Results 61-80 of 717 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: The national development plan review process is due to finish on 19 February. The national development plan currently includes the N24 road from Limerick to Waterford. It is being done in two phases. The first phase is from Cahir to Limerick Junction, which is approximately 35 km in length, and a consultation process with the public representatives has already taken place. The second...

Seanad: Mental Health and Covid-19: Statements (12 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad. I congratulate her on the work she has done since she became Minister of State with responsibility for mental health issues. She has taken a lead on an awful lot of projects. It is an extremely difficult time for people but she has an extremely important role at the moment. On a personal level, I thank her for the commitment she has shown to...

Seanad: Remote Working Strategy: Motion (15 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the Chamber. I welcome the motion and congratulate my colleague, Senator Currie, on the work she has done on this. Long before most people were speaking about remote working or Covid-19, the Senator was advocating a change in view in how we will work and live in future. From all of the contributions, most people recognise the importance...

Seanad: Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and acknowledge the incredible work he has been doing over the past months tackling the virus. Although the numbers today are high, with 771 in hospital and 151 in ICU, they are dropping and that is positive. Today, the positivity rate is below 5%, I think for the first time since Christmas. That is very significant and welcome. On the vaccine...

Seanad: National Climate and Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector: Statements (22 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and thank him for the work he has been doing in recent months in the agricultural industry. It has been a very difficult time for farmers and different sectors of agriculture. He is working hard in the Department to resolve many of the problems. I welcome the discussion, the climate and air roadmap and what the Minister is trying to do in that regard....

Seanad: Councillors' Pay: Motion (22 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. The greatest honour I have ever had was to be elected to Tipperary County Council and subsequently to become mayor of my home town of Clonmel. My father was a county councillor for ten years and my mother served as a councillor for 18 or 19 years before being elected to Dáil Éireann. I have lived in a household of local...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I add my words to those of Senator Pauline O'Reilly and others in welcoming the publication of the White Paper on direct provision this morning. It is important to highlight that this was a Government commitment but it is also important to recognise and acknowledge the role the Green Party played in this when joining government. I hope the provisions will be implemented by 2024. I wish to...

Seanad: Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and thank him for the work he is doing and the contribution he is making, particularly on cycleways and walkways. Tipperary has benefited on the back of his work. The work he is doing is extremely genuine. He, in particular, is very genuine. The N24 is probably the worst road between two cities in the country. The average speed on it is well below...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I acknowledge the number of times the Minister has come to the Seanad, which is very much appreciated. Any time he has been asked to come, he has, and I thank him for that. I welcome this Bill. As Senator Byrne said, it is funny how Opposition Members seem consistently to change their tack on a few things. They are now all in favour of total...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: Yes, Senator Keogan said that.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: The real message we need to get out is that while this is an important measure which will hopefully reduce numbers, it is not the only measure. Anyone who thinks locking down the country to prevent people coming in will stop this virus on its own is completely mistaken. There are measures we can all individually take and it is important we do so. Looking at the protests in Dublin at the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I wish everyone a happy International Women's Day. I have said previously in the Chamber that I am very proud to be a son of a former Deputy, but I am even more proud that it was my mother, because of the obstacles and challenges she had. She was once told that because she had four young boys, she could not possibly be a Deputy. In 1989, however, she became a Deputy, and the first thing we...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (8 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: It is always lovely to follow Senator Garvey with the passion and commitment she has in her contributions. I echo everything she said, particularly on the motivations behind motions such as this. I always get the sense from contributions from the other side, particularly from Sinn Féin, that it is almost about trying to create a division between renters and home owners or renters and...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (8 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: Almost everything that has succeeded in solving the problem was rejected by Sinn Féin. Every time Sinn Féin rejects something, it means it is working.

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (8 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: Sinn Féin cannot take ownership of this. You are trying to do what you do in every sector of society, which is create division.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the announcement by the Government yesterday allowing visits to nursing homes from 22 March. This has been an incredibly difficult time for everyone in the country, but it has been most difficult for residents in nursing homes and their families, not being able to have the weekly visits and the comfort they would receive from family members. I welcome the fact visits will now go...

Seanad: Family Leave Bill 2021: Second Stage (12 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber today and thank him for the work he has been doing on this matter over the past number of weeks. I also want to thank him for facilitating Zoom meetings and briefings he gave beforehand. They were very helpful and more Ministers should be encouraged to do this. I welcome this Bill to increase a parent's leave from two weeks to five weeks over a...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. This is the first opportunity I have had to speak with him here and I wish him well in his role. I listened to his statement at the start of the debate. I welcome the review and his comments regarding the need to review costs. This year, we have spent more money than we have ever spent in any calendar year. When putting together a plan for going...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (26 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Acting Chairman, Senator Boyhan, and acknowledge that he has connections to the wonderful county of Tipperary. I welcome the Minister to the House and thank her for taking this Commencement matter. I am aware that she attaches importance not only to this matter but to all Garda stations. Built in 1870, Clonmel Garda station has been operating for 150 years. It is located in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (26 Mar 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister for her response and her commitment to the Garda station, in particular that it will be part of the capital plan next year. That is really important. Like every project we as a Government put forward, it is not until people see the diggers and something happening on the ground that they fully believe it will go ahead. There is excitement among the staff. The work they...