Results 1,661-1,680 of 2,078 for speaker:Richard O'Donoghue

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I agree with all the previous speakers. I, too, will not vote with the Government on this grouping of amendments. If the Minister looks up at the convention centre stage, he will see the Irish flag. More than 100 years ago, people in Ireland fought for their freedom. The number of emails, phone calls and letters we have received about this issue is unbelievable. As my colleagues said, if...

National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Statements (2 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: What is the national recovery and resilience plan? The EU has promised a recovery and resilience fund of €750 billion with the aim of helping member states to deal with the costs arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and to boost the European economic recovery. Cash is to be paid in the form of grants. The tick boxes for these funds relate to research and innovation, fair climate and...

Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (2 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I thank Deputy Connolly and her colleagues for tabling the motion. I congratulate the Acting Chairman on the birth of another grandchild, which is fantastic for him and his family. There are 19 maternity hospitals in Ireland, with approximately 150 babies born every day. It is estimated that 25,000 babies were born during Covid, with between ten and 12 born in the maternity hospital in...

Independent Beef Regulator: Motion [Private Members] (26 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I am the son of a farmer. My father was born in 1911 in Banogue, Croom, County Limerick. My mother was born in the 1930s in Cloverfield, Dromkeen. My father's family were Fianna Fáil, my mother's family were Fine Gael and they bred an Independent. We have an independent voice here today. They would be so disappointed in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael because of how much waffle the...

Independent Beef Regulator: Motion [Private Members] (26 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: It is with pride that the Rural Independent Group brings this Private Members' motion forward on behalf of the beef sector. The beef industry supports more than 70,000 beef farmers and 10,000 jobs across processing, distribution and transport. The industry is worth approximately €2.5 billion annually and the vast majority of the income remains in the rural economy. The price of feed...

International Travel and Aviation: Statements (25 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: Why must we wait for the likes of Aer Lingus to close its cabin crew base in Shannon for us to wonder why things like this happen? I told the Government that it would happen but the Government did not listen. Our airports must be attractive for airlines to use as a base for their business. We in Ireland are entering a very competitive landscape and it is too late to act when companies are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I want to correct what was said earlier by stating that Deputy Quinlivan and I are the two representatives from Limerick. I am not in favour a directly elected mayor. I previously served as a county councillor and many of the issues I had at the time related to the fact that powers were being taken away from councillors. The Minister of State indicated that the council will retain its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I accept the democratic vote of the people of County Limerick, which was 52% to 48% in favour of having a directly elected mayor. My job, as a Deputy representing County Limerick, and that of Deputy Quinlivan is to represent the voters and the democratic vote they have cast and to scrutinise this matter to the best of our abilities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: During the six years for which I was a member of Limerick City and County Council, I had the pleasure of working with some very good councillors. What let things down was that we lost two young female councillors and one male councillor who found it impossible to continue in their roles, because of the amount of work involved, while trying to support themselves. Some of them had families...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I have one final comment, which I will make quickly. Limerick cannot be built without infrastructure. There have been promises made by successive Governments over the past 30-odd years in respect of infrastructure. The current Government is saying that it will invest in the infrastructure that is there but that it will not increase capacity. The Minister of State referred earlier to...

Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill 2021: Second Stage (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I understand that. I want to clarify a statement the Tánaiste made in the Dáil about the Kerry Group and 150 jobs, among 150 families in Cork and Limerick, that are being lost in the Kerry Group in Charleville. The Tánaiste said the redundancies were voluntary. This is not the case. Will the Tánaiste clarify if he knows that? I have 100% information that those 150...

Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill 2021: Second Stage (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I give credit where credit is due and this Bill is very welcome. It will stop ticket touts with no interest or involvement in music, sport or other cultural events rewarding themselves at the expense of fans, sporting bodies, artists and promoters. Everyone can be comforted by the fact that, as fans, they will now have the information they need to ensure they are not being ripped off. When...

Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I support the Bill that is before us today. However, in considering the provisions it contains, we have to look at the past. I spoke in the House last night about how, at the time of the financial crash in 2008, people went to the banks looking to negotiate. Many people were in trouble because of the inflation that led to the price of housing going through the roof. The banks would not...

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Second Stage (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: Overall, I am blown away by the positivity towards accredited grades in secondary schools. The system is fair and gives students a choice. Students make the decision themselves as to whether they select accredited grades or sit the leaving certificate examination. It seems to be the consensus this year that leaving certificate students are opting to merge this choice by both sitting...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: 67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review schools that require a teacher appointed for September 2021 in circumstances (details supplied). [24600/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: Will the Minister review the schools that now need to have a teacher appointed for September? The Covid pandemic has skewed the figures for children enrolling in September. Children booked into schools did not materialise, such as those from other counties or coming home from abroad, while others who were not booked in for September are now coming to the classroom. Can a review be done...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I wrote to the Minister's office and was informed that the pupil-teacher ratio has come down and that a pupil-teacher ratio of 25:1 will operate from September 2021. Why then has a school in my constituency, Ballingarry National School, got 38 pupils in one classroom and 35 in another? It needed to have 199 at the end of September and it had 194. It now has 201 as it has gained numbers...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: Another school in my constituency has said it will be practically impossible for it to open in September as a junior class has 28 children and it is impossible for them to be in pods. It is losing a teacher in its appeal, which was also turned down. Under any circumstances, is it possible to have 38 students, two SNAs and a teacher in one classroom? That is 41 people in one room. It was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (13 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: 299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the promised new revised school transport system will be ready for September 2021 in order to eliminate the confusion of September 2020 (details supplied). [24601/21]

Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: It is crucial that we do not turn a blind eye to the situation of the thousands of farming families whose lands daily support our local businesses. We can see the mistakes Governments have made for years, including when it comes to the designation of land. We have seen through the pandemic the mistakes that were made and the good things that were done. The only way we can protect farmers...