Results 21-40 of 775 for speaker:Catherine Ardagh

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: -----in our communities, not only the elderly, but also the younger section of society, we will see massive dividends being paid as regards less crime on the street and people feeling-----

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: -----more of a sense of belonging.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: Will the strategic plan be on public view in local Garda stations? Will there be any input from the public into the plan before it is decided upon and presented to the Minister?

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: As Senator Chambers said, some people will not be able to access a plan like this, particularly those with a disability. A lot of information from other Departments is only accessible online and not everybody has an email address or access to broadband. Could we get an assurance from the Minister that the plan will be on display - possibly in every Garda station in the country - and that...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: Section 64(4) provides that there is to be a report. It seems to be styled in terms of the publication of a report on implementation. Can the Minister assure us that the report on implementation will also be made public in Garda stations, libraries and post offices, as we have suggested, or will this not be the case?

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I refer to section 65(13), which we discussed at length when we discussed the strategic plan under section 63 and its publication. Is it similar in that there will be some sort of right of reply? Will it be displayed in public? Will there be a right of reply for members of the public to the plan and a body that will accept any recommendations or submissions the public will have? In the...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: On repercussions if the service plan is not met, I note there will be redress to the board and the Minister. What specialist advisers does the board have in this area and what redress will it have, if any, in respect of overspend or misfeasance in the annual service plan?

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I will speak on the issue of capital planning. We all know that the process of budgeting resources for organisations is a budgeting process for their long-term future that includes projections for future projects.I commend the Minister and the Department. Around the country, we can see beautiful Garda stations. I think we have seen these in all our communities. I know the OPW can be...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: This section concerns the governance framework document for An Garda Síochána, which includes an outline of the guiding principles applicable to An Garda Síochána and the organisational structure of it. It almost indicates that there could be significant changes. It is very important for members of the public as well as us, as parliamentarians, to be informed of the...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I will start again.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I want to speak to the section on the governance framework document for An Garda Síochána and, specifically, the organisational structure of An Garda Síochána. As I said, it is important that members of the public and we, as Members of this House, are aware of the organisational structure. Section 70(4) states that the annual report will be laid before each House of the...

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

Catherine Ardagh: I welcome the review, especially as regards the means-testing of carer's payments, which is an issue we have raised in this House on numerous occasions. It needs to be looked into to ensure it is fair for carers and those they are caring for. The second issue I raise is the thresholds for the fuel allowance. There are many ancillary benefits available to people who qualify for the fuel...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (7 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Minister of State for joining us today. I also join in commiserating with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on the loss of her mother.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (7 Dec 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: It is always a good day when the Social Welfare Bill comes before us. This is one of the biggest budgets in the history of the State. I say that every year. This year's budget is €2.3 billion. Senator Craughwell talked about the important issue of class K, as he has every year. I am glad Fianna Fáil is part of this Government. In the next few weeks we are going to see huge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Budget 2024, Official Development Assistance, COP28 and Ongoing Humanitarian Situations: Dóchas (21 Nov 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I will be brief because the witnesses have answered a lot of the questions from my colleague. I thank all of our witnesses for coming in today and taking the time to come into the committee. It is really interesting and great to get first-hand information on what is happening on the ground with the humanitarian crisis. Obviously, we are all listening to and checking our phones to see if...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Cathaoirleach for representing us so well yesterday in Westminster at the opening of the House of Lords. We owe it to Senator O'Loughlin that we have a bank holiday on St Brigid's day. I commend her hard work in championing that cause. I want to raise the issue of the Road Safety Authority, RSA, and the abysmal figures we are seeing. There is a huge increase in the number of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Oct 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: As chair of the Oireachtas cross-party group on cancer, it was great to learn at the weekend that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, will finally legislate to allow women undergoing cancer treatment during their maternity leave to defer that leave until their treatment ends. I do not need to explain to anyone in this House how important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I join other members in sending our condolences to the families of the Irish citizens who were killed and to the victims of the war in Palestine and Israel so far. Many people do not quite understand the difference between Hamas and ordinary Palestinians. Getting the Tánaiste’s insight into what is happening in the conflict has been helpful. There is a great deal of...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Taoiseach for coming in to us today. It is great to have him in the Chamber. I just want to raise two big issues coming up to the budget. The first is disability and the hidden costs of disability. If someone has a child with a disability and he or she gets a diagnosis, there is a huge outlay in getting a private diagnosis because, as we all know, the assessment of needs...

Seanad: Crime and Policing: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Fianna Fáil group for this excellent motion. I congratulate An Garda Síochána and the Naval Service on their great work yesterday along the east coast. Listening to Senator Lombard, you would think gangland crime and associated murders were non-existent now. The huge haul yesterday only shows that the gangland criminal drugs industry is alive and well....