Results 1-20 of 3,444 for speaker:Shane Cassells

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2024)

Shane Cassells: I want to raise on the Order of Business, on what will be my last time to contribute in this esteemed Chamber, something I have advocated for my entire political career – the Navan rail line and the connection of M3 Parkway to Navan, the largest town on the eastern coast with no rail connectivity. Through political work I have done, political advocacy, the work of the public and...

Seanad: Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Shane Cassells: This is a Seanad Bill which has been amended by the Dáil. In accordance with Standing Order 148, it is deemed to have passed its First, Second and Third Stages in the Seanad and is placed on the Order Paper for Report Stage. On the question "That the Bill be received for final consideration", the Minister may explain the purpose of the amendments made by the Dáil. This is looked...

Seanad: Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Shane Cassells: When is it proposed to take the next Stage?

Seanad: Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Shane Cassells: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Shane Cassells: I thank the Minister for her work on this Bill and all her work throughout her term as Minister for Justice, which has been exemplary. As a fellow Meath Oireachtas Member, I pay tribute to her. Our families have deep connections, both political and sporting, and I wish her well in all that she does. She has been an exemplary Minister on behalf of this State.

Seanad: Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Shane Cassells: As we conclude, I acknowledge the presence of my own PA in the Visitors Gallery, Councillor Mike Bray, who has been with me for nine years and is an exemplary public servant in his own right, but has been a very loyal and dedicated professional with all of the people in County Meath that he has dealt with on my behalf. I thank him for his service. Many of us have our backroom staff that do...

Seanad: Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Shane Cassells: When is it proposed to sit again? I understand the House is adjourning sine die.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: I welcome the return to full operation of Tara Mines in Navan this week. It is the largest zinc mine in Europe. As Members know from previous discussions in the House, the resumption of operations this week is after an 18-month closure. The closure in the summer of 2023 left more than 600 workers in limbo. They were neither employed nor unemployed. There is a real sense of relief in the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: I ask the Senator in her capacity as Leader of the House to ascertain for us from the Minister for Justice when moneys from the immigrant investor programme will be paid and when the Department of Justice will process this. I know the immigrant investor programme was closed very abruptly with one day's notice back in February 2023 when the now Taoiseach and then-acting Minister for Justice,...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: I have come to the Chamber pay tribute to Senator Chambers for bringing forward this Bill. The progressive Bills she has been involved with follow on from real-life issues that impact people, especially younger people. She successfully brought through the stalking Bill and has moved onto this Bill on the practice of catfishing. She spoke about the impact of this practice and the need to...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: State Response to Online Disinformation and Media and Digital Literacy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: I welcome all the witnesses to what is an extremely important and topical matter that we have consistently dealt with over the course of this Oireachtas term. The witnesses and Deputy Ring made the point about whether governments are doing enough. The fact is that during this term we have at least seen a Government try to tackle this issue. That is very important. Legislation has been...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: State Response to Online Disinformation and Media and Digital Literacy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: You are accredited for analysis of it anyway. I was trying to give you a compliment.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: State Response to Online Disinformation and Media and Digital Literacy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: Okay. On that point, in terms of the work with media literacy, if the view of a professional on campus is that he feels young people are not really too worried, the challenges we face are clear. Ms Chapman referred to a cradle-to-the-grave approach in her closing remarks. If we do not engender a sense of that necessity within the primary education system, by the time you get to campus, you...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: State Response to Online Disinformation and Media and Digital Literacy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: Ms Chapman is so right in what she says about the skill set a teacher would need to deliver that. I remember being in secondary school and our teacher bringing in the Sunday newspapers to the English class and asking us to analyse the advertisements that were in them. This was the 1990s. We were asked to understand the subliminal messaging. That was not on the curriculum but that was her...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: State Response to Online Disinformation and Media and Digital Literacy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: Ms Chapman poses an interesting question. One wonders whether the people back in the eighties or the nineties picked up a particular product and questioned whether it was a Rupert Murdoch-owned entity either. Maybe we are being unfair today. Mr. O'Connor made a point in his remarks regarding the balance of the freedom of expression with protection from harm. Here is the ball game. For...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: State Response to Online Disinformation and Media and Digital Literacy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: Okay. Ms McGinley and Ms McDonald made the point regarding the platforms. However, the platforms were before the committee both in public and in private session and one thing I have a sense of from them is that they will make a change in their business model and algorithms if they feel there will be a public mood that is negative towards them which impacts their commercial clients who...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: State Response to Online Disinformation and Media and Digital Literacy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: That is a fair point. I thank Mr. O'Connor. Ms McGinley and Ms McDonald have set out a specific number of asks for the committee. I note there was a request to ask the Taoiseach to put pressure on social media platforms. The Taoiseach, the Department of Education and the Minister are actively engaging on that. I would support that request. They specifically mentioned the recommender...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: State Response to Online Disinformation and Media and Digital Literacy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2024)

Shane Cassells: I wish to thank all of the witnesses for the work that they do. It is of such importance. It is not just at Government level, it is within those who work in and analyse media. That is hugely important and I thank them for their work in that respect.