Results 1-20 of 1,873 for speaker:Maire Devine

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Motion (21 Jan 2020)

Maire Devine: Has he?

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Motion (21 Jan 2020)

Maire Devine: Gabhann buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach, although it is a pity that it may be the final time I say that for a long time. The House is often called, including by me over the years, a kind of retirement home for the bewildered. It is where wannabe Deputies cut their teeth before seeking the supposedly coveted title of "Deputy" and, less kindly, is often considered to be a chamber of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I echo the Christmas wishes for everybody and hope that 2020 will be a fabulous year for us all. I refer to the retention of records that were transferred to the National Archives following the Ryan commission. Every Member has probably been intensely lobbied on this. A total of 15,000 survivors submitted testimonies. The Retention of Records Bill 2019 has been somewhat controversial from...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: He is deluded.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I am listening.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second and Subsequent Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I think this is my third time taking this Bill. It comes up every year. It is another reminder of what seems to be protection and favouring of private healthcare above all else. I know that people are afraid of entering the public system and being left to wait for months or years for treatment. Many scrape together to fund private healthcare but others simply cannot access the market....

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I welcome these amendments. I think we all know what it might be like to be in the public spotlight following, say, an allegation of medical malpractice or neglect of duty of care. I have been in the offices of An Bord Altranais several times to represent nurses, sometimes for really minor misdemeanours. However, their reputation goes before them, even if they are found not guilty or not...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: Under Part 3, specifically section 30, an effort is under way to move competent authority status from the Department of Health to the HSE. Such a move has been raised with us by the environmental health officers. They have stated it would give huge power to their employer in determining what constitutes what an environmental health officer, EHO, is. EHOs have a wide range of further...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: Most people have covered the purpose of the amendment. The Minister sought to sign into law new rules pertaining to pharmaceutical assistants. Sinn Féin tried to rectify this in the Dáil but, unfortunately, our Report Stage amendment was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle. These proposals extend the right to undertake continuing professional development to pharmaceutical...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I move amendment No. 1: In page 17, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “Report on financial impact of changes to hours Carers can work outside the home 28.That the Minister shall prepare and produce a report on the impact of the increase in hours Carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance can work outside the home from 15 hours to 18.5 hours without a...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: The Minister is aware that I tabled these amendments previously but agreed to wait for the reports. I have now resubmitted them. The first amendment relates to the increase in the hours for which carers may study or work outside the home without an increase in the earnings disregard from 15 to 18.5. I am not happy with the report. Perhaps I have missed something but I went through it over...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I thank the Minister. This amendment asks for a report. I acknowledge that in August, when we were all on the holiday break, a report did come out. However, this amendment is concerned with the impact of the increase to 18.5 hours and it seeks a report.It is not asking for an increase of the income disregard but for a report on the impact of it. The Minister’s report was laid...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I move amendment No. 2: In page 17, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “Review of the means test for Carer’s Allowance 28.That the Minister shall carry out a review of the means test in place for Carer’s Allowance in consultation with key stakeholders, including Family Carers Ireland and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: Another consultant, actually the only consultant dealing with children's pain in the entire State, has stepped down from his position due to the lack of funding to enable him to provide the service that is needed. Dr. Kevin McCarthy said that he made the "difficult decision" as the service is "completely unsustainable" and did not meet the needs of sick children. He said he needs a full...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2019: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I welcome the Minister. I certainly welcome the Bill. I thank the Minister for the support for my colleague, Deputy Munster's prudent, realistic and reasonable amendments that would protect that area. This is from a Dub, but I can imagine the business that is more threatened. We are not sure of the tsunami that Brexit might bring but it certainly will have an impact, if it has not had...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2019: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: Senators.

Seanad: Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2019: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: The Upper House.

Seanad: Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2019: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I welcome the passage of the Bill. I also congratulate Senator Gallagher. It is tough getting legislation through, but when one gets to the final curtain it fells really good because one is doing something worthwhile. I acknowledge the work of my colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, which Senator Gallagher also acknowledged. Deputy Ó Caoláin has sought to address this issue...

Seanad: Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2019: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: They are all here.

Seanad: Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2019: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2019)

Maire Devine: I do not know about that.