Results 1-20 of 1,874 for speaker:Richard O'Donoghue

Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: This is something the Minister has inherited. It is before his time but it is within the remit of the whole House to rectify wrongdoing. People were put into institutions and used as free labour under terrible conditions. Their families were taken from them and they were dispersed with no records, and in cases where there were records they were hidden. I have met many survivors of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I hope that what the Taoiseach is saying is that Jessica Sheedy will not have died in vain and that somebody else's life will be saved. However, that was 2018. Now, we are talking about Aoife Johnston. Where are we going? There has to be accountability within the hospital system. The other thing the Government has to look at is how much has been spent on legal fees fighting these cases...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I will take the Ceann Comhairle back to my maiden speech when he was also in the Chair. My maiden speech related to UHL. What disappoints me is that it has taken four years for the Opposition to finally stand up and join me over UHL. It has taken four years for Opposition Deputies to stand up officially and talk about UHL. Because an election is coming, they are all jumping all over it....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: That is a matter of public record. It is written on the papers.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: Okay. I will take whatever comes down the line on this. People are dying in that hospital. If it was your daughter or son, would you be sitting here and pulling me on the same thing? Would you? Four or five years down the line, there has been no change.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: Two young people have died and there has been no change. That is the problem with UHL.

European Union Migration and Asylum Pact: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: People in this country are scared. They are scared about what the Government has done and about the lack of information available to them. This pact signs Ireland up to have almost 30,000 migrants coming into this country and if we do not accept these migrants, there is a clause that says it will cost €20,000 for each persons we do not accept. If we do not accept 30,000 migrants,...

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: Two years ago, I brought a truck to the Dáil and asked for the support of the likes of Sinn Féin and others across the House in respect of the fuel crisis. Did they support us? No. Did they vote on the last carbon tax? Yes. When there is an election, Sinn Féin turns to the people of Ireland and decides it needs to change. It has more faces than a Rubik's cube. It voted...

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: Every time there is an election, Sinn Féin tries to fool the people of Ireland. It is great that there is social media now, because we can see what Sinn Féin stands for. The local, European and mayoral elections are coming up. Sinn Féin will now try to say something. It proposed two amendments to strengthen the hate speech Bill. It tells people it is for the people of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs and Excise (30 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: 235. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will postpone the introduction of a carbon tax increase on agricultural diesel from 1 May 2024 to 1 October 2024, due to the escalating costs incurred by farmers over the winter period due to the bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19064/24]

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

Richard O'Donoghue: I also congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment and I look forward to working with her. The Government is the carer of the country, but it is not reflected down along when we look at the legislation in place on carers. Carers go above and beyond to care for people in their homes. In regard to the value for money they give, there is no Government agency or employee that can...

Acknowledgement and Apology to the Families and to the Victims of the Stardust Tragedy: Statements (23 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I offer my deepest sympathies to the families here today for the loss of their children, sisters, brothers and relations on 14 February 1981 - a night of love. I was 11 years old then. I am now a father of four children, all of whom are the ages of those who died in the Stardust fire. I am now a grandfather. It has taken 43 years for the Government to say sorry. It has taken 43 years for...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: As an employer, I believe that we should work for the future. I am very lucky with the people I employ - the family as I call them. I have been self-employed all my life and I believe that working together, we create businesses together and we support one another's families. Businesses across all sectors are feeling the pinch. The only place not feeling the pinch is the Government...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: The Minister of State has been quoting figures from 2004 and other years. How many vehicles were on the road in 2004, the year for which he is citing those figures, compared with the number of vehicles on the road today? He said he wants to reduce the speed limits across the country, which will have a big impact on the transport network. What are we going to do? Our transport network...

Disability Justice: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I will make this issue real for many people. Two weeks ago, I was approached by a 78-year-old man who has a son with a disability. His son is living at home. They applied for a grant for an adaptation to their car but were refused. They came back with an appeal. The Department wanted the 78-year-old man to drive to Dublin for the appeal. We asked could the appeal be reconvened to...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: The first thing we need to look at is food security. The first people we need to look to are our farmers, including in tillage, to make sure we have food security. Across the country, we are seeing people who put food on our tables suffer big-time due to the weather. I welcome the scheme the Minister has introduced but it does not go far enough. It puts more pressure on people as they...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (10 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: 122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fodder crisis that farmers are enduring; if urgent financial aid can be provided to help them purchase fodder during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15619/24]

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I am delighted for the Taoiseach. I wish him well in his position, as I do the other Ministers who have been elevated into positions. Once upon a time, Fine Gael was known as the farmers' party and Fianna Fáil was known as the workers' party. That is no more. It is very shocking for people who were members of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to see the way those parties have gone...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (9 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: 726. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if child benefit payments can be extended for students in full-time education up to the age of 21 years, due to the escalating cost of living families are enduring at this present time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13566/24]

Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I am going to speak the facts. Last week, I got an email from the local authority to say that a 4,500 sq. ft. premises, Thomond House, had been sold in Galbally. Nobody in the community was contacted but the local authority sent us an email. Despite a lack of services there, they want to move 31 people into 4,500 sq. ft. I have been involved in housing women, children and vulnerable...