am interested in the issue of the additional investment in ICT that is required, especially in view of the cybercrime incident we had earlier this year and the ongoing growth in crime, fraud, etc., in that area, whether it is through people's bank accounts and mobile phones or other fraud over the Internet, which is clearly a growth area, unfortunately, for many people who are experiencing...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

Martin Kenny: I will ask about one final aspect of this issue in respect of personnel and the adequate experience and training that they may need. Is the Garda recruiting people with that particular type of expertise or has it been contracted in from agencies that do that type of work?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Nov 2021)

Martin Kenny: The Minister of State referred to the recruitment of staff as being impossible. We need to drill down on the reasons for that. The reason is that the HSE is trying to recruit staff into a chaotic situation where they are required to work in an understaffed ward with one person having to take on all the responsibilities which should be shared among three or four people. As a result of that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Nov 2021)

Martin Kenny: The issue across the entire hospital group is capacity more than anything else. We hit it all the time and the number of people on trolleys and on waiting lists comes up in the Chamber regularly. The staffing issues in Sligo University Hospital, particularly in the emergency department, have been at crisis point for the past number of months. We met the management of the hospital who told...