Results 1-20 of 669 for speaker:Grace O'Sullivan

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I am standing here feeling a little bit blue - even my attire is a little bit blue - because I am leaving all of my Seanad colleagues. I have been here as a member of the Civil Engagement group for the past three years. I am honoured to have been a member of that active and inspiring group of Members comprising Senators Ruane, Black, Higgins, Dolan and...

Seanad: Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (19 Jun 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: Thank you very much, Acting Chairman, for your kind words. I am delighted to see so many in the Public Gallery for this important legislation, rightly named the Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The phrase "community participation" should have an equal rights element and so I commend Senator Dolan and the Civil Engagement group, and support what Senator...

Seanad: Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (19 Jun 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I am here to support it. I will be only an extension of Seanad Éireann in the European Parliament, and will work as closely as possible with all my colleagues in the civil engagement group, in particular to progress the rights of the vulnerable and people with disabilities and special abilities, and to support the rights of people in general.

Seanad: Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (19 Jun 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I will be here next week.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I am sharing with my colleague, Senator Higgins. I wish the Taoiseach a happy Easter. He is very welcome to the Chamber. I am speaking on behalf of Senator Dolan, Senator Black and on my own behalf. The Taoiseach committed to ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, when he was elected. He has done that and it is very much appreciated....

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: Like Senator Higgins, I oppose this amendment on the basis of the natural value of a bog in environmental, economic, regional and international terms. It is important for carbon storage and greenhouse gas mitigation. The community is more than just the people.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: It is about biodiversity and natural value. As Senator Ó Céidigh said, the people who live around the bogs recognise their value. Regarding suggestions of using bogs for golf courses, sporting fields or greenways, we have to take into account the greater community and the greater value in a cultural and environmental sense. The term “strategic infrastructural...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: The Waterford Greenway is a cycling and walking track.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: It is beautiful.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: Senator Norris must come down and visit.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I support Senator Higgins's amendments. The peatlands and bogs of Ireland are of consideration beyond Ireland. People in the Netherlands are very interested in the state of Irish boglands. Peatlands make up approximately 3% of the earth's land area.They contain 33% of the world's soil carbon so they are of international importance. The national newspapers are a good way to advertise and...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: Yes. The wireless is a good way to advertise. The boglands are not just of importance to communities in rural Ireland, in Connemara in particular. They are of importance to the people of Waterford, my local area and also of international importance. We do not have a definition of the term "community" here. For me, it refers not only to rural communities but also to urban communities in...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: We need to think about-----

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: In the context of climate change we need to think in terms of ecological systems. We know about ecological impacts and the decline in biodiversity. The communities of biodiversity in our bogs must be taken into account in the future. We need to change our thinking around ecosystems, of which we humans are part. We are part of the community but we need to think big when it comes to climate...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I will speak on the marine area in which I know the Cathaoirleach is very interested. This morning I read about the stranding of sperm whales off the west coast. I spoke to Dr. Simon Berrow from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. He and two other scientists will go to Sligo today to take tissue samples from the sperm whale. It is quite unusual to have this number of strandings of the...

Seanad: Transport Matters: Statements (4 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister. I will start off with a sweetener. One day last weekend, at 8.30 a.m. or 9 a.m., I was stopped by two gardaí near the beach in Tramore and breathalysed. I was asked my permission to be breathalysed, which I gave, and I successfully passed. In fairness to the gardaí, they were most courteous and professional in their approach. I commend the Minister on...

Seanad: Transport Matters: Statements (4 Apr 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: What about sea transport?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (28 Mar 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: It was shocking to wake up this morning to the news that over 10,000 people are homeless in this State. Everything possible must be done to facilitate the building of more housing. Professor Drudy said that the market is failing us and Mr. Reynolds agrees. On the legislation, local authorities are telling me that the site levy is not working because they do not have the capacity to collect...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, for coming to the House today. I am delighted we are talking about the bogs of Ireland - the raised and blanket bogs, the upland and lowland blanket bogs and the different types of bog habitat. There has been a long consultation and review process with stakeholders on this Bill regarding a review of the raised bogs. The Peatlands Council was set...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (26 Mar 2019)

Grace O'Sullivan: I also feel the timing around this legislation is wholly inadequate. Two years ago, when we discussed the legislation in the Seanad, we spoke about the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. One of the reasons for it being shelved was that process but now we are at the midnight hour, so it would seem appropriate to put this legislation on standby until we see what happens...