Results 1,661-1,680 of 1,773 for speaker:Lynn Boylan

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2021)

Lynn Boylan: Women are familiar with that situation. I am on a committee as well as in the Seanad Chamber. Today, I wish to raise access to justice, in particular for women. We have good laws, but they are not enforced or people do not have the resources to access justice to see them enforced. I wish to raise two barriers that prevent women accessing justice. The first relates to the housing...

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2021)

Lynn Boylan: Guím Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan sona do gach éinne sa Teach. I used to love International Women's Day. It was a day to celebrate one's feminist heroes such as Kathleen Lynn - I am wearing a brooch commemorating her. She was a proud republican woman who fought for the freedom of her State, but she also played a significant role in addressing inequalities in mothers'...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (8 Mar 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I second the motion. I am delighted to be able to be in the position to do so because as my colleague, Senator Warfield, said, the housing crisis is definitely out of control. This motion could not be timelier. It addresses many of the problems faced by renters such as short-term letting, prices being driven up, people being forced to move home and rents that are too high and insecure.Our...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I raise the very concerning report in today's edition of The Irish Timesthat Forest Industries Ireland lobbied the Government to appoint the author of the Mackinnon report and offered to pay some of the costs. Regardless of differing opinions on the Mackinnon report, and putting aside the fact that we all accept there are deep systemic problems in the forestry sector in Ireland, this is...

Seanad: Local Government (Use of CCTV in Prosecution of Offences) Bill 2021: Second Stage (5 Mar 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I too welcome this Bill. Everybody knows illegal dumping is the scourge of many communities. The Bill addresses a very specific problem identified by the DPC in investigating the use of surveillance technology in the area of illegal dumping. We know this Bill would place the use of CCTV by county councils on a secure legal footing and enable them to investigate and prosecute offences. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Decarbonising Transport: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I will be very brief. I thank the witnesses for their brilliant contributions . Most of my questions are for Mr. Murphy. He referred to Scania and its move away from fuels towards electric freight, and the fact that the EU has a new hydrogen strategy. From an Irish perspective, should we consider hydrogen from an energy storage basis rather than for freight, rail or anything like that?...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Assistance Payment (22 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House today to address what I see as a very urgent issue. It has come to my attention that under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 housing assistance payments, HAP, including homeless HAP, are being taken into account as a means or an income when a person applies for civil legal aid. I am sure the Minister of State, in his role in the Department...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Assistance Payment (22 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: Given that it is subject to regulations, I hope the Minister will change the regulations to ensure that interpretation is not taken in terms of HAP. How is it legal that the State in one case is treating tenants in local authority housing or that of housing bodies differently from those tenants, eligible for social housing, but who due to the chronic shortage of social housing are forced...

Seanad: National Climate and Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector: Statements (22 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I welcome the Minister. We are here to discuss the Ag Climatise plan published last December. However, we all know that before the ink had even dried, the Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, was instructing Green Party members to ignore the plan for emissions on agriculture. Perhaps the Minister could start with confirming if we should ignore this plan as well. We know our...

Seanad: Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I am afraid that I will not get to come in.

Seanad: Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: The Senator could have kept talking. I welcome the Minister and commend Senator Hoey on her work in respect of this issue. I welcome the Bill being brought forward by the Labour Party. We have heard today that the exploitation of our student nurses and midwives is absolutely scandalous. They are filling vital roles in a healthcare system that has been deprived of resources and chronically...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I raise the issue of the housing assistance payment, HAP, and figures that were released to Deputy Gould. These figures show that this system of housing supports is not working and that it is time for a review of all rent subsidies. HAP does not offer security of tenure or help people in need of long-term housing and HAP limits are not in line with market rents. HAP rates are particularly...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I would like to raise the distressing news that the delay in the Stardust inquest commencing is due to the Department of Justice and its stonewalling of the legal teams representing the families and the release of funds. We were given repeated commitments by the Minister for Justice and by the Taoiseach, when he announced the budget last year, that there would be sufficient funding put in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with Chairperson Designate of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (9 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I congratulate Mr. Byrne on his appointment. I am conscious of time so I will get straight into my questions. Mr. Byrne mentioned he worked with African communities through Vita. I would be interested in hearing an outline of the plans of the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland around resourcing and training the community energy sector. For example, the Scottish model provides an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with Chairperson Designate of the ESB (9 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I congratulate Mr. O'Rourke on his appointment. I advise the Chairman I am in the Leinster House premises. My hand is frozen so the Chairman can take down my link after I ask my question. What is Mr. O'Rourke's view of the ESB's readiness to handle the community and microgeneration element of energy transition? We know Ireland is way behind in microgeneration compared to other EU member...

Seanad: Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: What a shame it is that Ms Claire Hunt from Homeless Period Ireland cannot be here today because she has, from her kitchen table, provided menstrual dignity to thousands. She has sought no plaudits or awards. In fact, all she wants is for Homeless Period Ireland not to exist. When the cross-party motion was passed in the Dáil and Seanad, it was seen as a really positive step towards...

Seanad: Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I will move on to the other purpose of this Bill, which relates to the need for access to be universal because, as Senator Moynihan said, universality is an important part of addressing the stigma and shame around menstruation. We help to break that down through the visibility and accessibility of products. Universal access brings an end to the days of shoving the tampon up a sleeve or...

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Social Protection): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I congratulate the Minister on becoming a grandmother and on the same arrival of baby Arthur. I hope the mother is thriving. Like other Senators, I commend the staff of the Department of Social Protection and its associated agencies because the pandemic posed a significant challenge and they certainly rose to it. I thank them for all their hard work in such challenging circumstances. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jan 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I wish everybody a happy new year. I raise the decision by the Government to sanction a pay rise of €90,000 per year for the post of Secretary General of the Department of Health. I ask the Leader of the House to ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, for his rationale for that decision. I would like him to outline the pension liabilities that...

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (19 Jan 2021)

Lynn Boylan: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and welcome the Minister. I will start, as many others have, by paying tribute and commending all of the women and children who came forward and shared their stories. They should never have had to do it but when they took that step to disclose the most personal and harrowing stories, the least they could have expected was to be believed. This week has been...