Results 121-140 of 764 for speaker:Kathryn Reilly

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: That was submitted in error and we will not be pressing it.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Many of the arguments for our opposition to this section were mentioned in section 68 and in the spirit of keeping the debate going, we will not rehash the arguments but merely state we oppose the section.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I move recommendation No. 19: In page 171, lines 21 and 22, to delete all words from and including ", and" in line 21, down to and including "€500" in line 22. The purpose of the two recommendations is, first, to scrap the VRT administration charge and, second, to put a timeframe on the section rather than it being left open-ended in general.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I am very much in opposition to this section and my party proposes that it be opposed. I dealt with this thoroughly in my Second Stage speech yesterday. VAT increases, as I stated, are regressive and are going a long way towards killing domestic demand. As someone from the Border county of Cavan, I see the effect of VAT increases. Only a few weeks ago, I was shopping in Dundalk when...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Members have been discussing the household charge a lot in this Chamber. During the debate on the legislation underpinning the household charge, Senator Ó Clochartaigh tabled an amendment pertaining to poverty analysis of legislation, which proposed including such analysis in respect of that particular legislation. The Central Statistics Office has revealed today that the number of...

Seanad: Small Business: Motion (28 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I urge the Minister to take on the amendments. We are not tying the hands of the Minister on the detail. The amendment relates to the sentiment of outlining a roadmap. My colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, said on Friday that we are being asked to ratify legislation on the basis of promises. While Ministers come and go, the legislation remains. The amendment provides for some confidence...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I appreciate that the Minister accepts the spirit of the amendment, but, as legislators, we must base our decisions on what is contained in the legislation. Therefore, in the absence of a framework or plan for the future, I must press the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will be brief as many of the arguments were played out in the debate on Friday. The one-parent family payment provided recognition of the greater practical burden faced by one-parent families trying to access employment and raise children. Other Senators raised the matter of the contributions made in the Dáil. The Tánaiste said there that the measures relating to the lowering of the...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Sinn Féin warmly welcomes this Bill and congratulates Senator Power on her initiative and assure her we will support the Bill should it be pressed. We firmly believe discrimination and intolerance should be challenged and stamped out wherever it exists and that the days of loopholes and shelters for any type of ignorance should be put behind us. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome the Minister and his officials to the House. Deputy Coveney, with his great grasp of his portfolio, is one of the Ministers to whom I enjoy listening to most in this Chamber and I welcome him back. Sinn Féin welcomes this Bill, which is of great importance to the economy and in particular, to the rural way of life, which has taken some severe hits in these times of economic...

Seanad: Review of White Paper on Irish Aid: Statements, Questions and Answers (9 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Like previous Senators I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I apologise that I may not be here for his response because I must attend a meeting of a committee that he used to chair. Sinn Féin welcomes the strategy and goal outlined in the White Paper. As has been mentioned previously, Ireland has an honourable tradition of providing aid and development. This week my colleague,...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Statements, Questions and Answers (Resumed) (10 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. We are living in times of great change, North and South and across Europe. We have seen recently how the tide has changed in Europe against the forces of austerity. That is to be welcomed and it is to be hoped this time next year the austerity treaty will be a distant memory of an attempt to constitutionalise a failed economic model. We are...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Last December, when the Minister for Education and Skills announced details of the education infrastructure plan for 2012, St. Mary's national school in Virginia was omitted from his list. In April the Minister published the five year infrastructure plan, which outlines when the major projects needed to cater for demographic growth will be completed. Some 77 schools were given the green...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will not use all of my speaking time. Sinn Féin will support the motion and oppose the Government amendment. The motion is set against a particular backdrop. The Government has been tossing around the idea of selling off the family silver or, as Senator Norris suggested, the farm tractor for a while. Flogging State assets for a quick buck is not in the public interest. This is aside...

Seanad: Business Undertakings (Disclosure of Overpayments) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will try to not take too long. Like Fianna Fáil, we in Sinn Féin will support the Bill. If it proceeds to Committee State, we will commit to amending it and making it as good and as strong as we possibly can. As has been indicated, there is no obligation currently requiring someone who has accidentally been overpaid to disclose or return the overpayment. We need a uniform system of...

Seanad: Referendum on the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (14 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome this debate. It is good to be able to reflect on what was a long campaign and for us to be able to go back and talk to people we canvassed and worked with during it and bring their views here. Referendum day was the people's day and they spoke out clearly in favour of the treaty. I was proud to play a role in Sinn Féin's campaign against the treaty. We mapped out an alternative...

Seanad: Fire Services (14 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will be brief and to the point on this issue. I seek information on the progress made to date on the provision of a new fire station in Virginia, County Cavan. Approval in principle had been granted by the Department to Cavan County Council's proposal for the provision of a new fire station in Virginia, but that was a few years ago and it has not yet proceeded. A site is available to...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: WB Yeats said this is no country for old men. At present, it does not seem to be a country for young men, young women or young families either. I call on the Leader to make time available as soon as possible for a discussion on youth unemployment, as I have done previously although it has not yet happened. Youth unemployment is currently running at approximately 30% in this State and,...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Yes.