Results 1-20 of 915 for speaker:Aidan Davitt

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach and wish him the best in his new post. I know Senator Wilson was on an all-party committee that carried out much good, stable and common-sense work on councillors' terms and conditions. Given my seven years experience on a county council and five years on a town council, I know that there has been an immense increase in the workload of county councillors. This...

Seanad: Poverty and Homelessness: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I am a little confused. There must be a new type of Sinn Féin-love. During his contribution the Minister of State, Deputy English, attacked Fianna Fáil, which has not been in power for the past five years. At the same time, the Government is seeking the support of Fianna Fáil. Life does not work that way with me but perhaps it does in Sinn Féin circles. I congratulate...

Seanad: Poverty and Homelessness: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Construction workers continued to be demonised and there is no support for small self-employed builders. There was also no PRSI net available to builders if they got caught out badly, which many of them did. These measures and others, such as the 20% deposit, have fed into the housing crisis. It is not sufficient for us to put our heads in our hands and say the crisis arose because of a...

Seanad: Poverty and Homelessness: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Senator Coffey is incorrect. Fewer than 12,000 houses were built across the country, half of which were one-off houses. I am speaking about social housing.

Seanad: Poverty and Homelessness: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: The biggest crisis in Ireland is the housing crisis in Dublin yet all Sinn Féin can do is wring its wrists and tell others what to do. I will not be lectured by any party in power which does nothing to address a situation. I welcome the Minister of State's statement that rent caps will be reviewed. As has been admitted by several Ministers, manipulation of applications for rent...

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (16 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Aire on her new appointment. No doubt Deputy Mitchell O'Connor will certainly bring great enthusiasm to her new post. I listened intently to the Minister's forecasts - 200,000 jobs by 2020 and 135,000 of these will be outside of Dublin.This is starting to sound like a sketch from Alice in Wonderland. The new quote of 200,000 jobs would...

Seanad: Mental Health: Statements (22 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit. I have two queries both of which relate to St. Loman's, Mullingar. Has the Minister of State any plans for the main building which is about 95% unoccupied? It is a landmark structure as one approaches the town of Mullingar. Funding has been put into some of its new infrastructures. An issue was brought to my attention by HSE staff concerning care in...

Seanad: Waste Management: Motion (22 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: What is the Senator's proposal?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Comhghairdeas leis an Aire nua. I wish to be associated with the comments made by my party's acting leader, Senator Mark Daly, on the great success of the two Irish teams in Euro 2016. Long may it continue. I raise a matter of great concern to do with Mullingar Army barracks. I call on the Leader to ask the Government to immediately invest in Mullingar. As he will know, the barracks has...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: We can expand on it next time.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I am always open to the Leas-Chathaoirleach's great advice. Such wisdom. However, I have serious concerns. Our area's Deputy, Robert Troy, has called a public meeting after being asked by various community groups to chair one. It will be held in the barracks tonight. This is a live issue in Mullingar and must be addressed. We need a plan, albeit not the one in Kildare, which was to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (30 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Go raibh maith agat agus comhghairdeas leis an Aire nua. There is great concern for the future of the psychiatric building in St. Loman's Hospital in Mullingar. Built in 1845 by the renowned Meath architect John Skipton Mulvany, this gigantic landmark is 95% vacant at present. It is architecturally the most striking building on any approach road to Mullingar. Similar buildings have been...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (30 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I thank the Minister of State for her outline response. Are the wheels in motion for the sale of St. Loman's? The Minister said it would be looked at and would probably be sold in the future. That would make sense, as it needs to be used for something and HIQA has condemned it. I also appreciate the Minister of State's response on the Committee of Public Accounts. I will certainly write...

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I ask the Acting Chairman if we can suspend Standing Orders. There is breaking news. The Minister of State has probably heard about the loss of 90 jobs in Mullingar. It would be a significant blow to our economy. I know the Minister is there today, but can the Minister of State brief us on the job losses at the tobacco factory in Mullingar?

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Thank you.

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Davitt.

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: No problem, it is just that it is my town. The Minister of State knows it himself.

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I thank the Minister of State for that. The matter is of great concern and I will be talking to him later on.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I second the amendment regarding motion 6. Having come through town and county councils with Senator Murnane O'Connor, I am acutely aware of the distressing circumstances in which many councillors find themselves. This is a level headed motion, which will engage with the AILG and LAMA-----

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I shall pick up where we were interrupted yesterday. I was delighted to second the motion, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, on pay and conditions for councillors. Having come through the town and county council systems, no more than Senator Murnane O'Connor who spoke about the same issue, I am acutely aware of the distressing circumstances in which councillors find themselves....