Results 101-120 of 4,816 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: You are the Minister of State.

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: We discussed these matters at the justice committee and the Minister of State referred earlier to protecting people, harmful gambling and people at risk. We believe that at least one member of the authority should have the lived experience and personal knowledge of what it is like to go through the throes of addiction so that, when the authority meets, there is a voice in the room that can...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: What the Minister of State said was very disappointing. As I and everyone else said here, we thought this debate would be constructive. We worked with the Government and said how important the legislation is. I made a point about unintended consequences. A Minister can make a mistake and the Department can do so just as easily, just as I could, but we tease things out and discuss them...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I did not interrupt the Minister of State. I know people who have lost their lives because of gambling. I know people who have lost their families and their homes. That is the stuff on which we support the Government and we have come to the Chamber to back it. They did not lose their lives or their homes by buying a ticket to a GAA draw. They lost them on slot machines or in betting...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: It is not.

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I brought froward that Bill and the Minister of State is accusing us-----

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: One of the first things I learned when I became a TD is that when it comes to legislation and amendments, there is the possibility of unintended consequences. The longer one is here, the more experience one gets and one learns that a Bill or an amendment, in and of itself, might be introduced for the right reasons but it can have ramifications or consequences that are way beyond whatever it...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I move amendment No. 11: In page 21, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “Non-application of Act 3. (1) This Act does not apply to gambling activities carried on, by or on behalf of any organisation— (a) that is a registered charitable organisation under the Charities Act 2009, and (b) that has a charitable or philanthropic purpose, which shall be construed...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I support amendment No. 11. We are trying to protect charities and sporting and community organisations so the Act does not negatively affect them, while excluding gambling companies or people looking to profit on the back of charitable events. There could be a situation where an event is being held and maybe 10% goes to the charity. That is being used as a backdoor around this...

Support for Carers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: The treatment of family carers by the State is completely unacceptable. Time and again families come to me exhausted, frustrated and angry because they cannot get the home care packages they need. On occasions when packages are sanctioned, the staff are not available to supply them. They also come to me because they are struggling financially and because they cannot get respite care. I am...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: It is not open out of hours.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: Only in Blackpool.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: On the north side.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: Good morning. I want to start by laying out the background to the issue relating to SouthDoc in Blackpool. As my constituency colleague, the Minister of State must be well aware of this matter. In 2020, the close of SouthDoc in Blackpool was announced on foot of the Covid-19 crisis. At the time, I raised concerns. Those concerns proved to be well founded when SouthDoc clearly stated that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I do not want to be disrespectful, but if the Minister for Health does not understand what is happening in the HSE in the context of SouthDoc in Blackpool, that is shocking. Some €7 million was paid to SouthDoc to provide an out-of-hours service, which it is not doing. If the Minister of State looks at my Facebook page, he will see the number of constituents by whom I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I want to come back to the issue of the numbers. Some 14,400 are on the social housing list. Mr. Kelly said that the figure was roughly 59,000. Does that figure include HAP and RAS recipients?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: What are the numbers for those in receipt of HAP and RAS?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: From my point of view, because I want to give a true figure of the social housing need, the figure is 120,000 families and individuals. The Government might consider HAP to be social housing, but the vast majority of the people I deal with do not. They are on the transfer list. Of those 60,000 people, how many of those are EEA and non-EEA? Are there any figures for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: My next point is regarding the "future intentions" of anyone who applies for social housing. I know many people who apply for social housing. I come from social housing. My mother and father - and God rest my mother's soul - got a house in Knocknaheeny. My dad was able to buy the house later on, but when he signed up for social housing he was never asked about his future intentions. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: Okay, well I will make the point about-----