Results 1-20 of 714 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: As I am speaking for the first time, I congratulate you, a Chathaoirligh, on your position and wish you well. I will be brief but I want raise the issue of a new building for the boys' national school in Cahir in Tipperary. The previous Government and previous Ministers, Deputies McHugh and Bruton, were proactive in supporting schools and new structures, buildings and extensions....

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his appointment. It is a Department that will be extremely important in the next couple of years and I am sure someone with his drive and energy will be a success in it. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill and the expansion in supports it brings about through Microfinance Ireland. Given the vital measures...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: This week, in my native county of Tipperary and around the country, tillage farmers have started the harvest season. Anyone who comes from a farming family will know how exciting this time of year, when harvest starts, is. I read during the week that Bord Bia cannot insist on Irish grain being used in the grass-fed beef standard. That is really disappointing. We are promoting our beef...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I also welcome the Bill before the House, which is the largest credit guarantee scheme in the history of the State. It has been brought in on the day we are announcing the largest stimulus package in the history of the State. It certainly shows the Government is recognising the supports that businesses throughout the country need. This is...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: Now.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I wish to share my time with Senator Lombard. We will have four minutes each.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and congratulate him on his new position. It has been a busy period for him and that will continue to be the case. He indicated that these are short-term measures to give reassurance and support to businesses. That is exactly what is provided for in the Bill, namely, certain supports and reassurance so that they can survive in the short term....

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: Now.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: Now.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: Now.

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and wish him well in his new portfolio. Everyone across the country is wishing him well for the coming months. It is important to acknowledge the welcome news about Covid-19 and the reduction in the R-nought number. It might be early stages yet, but this shows that the cautious approach the Minister recommended to Cabinet last week was correct. That...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister and wish her well in her new role. I have two questions, one of which relates to yesterday's announcement and the second to a local school. Do the guidelines set out yesterday regarding school transport extend to after-school services that provide a drop-off and collection service for parents? I know a business in Clonmel involving three carriers collecting, on...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome this morning's announcement of €200,000 in funding for the Suir blueway. This is part of €4.5 million worth of funding from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment for 26 blueway and greenway projects throughout the country. The blueway in Tipperary, as Members will be aware, goes from Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel. This extra funding will add...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Sep 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to her Chamber. It is apt that our first sitting in the Seanad Chamber has our own Minister of State present. I also welcome this Bill that is being put forward. It has been mentioned a number of times today that the Bill is being brought forward in a speedy manner and that is a good thing. This industry has gone down 35% in the past year. If anything...

Seanad: Safe Reopening of Tertiary Sector and Key Priorities for Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Garret Ahearn: There are many topics we could discuss in higher education. I welcome the Minister of State here today. The Minister touched on mental health in his opening remarks. I welcome what he said about prioritising the funding that was announced last month and that must go first and foremost towards counselling services. I have three questions which the Minister of State might be able to answer...

Seanad: School Transport, Leaving Certificate 2020 and Reopening of Schools: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. Senator Dooley has delivered for Clare and his own home on that. I will be brief as we are caught for time. I congratulate the Minister on the opening of schools and the process she went through to make that a success and I wish her well in that. I have two issues to raise and they have been spoken about by most Senators today.I echo Senator Wall's very...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I would like to discuss sport. Does the Deputy Leader agree that sport can play a huge part in helping communities and organisations throughout the country to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic in the coming months and years? Does the Deputy Leader agree that the €70 million that was ring-fenced for support for all sports clubs throughout the country during the summer months was very...

Seanad: Statutory Right to Sick Leave Pay: Motion (7 Oct 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the Chamber this evening. I will be supporting the Government countermotion. It is recognised that there is no statutory sick pay in Ireland, and we are an outlier among EU member states in this regard. As was mentioned earlier, Ireland is one of only five countries in Europe that does not have sick pay. We have illness benefit, which is...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. We are living in a different time at the moment and this budget reflects that space we are in now in terms of the amount of money we are borrowing and investing. We are, however, doing the right thing. As Senator Chambers mentioned, it seems almost impossible to be against this budget with the amount of money we are investing in it but, somehow, the...