Results 1,601-1,620 of 4,132 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Support for the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ukraine: Motion (1 Mar 2022)

Martin Kenny: I welcome this motion. Last week we debated the issue of Ukraine in the House and none of us could have imagined that within 24 hours we would see tanks crossing the border and rolling into Ukraine. It is a despicable and sinister act by a determined dictator in Russia, Vladimir Putin. The last time we were here we discussed the notion that “Might is right” and he is pushing...

Social Welfare (Payment Order) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I begin by commending Deputy Kerrane on this legislation that clearly sets out to improve the situation for people who very often find themselves in dire poverty and in very serious situations. Lone parents are, as has previously been said, one of the groups in our society who often find it difficult to survive and manage on a very low income. I was reading the Minister of State's speech...

Town Centre First Policy: Statements (24 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: The town centre first policy and concept is very welcome. It is a new departure and we certainly hope it gets the investment it deserves. That is critical to all of this. Across my constituency, which is mainly in a rural area, we have an awful lot of smaller towns. Sligo town is the largest with approximately 20,000 inhabitants, and yet when one walks through Sligo town, one sees so...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (24 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I am aware of the work that has been done. I know the recommendation here is that it should involve pieces of bog that are less than 30 ha. The difficulty when applications are going in is that when there are non-adjacent plots, they are putting them all in as one and saying that they are connected underground. There are serious issues here. At the moment, the application process that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (24 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I am not suggesting it should be a free-for-all. Everyone knows that the practice in the past did not work, should not work and cannot continue. That is beyond what we are talking about here. Really, what we are talking about here is an emergency situation. The people who want to provide the peat, as well as the people who need the peat, are being prohibited from doing so by the strict...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (24 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I agree.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (24 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: 91. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagements he had with stakeholders that informed the contribution of his Department to the working paper to address challenges related to peat supply in the horticulture sector. [10362/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (24 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I want to ask the Minister about the peat extraction situation, particularly for the horticultural industry. The horticulture industry in Ireland is worth almost €500 million and employs more than 12,000 people and yet they have an issue where the growing medium, which they require to have and sustain this industry, is under serious threat. There was a report from the working group...

Security Situation in Europe: Statements (23 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I welcome the Ukrainian ambassador. The situation developing in Ukraine is very troubling and worrying for people everywhere. Certainly here in Ireland, we have had our share of conflict and violence not just for decades but for centuries. All of that comes from the notion of imperial power and what that has done. We remember 1917, the Russian Revolution and the fall of an empire at that...

Legacy Issues in Northern Ireland and Reports of Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland: Statements (23 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: Ms Marie Anderson said she is deeply concerned about the scale of the findings identified in her lengthy and complex investigation. She refers to "The continued, unjustifiable use by Special Branch of informant(s) involved in serious criminality, including murder and the passive 'turning a blind eye' to such activities." It was February 1992 when the Sean Graham bookmaker's shop was...

Supplementary Budget for Rural Communities and Farmers: Motion [Private Members] (23 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I am glad to speak on this motion. The issues in rural Ireland are across all of our society but are particularly acute where people live in isolated areas and where they do not have the options they may have in other places. I note that when the Government brought in the relief for people in the form of the cost of living package, it talked a great deal about putting in place a measure to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (23 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: 219. To ask the Minister for Health if he will request Beaumont Hospital to expedite an appointment sooner that February 2023 for an urgent referral for a person (details supplies); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10193/22]

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

Martin Kenny: I want to raise the issue of the National Driver Licence Service. In Carrick-on-Shannon, I have been contacted by people who are trying to renew their driving licences but who cannot get into the office; the place is closed. They have to ring. A woman I spoke to yesterday said she was three quarters of an hour on the phone waiting to get an answer. She cannot get through to anyone. They...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (22 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: 421. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will provide funding for a bus shelter outside a school (details supplied) to meet the needs of students with disabilities who attend the school by bus given that it takes some time to embark and disembark the bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9074/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (22 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: 757. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacancies in podiatry services in local HSE acute and community services in CHO1; when these vacancies will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9395/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: 758. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the plans to improve podiatry services for persons with diabetes in the CHO1 area and throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9396/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour: Discussion (22 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I thank all the contributors for attending and for all the work they do on the ground. Dealing with all these issues is a very hands-on job. Turning first to the IPRT, I was struck by the data on the Oberstown detention centre campus, where the trust has identified that of the children's experiences in the centre, 31% had experienced a loss of parent, 41% had experienced issues of mental...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour: Discussion (22 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: First, I will go back to the restorative justice, which is an interesting topic. The data from the IPRT mentions the very high levels of reoffending, particularly among younger people, in Ireland. I wonder is there any comparative data for people who have engaged in the restorative justice process in respect of that. I suspect that there would be a much lower rate of reoffending because of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour: Discussion (22 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: I would welcome feedback, particularly on the restorative justice issue.

National Retrofitting Scheme: Statements (17 Feb 2022)

Martin Kenny: As my colleague just stated, it is always welcome when there is any scheme put into place that will improve the situation for people out there. It is very welcome that there is a scheme. It is making an effort. All of us recognise, however, that when we have a scheme such as this, there is an opportunity to try to get the most in need dealt with first. This is the criticism all of us have...