Results 1-20 of 1,534 for speaker:Lorraine Clifford-Lee

Seanad: Childcare: Statements (2 Apr 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad to talk about this important issue. She is going to do well in this role. It complements her previous role as Minister for Education because the education of children is on the same spectrum. As the Minister outlined, there has been unprecedented investment in early years education over the past number of years. Childcare fees for parents...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (27 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House and I thank him for being here to respond to my Commencement matter. When I submitted this matter, I asked that the Minister engage with the NTA on implementing fairer fares for north County Dublin. The fairer fares scheme has been rolled out to some extent and I know more work has to be done on it but I am speaking specifically about the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (27 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I am well aware the Department and the Minister are not involved in day-to-day operations of public transport, but the opening paragraph of the Minister of State's response stated that the Minister is responsible for policy. This is why I am asking for engagement. It is the policy of the Government to encourage people onto public transport, to lessen the burden of cost on commuters and to...

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Motion (26 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: The Minister of State is welcome to the House and I am particularly glad he is taking this motion. I commend Sinn Féin on laying the motion before the House and giving us the opportunity to discuss this important topic. We are all aware of the issues facing families with special education needs. The Minister of State has a deep, personal and long-standing commitment to this topic and...

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (25 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: The Minister of State is very welcome back to this House. I congratulate him on his appointment. This is my first time standing before him in the Chamber since his promotion. I am sure he will bring his skills and talent to the position.It is really important that we are having this discussion. All our communities and families have, unfortunately, been hit by road fatalities and serious...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: There is a need for a debate on the national swimming strategy for the period 2024 to 2027. This was launched last August by the then Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and aims to provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim. The strategy focuses on enhancing facilities, coaching, safety awareness and pathways for high-performance athletes. A key component is an allocation...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I also welcome those from St. Joseph's in Rush. I am very familiar with it. It is great to see them all. They are all very welcome to Leinster House. Before they came in, I raised the issue of the need to develop a swimming pool for north County Dublin. It is an issue the guests have contacted me about through the years. I am working on it. I look forward to a trip to St. Joseph's in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: A month of celebrations.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy National Plan: Statements (20 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I extend my congratulations to the Minister and wish him the very best of luck in his brief. No doubt, given his background in agriculture, he will have no need to get up to speed on many of the issues within the Department. I rise today to talk about the Common Agricultural Policy, which has been very important to this country's development since we joined the European Union. I...

Seanad: International Women's Day - Women's Health: Statements (5 Mar 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: The Minister is very welcome on this day to mark International Women's Day. We are, of course, discussing a very important topic. It is one in which I know she will excel in her role as Minister for Health. The previous Minister, Stephen Donnelly, changed the landscape for women's health in Ireland during his term of office. I am sure she will continue that very good work and expand on...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (26 Feb 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I second the motion. I am very happy that the Minister has attended. It is our first item of Private Members' business, which reflects the importance the Fianna Fáil Group is placing on transport. I was very happy to see that the Minister got this brief because I know he understands this issue, which is a top priority for the people of north County Dublin. I will raise a number of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. The Minister of State is very welcome to the Seanad to discuss this important matter. As he knows, I am passionate about the delivery of services for my constituency. One of my top priorities is the delivery of a new school building for Rush National School. It is a matter I have continuously raised in the Seanad and one we need to keep raising and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (25 Feb 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I thank the Minister of State for his response, which outlined the long and sorry history of the delivery of this project. It is not good enough. The people of Rush and, in particular, the children of Rush National School deserve better. I am glad to see that Department officials will keep the school authorities updated as this stage progresses. Regarding doubling down on this commitment...

Seanad: Community Safety: Statements (25 Feb 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I welcome the Minister to the very important debate we are having. I specifically raise the issue of domestic and gender-based violence. We are at a record high of gender-based violence, with 20,000 more reports to gardaí in more than four years. It is good that people are coming forward and reporting to gardaí but it is clear there has been an increase in violence in the...

Seanad: EU-UK Youth Experience Scheme: Motion (19 Feb 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: It was all Senator Boyhan's fault.

Seanad: EU-UK Youth Experience Scheme: Motion (19 Feb 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: Congratulations to the Leas-Chathaoirleach on her election. I had the great fortune of knowing Tras Honan. She was a mighty woman and it is fantastic that we have one of her successors among us. I know the Senator's rate of work and how fair and dedicated she is to the job. I look forward to working with her. It is a testament to her tenacity and hard work over the years that she is in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: Shame.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2025)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: That is disgraceful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I thank the Chairman. I appreciate him allowing me to fill in for my colleagues. I welcome the representatives from Irish Rail. As the Cathaoirleach said, they have been very responsive to all of us who have contacted them and we appreciate that. However, I do not think I have seen an issue come to my office that has generated a higher volume of complaints and concern than the changes to...