Results 1-20 of 775 for speaker:Catherine Ardagh

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (8 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I congratulate Senator Norris on his standing as father of the House and on his long and distinguished service in the Seanad. I was very pleased to see him elected to Seanad Éireann again. Today, I have the great honour as Fianna Fáil leader in the House to propose Senator Denis O'Donovan for the position of Cathaoirleach. The position...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (8 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil an gliondar is mó i mo chroí inniu ós rud é go bhfuil tú tofa mar Chathaoirleach ar an Seanad. On behalf of my family, I want to thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words in regard to my father. Not only were they colleagues, I know he and my father were good friends. He will be delighted...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group I wish to convey our sympathy to the innocent victims of the Orlando shootings, the LGBT community in Orlando and the wider community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time and we condemn that devastating and hateful act. I would also like to convey the sympathies of the Fianna Fáil group with the families of the police officer and...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: First, I congratulate Senator Paul Coghlan on his election yesterday as Leas-Chathaoirleach. I know he will be a fair and prudent Chair like the Cathaoirleach. I express my congratulations to him and his family. I have known one of his daughters, Aoife, for a long time as I was in the Gaeltacht with her almost 20 years ago. I also wish to address the House regarding the tragic death of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: The reaction on Joe Duffy's radio show in recent days has been from reasonable people who have genuine concerns and lectures on competition will not resolve this issue. There are no exemptions for low-income households, the infirm or people with young children. In today's edition of The Irish Times, Miriam Lord described it as "the wheelie bins are coming". Unless the Minister, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I refer to the gun attack on a young man on Monasterboice Road in Crumlin during the early hours of yesterday morning. This latest gun attack in the heart of my constituency, just a short distance from my office, is of concern to me and the Fianna Fáil group. Less than half way into the year, seven people have lost their lives in the bloody war between two feuding families in this...

Seanad: Death of Jo Cox, MP: Expressions of Sympathy (21 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I send our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Jo Cox. Our sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with her husband and two beautiful children, who must be so proud of their mother and wife. We cannot imagine the heartbreak her husband and two children are feeling. This cold-blooded hateful murder was an attack on democracy and an insult to our...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I wish the boys in green the very best of luck against Italy this evening. The entire nation will be cheering them on and we are all hoping for success. We are all familiar with the phrase "your health is your wealth" and the importance that those in need of medical assistance receive it in an appropriate and convenient environment. I raise in that context the issue of primary care...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I raised this matter previously in the House. In 2012, the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government made an announcement about the provision of 35 primary care centres. By way of written response received in December 2015 on one primary care centre in the heart of my constituency in Dublin South-Central, the answer received by the Minister was that the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I would appreciate if perhaps the Minister of State could ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to outline how he would go about including the Crumlin-Drimnagh project in the 2017 capital review plan.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: As leader of the Fianna Fáil group, I welcome the Government's decision to increase the rent supplement in line with the confidence and support agreement with Fianna Fáil. It must be noted that it is just one of a suite of measures designed to tackle the housing and homeless crisis. Many families are at risk of losing their homes due to rapidly rising rents and that is the reason...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: Can I comment, please?

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I have a point of clarification to make. I ask Senator Ó Clochartaigh to immediately withdraw his remark that Fianna Fáil was complicit in misleading the Seanad last week.

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: Last Thursday, more than 33.5 million people turned out to vote and took the remarkable decision for Britain to leave the EU. Although their decision has shocked and disappointed me, I entirely respect their democratic right to make that decision. When the Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, put the question to the British people, they were absolutely entitled to give him and other "Remain"...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I raise the issue of charities regulation and, in particular, the case of corporate governance irregularities and mismanagement within the organisation Console, which has been the subject matter of a "Prime Time" investigation lately. The Health Service Executive, HSE, started an audit last April and the findings of this audit are now with the senior management of the HSE. Console is a...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I will share time with Senator Clifford-Lee, who wishes to raise a few points.

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: She wishes to clarify a few points.

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: First, I thank Senator Norris for introducing the Bill. This issue is close to my heart. I am a solicitor and an immigration practitioner. Last year, in Dublin City Council, I proposed a motion, which received cross-party support, calling on the chief executive to ask the Minister to put an end to long-term direct provision for asylum seekers and to review the consequences for children...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: Direct provision is inhumane and amounts to State-sponsored poverty and exclusion, particularly for children. People are forced to live in substandard accommodation and often have to share it with strangers. The eminent retired judge, Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, said that direct provision centres will be the subject of redress boards in the future unless something is done. It is a...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: Direct provision appears to be run like a business rather than an institution that is caring for people.