Results 301-320 of 1,917 for speaker:Pat Casey

Seanad: Broadband Roll-out: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: It has already been mentioned that the importance of broadband will be compared to water infrastructure, electrification and roads. When prioritised, broadband infrastructure is now maybe as important as road infrastructure, because if we can work from home, we do not need the road to take us to work. It has critical importance. Over the last two years of the Covid pandemic, we have...

Seanad: Local Government (Surveillance Powers in Relation to Certain Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne for his work on this, and Senator Wall for his previous legislation around illegal dumping. We all agree that it is a blight on everybody and on society. Senator Wall mentioned a rural area. Coming from a rural area, I can give the House example after example of dumping in the uplands. Wicklow started an initiative almost 13 years ago, the PURE project,...

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: I welcome the Minister and he has ten minutes in which to make an opening statement.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: I am sorry for interrupting; the Senator is straying a little bit from the focus of the debate. It is very specific. The Senator is mentioning names. I know he said that-----

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: The Senator is straying into a very specific area.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: This is a very broad debate in relation to agriculture and employment.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: The Senator is putting forward very specific things around one sector within the agricultural sector.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: It is not relevant to the thrust of this debate.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: It is very specific.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: It is not in the spirit of the debate, in fairness.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: I am not taking that away from the Senator.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: The Minister is not in a position to do so. As the Senator himself pointed out in his opening remarks, this is very specific. The Minister is not aware of it-----

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: -----and the Senator is not expecting the Minister to answer this either.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: Senator Boylan has eight minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Covid-19 Payments and the Sale of AIB shares: Minister for Finance (19 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: I thank the Minister for attending. Let me put it on record that my family business has benefited from nearly every scheme that has been mentioned today. I am one of the 51,000 employees and one of the 25,000 premises that have availed of these schemes. Without them my family business would not be alive today and would have folded. I acknowledge the supports that have been provided to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Covid-19 Payments and the Sale of AIB shares: Minister for Finance (19 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: Rather than having questions, I have a concern about the viability of many businesses moving forward as we emerge from the pandemic because of built-up debt and so on. The viability of the hospitality sector has changed significantly. Some 300 or 400 pubs have not reopened their doors and might never do so. It is a very challenging time for us as a sector to survive and get back to where...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Pat Casey: I sat here through five hours of debate on the Finance Bill that involved very little about that Bill. We are talking about understanding my own sector and the impact of the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, on seasonal hotels. I am not too sure if that was mentioned. We are also discussing what was announced yesterday regarding the potential closing time of 5 p.m. for the hospitality...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Pat Casey: I welcome the Minister of State and acknowledge the work he is doing on the insurance sector. It is a complex and diverse sector that needs a huge amount of reform. Such reform will eventually pay dividends for everyone. My colleague, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, raised the issue of Covid payments. I want to focus on that issue too. The way in which the insurance industry behaved towards...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2021)

Pat Casey: I want to make a brief statement on housing. We are in a housing crisis and we have to look at every avenue and opportunity to deliver housing. Part of the reality is we must deal with the private sector. In Wicklow, in the areas of high demand for housing, there is not one piece of local authority land.The local authority has no choice but to work with developers in order to deliver...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2021)

Pat Casey: Sometimes it is hard to come here and listen to what is being said. I find the statements being made in the housing debate disingenuous. While Senator Gavan might not have mentioned landlords, when he mentions private rental tenants he is indirectly referring to landlords because one cannot have them without landlords. The Senator can come here and take the stance he has taken because he...