Results 141-160 of 1,760 for speaker:Aideen Hayden

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I agree with Senator Paschal Mooney and again request a debate on the issue of homelessness and the wider issue of housing. However, I disagree with the Senator's assertion that there is adequate protection for tenants. We are heading towards the eventuality of 1,000 families in the Dublin region being homeless by the end of this year. They are being made homeless because they cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I have asked for an increase in rent supplement limits but that should be done in conjunction with some reasonable limit being imposed in respect of rent increases. I welcome this afternoon's announcement to the effect that the Minister of State with responsibility for business and employment, Deputy Nash, published the report on the prevalence of zero-hour contracts. The findings of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: As Senator Mark Daly well knows, the Government is considering changes to the bail laws-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I remind Senator Mark Daly that his party was in government for 15 years, with absolutely no amendments worth talking about.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: There have been many improvements made.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: If Senator Mark Daly shouts at me loudly enough, does he think it will stop me from speaking?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I will move on. I will let the Acting Leader address the changes the Government is making in a number of ways, including in support of the police by way of recruiting new police officers and providing additional resources for high-tech strategies and so forth. The funerals of five members of the Connors family are taking place in south Dublin and their bodies will then be moved to Wexford...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I will be brief. To be frank, the Minister has made the position clear. Section 7 states "Nothing in this Act or any other enactment shall be construed as obliging," and as all Members are aware, the concept of obligation has a distinct legal meaning. This really puts it into a nutshell. The other section to which Senator Mullen refers gives the option for religious or civil solemnisers...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I am very proud to be leading the conclusion of this Bill in the Seanad for the Labour Party in place of my colleague, Senator Ivana Bacik, who could not be here now, but who will be back around 4.30 p.m. - if there are any celebrations ongoing at that stage she would be delighted to attend.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome all our visitors in the Gallery - and those listening to the debate - who have been waiting for this moment. It is five months to the day since the people passed, with clear intention, their desire that this measure be put into law. I am proud to be a member of the Labour Party. As Senator Bacik said in her Second Stage speech, we have a proud history of campaigning for equality...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Accountability Report 2014: European Movement Ireland (21 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I will be brief and not reiterate the comment of others. We made the same remarks last year about how these reports present certain data. We are all familiar with how people in certain fora come in, sign on the dotted line and go back out the door again. There is an issue with quantitative and qualitative research. I raised this matter with the witnesses last year. It is important that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Country-Specific Recommendations of the European Semester: Better Europe Alliance (21 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I will start with housing. It takes up a substantial portion of the report, which is fair given the current scenario. The level of rent increases and family homelessness were noted and since the report was drafted, a number of months ago, the situation has actually deteriorated. At the moment there are some 700 families in homelessness, with a prediction for 1,000 by Christmas. Mr....

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: As Members are aware the word "target" has come into this debate on a number of occasions and there are many targets. For example, the Europe 2020 strategy contains a European target for cutting emissions at a European level and so forth. I do not believe we should enshrine targets in legislation, which is where we should put provisions that are legally binding. While we can all aspire and...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I wish to make a brief reference to a recent European Central Bank report which stated that between 2009 and 2013 Irish people lost more of their personal wealth than any other eurozone country. Many of those who lost their personal wealth, lost the bulk of their savings and the values of their pensions. It has come to my attention recently that an approach was made, as I understand it, to...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I add my voice to those of Senators who have expressed their sympathies for the horrific events in Carrickmines. Some home owners - I emphasise that term - in south County Dublin have effectively stood in the way of temporary accommodation being put in place for the survivors of that tragedy. I was struck by the comments of a representative of Pavee Point when he stated that he had never...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: This problem has not just been facing society since yesterday. I welcome today's reports that discussions between members of the Government on rent certainty are ongoing. According to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, his officials will continue their discussions with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, and his Department. The Minister for...

Seanad: Budget 2016: Statements (13 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: Overall, this is a good budget. The response to it has been good because we have been able to turn the economy around in the years that we have been in government. Ours is the fastest-growing economy in Europe. The latest ESRI forecast indicates that the Irish economy will grow by 6% this year. Last year the Government introduced the first expansionary budget in some time, with a net...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I take issue with what Senator Ó Domhnaill said regarding the current housing policy. I do agree and accept that we need to have a more comprehensive debate on the issue of housing but there are a few points to remember. We would now have 25,000 extra social housing units if Fianna Fáil had not rowed back on the Planning and Development Act, Part V, contribution to housing supply....

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: There has been no suggestion-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2015)

Aideen Hayden: There has been no suggestion whatsoever that these proposed measures will take away from the social housing programme. The social housing programme has been announced and funding has been secured. It is the most adventurous social housing programme in the history of the State going back to 1922. It is something that this Government can be very proud of. I will conclude with some figures...