Results 1-20 of 333 for likes to work speaker:Bríd Smith

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Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (11 Jul 2024)

Bríd Smith: I am working on an issue I think will become very prevalent in social housing as build-to-rent apartments are rolled out. I am working with local people and with local councillor Hazel de Nortúin to campaign against what we are calling social segregation. In the build-to-rent model, 10% of apartments can go back to the local authority for social housing but families are now...

Inquiry into the death of Shane O'Farrell: Motion [Private Members] (9 Jul 2024)

Bríd Smith: I say to the Minister and to the family in the Gallery that there is very little left to be said as eloquently as the other Deputies have said it. I feel there is not a lot for me to add because I could not agree more with them. Absolutely everything that has been said, and has been covered here, has been covered time and again in this House in relation to Shane O'Farrell. I thank Deputy...

Tackling All Forms of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (3 Jul 2024)

Bríd Smith: ...that courage is a contagious feature of humanity. I hope the courage these women have shown will have more contagion for those who are victims of gender-based violence, rape, etc., and allow them to speak out. Explanations were given earlier for all that is being done and they sound very impressive but there is a problem with not having timelines given to us. We know it has been more...

Commission for Future Generations Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (30 May 2024)

Bríd Smith: ...recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss recommends the establishment of a new ombudsman for future generations, with the resources of an office or future generations commission, to protect the long-term interests of human and ecological well-being for current and future generations. I completely get why the committee made the recommendation. It is because we are in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2024)

Bríd Smith: I do not know whether the Tánaiste wants to answer this question. It is about whether he does the shopping in his house. Does he go to the grocery and fill his trolley with all the food that is required for the week? If he does, has he noticed how steeply the prices have risen for ordinary grocery products in the last year? They say there is no inflation in 2024, or at least that it...

Neutrality and the Triple Lock: Motion [Private Members] (29 May 2024)

Bríd Smith: The Minister of State was obviously in the House when I spoke earlier but chose to ignore what I said. He spoke of hypocrisy but his hypocrisy has been shown and thrown open today. I will repeat what I said. I made absolutely clear that I opposed both imperialist powers that seek to divide the world into their respective spheres of influence. I said I openly opposed the US empire and...

Ireland's Recognition of the State of Palestine: Statements (28 May 2024)

Bríd Smith: Like others, I welcome everyone in the Public Gallery, and I welcome the ambassador into the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. It is great to see Zak Hania home. I am delighted he got back and that he and his family are here today. As has been said by many Members, it is a positive and historic move, and an advance that we have recognised the Palestinian state today and are flying the flag....

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Bríd Smith: It is the other way around. I am going to go first. Ladies first and all that jazz. I welcome the parents in the Gallery. We have been working with people around our constituencies on this issue. I welcome that the debate is happening. Like others, I want to be a conduit for their voices. I wish they could stand here instead of sitting up there and speak directly to the Government and...

European Union Migration and Asylum Pact: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2024)

Bríd Smith: Solidarity to the Minister for the threats and the disturbance she and her family have suffered this week. I also express my solidarity to Deputy Paul Murphy, who also this week received death threats from the same sources. I have read over the motion from the Rural Independent Group. It consists of nearly three pages about the migration pact and there is not a single mention of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)

Bríd Smith: It would be lovely to hear the exact figures for the number of places that the Minister plans to increase by. It sounds like he has a plan, but to me and to all childminding organisations, it is complex and cumbersome. The Minister will be aware that in the Dublin area, almost 60% of providers have reported that they have severe waiting lists for childcare places. After housing, it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)

Bríd Smith: ...and keeping going. I am also aware of how poorly paid and treated many childcare workers are, albeit that improvements are taking place. The last woman who contacted me about this prompted me to ask the question. She was stressed out of her mind about the fact that she could not get a place for her 17 month-old child. It looks like she will have to give up her job. She is a...

Disability Justice: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2024)

Bríd Smith: In that case, I thank Bríd for her contribution. More seriously, the last point the Minister of State made about the optional protocol was very much Civil Service-speak. I refer to this being a matter of complexity, the need to progress the issue, have meetings and all the rest of it. How many years have disability campaigners, like those outside the gates now, been campaigning?...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Apr 2024)

Bríd Smith: This is something I have been talking about on behalf of various workers since I came in in 2016 and as workers' spokesperson for People Before Profit. There has been a real war on pensions, particularly defined benefit pensions, over the past ten years or so. The narrative is that we are living too long, and we cannot afford this, so we have to tackle it. Therefore, instead of longevity...

EU Police Co-operation: Motion (10 Apr 2024)

Bríd Smith: This motion is a piece in a jigsaw. It does not really do anything on its own. It is part of a wider jigsaw and relates to the EU migration pact that probably will be voted through later today. We have quite a few problems with it. When the rhetoric is stripped away, what is going on here is the strengthening of fortress Europe and increasing the power of Frontex and others to keep...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Bríd Smith: ...that he can afford his own home. That is good for the Taoiseach and for anybody who can, but what about the tens of thousands of people of the Taoiseach's age group who cannot and who are, like the Taoiseach acknowledges, forced into the boxroom of their parents? Now the Taoiseach says he will move heaven and earth to get them out of there and into their own home, but he has never once,...

Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2024)

Bríd Smith: On the same theme, I was out earlier with Martin Leahy who comes up from Cork every Thursday to sing his song, "Everyone Should Have a Home", outside the Dáil. I want to let people know that on 18 April, after we return from the Easter break, it will be his 100th week. All of us who are concerned with homelessness and the crisis of immigration and the homelessness of immigrants should...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jan 2024)

Bríd Smith: I come here today less than enthusiastic about this. I said to the Minister the last day we spoke about this that he has made it very difficult for parties and people like me and mine who really want to progress the equality agenda in this country and has made it even more difficult for the citizens' assembly, which did a lot of work on the question of equality and how it should apply to the...

An Bille up an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Bríd Smith: I will share time with Deputy Barry. The Minister made it nearly impossible for us to be enthusiastic about this referendum. Many parties on this side of the House have played a key role in helping progressive referendums pass. I, like Deputy Cairns, worry that the Minister is not going to get this one passed for the reasons I stated earlier in that those in the far right have latched...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (13 Dec 2023)

Bríd Smith: ...and people are taking them up. Some of the routes are definitely better. However we are still dealing with a lot of traffic congestion in the city. For example, yesterday evening I travelled to the Phoenix Park and it took me an hour and a half to go 5 km. I was going to the protest at the ambassador's residence. It was crazy and I should have walked. Nevertheless, this gives an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (13 Dec 2023)

Bríd Smith: ...is responsible for this area but he may well be familiar with it as a Minister of State from the Green Party who should and would, I think, have an interest in developing public transport systems to take cars off the road, to decarbonise our economy and to improve public transport. In general, then, I start by saying I am not opposed to the BusConnects system in principle. If it improves...