Results 81-100 of 3,857 for speaker:Paul Gavan

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I agree with everything the Chair said. My last comment is that the banks have made clear that they do not want anyone going into their branches. They are effectively turning us all away and making it a really unpleasant-----

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: Exactly. They make it a really unpleasant experience to try to get in. It is not the fault of the staff. In fact, there are too few staff in bank branches. I cannot imagine how much more difficult it must be for members of the Traveller community. We need to call the banks to account over it. I am grateful for the presentations and thank the witnesses for their time today.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister of State for coming in this morning. I also wish to express my disappointment that neither the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, nor the Minister, Deputy Harris, were available to come in. The Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT, carried out an extensive survey of more than 550 academics, including lecturers and researchers, in third level institutions...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I have to disagree with the Minister of State because this research shows very clearly that on the ground, things are not happening. On the ground, precarious employment across the third-level sector is at an all-time high. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is talking the talk but he is certainly not walking the walk in this regard. One of the key aspects that is missing is collective...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I begin by also acknowledging the fine work of Senator Seery Kearney on the surrogacy Bill. I have witnessed it first-hand.I want to once again raise the issue of Palestine and, in particular, the very powerful lobby we have received over the last week calling for the EU-Israel Association Agreement to be terminated. This is the correct call to make and I am calling on the Government to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: Well said.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister for speaking on the amendments. As she knows, colleagues from Fórsa attended the previous two debates on the Bill.I acknowledge the Minister was good enough to speak to them on both occasions. While we welcome the two years in that amendment, it does not deal with the core issue. I have spoken to my colleagues in Fórsa almost on a daily basis in the past...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister for her response and acknowledge the fact there was a very positive message within it, but the problem is that positive message has been there for five weeks. I accept her point about a number of people having to get round the table but the union's fear is that the Bill will go through Report and Final Stages and it will still not have a date for the negotiation to...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I second the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I second the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I second the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I wish to speak in favour of this recommendation. As Members may know, it has been Sinn Féin's consistent policy to support a wealth tax. Of course, this is just a request for a report on a wealth tax. It is simply to investigate what a wealth tax might actually bring in. For all the points that Senator Black has raised, namely, the issues of equality and of this society where we...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I second the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I second the recommendation.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, after line 29, to insert the following: “Report on extending availability of full parent’s benefit to lone parents 8. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on extending the availability of the full duration of parent’s benefit to lone parents to examine the effect that enabling all...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I hope to contribute on this also, if the Chair does not mind. I promise I will be very brief.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: It is not often that I agree politically with my colleagues but I certainly agree on this. It is a grossly unfair issue that should have been dealt with years ago. It is not right. This is felt deeply across the Chamber.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on establishing a social welfare adequacy commission 21. The Minister shall carry out a review on establishing a social welfare adequacy commission in order to ensure social welfare rates meet the Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) to study the effect that adequacy of social welfare rates...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: We propose the establishment of a social welfare adequacy commission that would advise the Government on social protection payment rates. The commission would make recommendations on payment rates ahead of the annual budget with the aim of ensuring they are adequate, meet a minimum essential standard of living, MESL, and protect people from poverty. This would ensure that all recipients are...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 3: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on means-testing for blind pension and disability allowance 21.The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the means-testing eligibility requirement for blind pension and disability allowance and the impact that income threshold limitations have on access to...