Results 1-20 of 631 for at speaker:Richard O'Donoghue

Local Authority Housing Maintenance and Repair: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I have been in the construction business all my life. Is the Government facilitating a one-stop shop cartel? Will the Minister of State clarify why the registered independent BER assessors are not permitted to provide the home energy assessment required to apply for a loan under the home energy upgrade loan scheme as the energy assessment can only be conducted by an SEAI-registered one-stop...

Ireland's Recognition of the State of Palestine: Statements (28 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: What value is given to life? If recognising Palestine saves one life, is it not worth it? History is a funny thing when you look at it one way. When you look back it is something that is taken for granted. When Hitler was on his reign, the media said that humanity would never see something like this again. Then we had Rwanda when the Hutus and the Tutsis slaughtered one another and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I am not a climate change denier. I know we need energy, but I also know that we need people to enjoy this country and have the opportunity to enjoy the future. Nobody should be left behind. New South Wales in Australia issued an energy noise guidance at 35 dB LA90. This is designed to protect people's health. The Government here continues to allow 45 dB LA90, or double the loudness....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I am not against wind turbines. However, I am against wind turbines that do not allow people to have a night's sleep. I have been trying to think of a way to get through to those in government in order that they will understand how important it is that they listen to this. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is alongside the Taoiseach. In addition to them, how many parents, grandparents and...

Delivering Universal Healthcare: Statements (15 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: What we do not have in healthcare in Ireland is accountability. If we want to have proper healthcare, we need accountability. Since I first came to the House I have mentioned UHL. The previous speaker was involved in the appointment of the person who is over UHL. I have sought an investigation into that because of the ongoing crises there. It has been at the top of all the trolley lists...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (8 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, the best of luck in his new role. At the outset I must say that I am a block layer and a building contractor. I have been in the building sector all my life. One thing the Government never sees is the person who wants to buy his or her own house and we all hope that down the line, our children will be in a position to buy their own house. Do...

Europe Day: Statements (8 May 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: ...us in Europe in five years. They turn up on European election day looking for votes and say, "we are here again." They say they are here to represent Ireland in Europe. Some 70% of the regulations for Ireland come from Europe. Ireland is slowly and surely losing its identity in Europe. That goes back to the representatives we have sent into Europe for decades. As general secretary 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....

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,...

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...

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]

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (21 Mar 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I agree 100%. I am in business and if you look at any business in this country, whether you are self-employed, you are a limited company or whatever you are, you are held accountable by Revenue and by the Departments. You are held accountable by everyone. Why is Tusla not held accountable in the same way HIQA needs to be held accountable? Anyone who makes a decision if it is with...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (21 Mar 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: I agree with Senator Craughwell on this. It is something I have taken legal advice on during the week, both independent legal advice and from a lobby group. I listened to the details on this issue and the lobby group said the same thing. The worst thing that could happen is if it goes to the Supreme Court. At the moment, the Bill is in the Seanad, where amendments can be made and it can...