Results 161-180 of 2,438 for speaker:Caít Keane

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: Those seeking appointment as director generals must come before Oireachtas committees for ratification. It is up to members of this House and the Lower House, to ensure that the competencies of candidates are well judged before they are appointed. They should not be appointed now. This is in line with new legislation enacted by the Government. Heretofore, one could be appointed to head up...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: One learns something new every day.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: Like other speakers, I wish the best of luck to former Senator, Jimmy Harte, and his family. The result of the Seanad referendum was clear. The people of Ireland have said that they value this House. Hopefully, they value its Members as well and we do the best job possible when we are elected to the House. It is a privilege to represent the people of Ireland. This House has an important...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: They were amendments that were tabled on Committee Stage by Independent Senators and that were accepted in the House. The House works in that way, despite it being stated that we do not accept such amendments. Reform of this House, in line with the popular vote, became a concern for the Government. It remains a concern and a work in progress. Indeed, the Government by legislation changed...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: -----if it was dealt with for the next election. It takes time to get all the registers of students in the universities and the institutes of technology up and running. The groundwork on that is ongoing.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: Change has happened under this Government-----

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: I will refer to the Bill shortly. The Seanad reform working group has worked tirelessly on this-----

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: The group met with the Taoiseach-----

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: -----and it has been agreed that the next Stage on that Bill will be discussed by the Dáil.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: Why was it not changed since 1979 when the referendum was held? This Government changed it. We cannot have an election if there is no electorate or register, so work must be carried out on it. With regard to the Bill before us, the amendment proposed is good and welcome. However, work must be done on it. As this House has specialist legislative oversight, it makes sense that its Members...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: -----through a list system.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: It was in the general scheme of the Bill. One of the recommendations was that by-elections in the Seanad would be dealt with in the same way as in the European Parliament, with the vacancies filled from a list system. I would not support that as much as I support ensuring that it goes to the councillors on the ground. I was very impressed by a proposal from Future Matters, a group of young...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: Councillors are independent.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: I welcome the Minister to the House. It is a good day for the House in that we are unwinding some of the measures that had to be brought in. We are unwinding them as and when we can and we are cutting our cloth according to what we can afford. This Bill will give legislative effect to the Lansdowne Road agreement. The agreement has been ratified by most, but not all, of the unions. I...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: The Minister said the Bill gives something back to all. Senator Norris referred to Senators and so on but I would like to mention local authority members. In 2011, changes were made to how they were treated. I acknowledge this comes under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection but the Minister should meet with her and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: From January 2011, they were treated differently but they are public office holders. It is fine to have public servants such as us, Ministers, taoisigh, judges and presidents subject to this legislation, but a councillor earns €16,000 and has €663 taken out of it.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: I would ask the relevant Ministers to put their heads together. All Senators working on this as a collective body because we represent councillors. They get nothing out of the 4% they pay in PRSI. Many of them have to take on the role of councillor full time given the huge workload. They are dependent on alternative employment and they have gaps in their pensions. In giving "something...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: Not every Bill. The Senator should take that back.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (24 Nov 2015)

Caít Keane: Like Senator Hayden, I welcome the visitors to the Visitors Gallery. All the amendments were discussed at length on Committee Stage. I compliment Senator Hayden, as chair of Threshold, who has fought the good fight for the rental sector in general. I welcome in particular all the various amendments we have dealt with at length on Committee Stage and which will make improvements for the...