Results 1-20 of 1,759 for speaker:Lynn Boylan

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Lynn Boylan: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. I also offer my congratulations on your election to the Chair. You were a great ally to me when we were doing the "Free Ibrahim" campaign and I hope we can continue to work together on such human rights issues. I remember in 2009 when I was tallying in a community centre in Kerry and I realised then that there is no challenge more futile than a Dub trying to get...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (7 Jul 2020)

Lynn Boylan: It is a privilege for me to second the nomination of my friend and comrade Senator Warfield for the role of Leas-Chathaoirleach. I have known him for many years and we have campaigned together in south Dublin. I was proud to see him take on the role of mayor of South Dublin County Council when he was only a newly-elected councillor. One of the things that stands out about Senator Warfield...

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

Lynn Boylan: I offer my condolences to the Keegan family on the passing of Christine Keegan. She had to fight for 39 years for justice for her two daughters, Mary and Martina, who perished in the Stardust fire in 1981. For decade after decade, this State has treated the families of the victims of the Stardust fire shabbily. It tarred a working-class community with lies and subjected it to cover-ups....

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I know the purpose of today's Bill is to amend the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 to facilitate the establishment of the climate action fund on a statutory basis. Given that we are in a climate emergency, a climate action fund is essential so we can carry out the necessary mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce our emissions and to protect those communities most vulnerable to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Jul 2020)

Lynn Boylan: On Tuesday, EU leaders hailed an agreement on the Covid recovery package and the multi-annual financial framework. However, what slipped under the radar was the slashing of the just transition fund and an undermining of its implementation. The flagship just transition fund was promoted by the EU and was set up to start help carbon intensive economies ditch fossil fuels. On Tuesday, its...

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

Lynn Boylan: As a person new to the House, I would like to know whether it is normal practice that amendment deadlines fall prior to our receiving the substantiated text of a Bill, as is the case with the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020 that is coming before the House on Friday. If it is, it seems a very bizarre way to do business. I want to raise the issue of the mid-Shannon wilderness...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jul 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I use today's Order of Business to ask the Deputy Leader of the House if she supports the comments of her party colleague, Deputy Marc MacSharry. Deputy MacSharry, on a salary of approximately €96,000, has accused public servants of laziness and using the Covid-19 crisis as an excuse to lie on the couch and watch box sets. Apart from the ignorance and offensiveness of those comments,...

Seanad: Skellig Star Direct Provision Centre and the Future of Direct Provision: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I thank the Minister for making time to come in. I will talk a little bit about the broader issue of direct provision. As awful as the situation at the Skellig Star centre is, it is simply the outworking of a cruel system. This cruel system will be a stain on the State for years to come. It is a system that belittles and demeans residents.I will give an example of the experience in direct...

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

Lynn Boylan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important legislation relating to the forestry appeals process. I share the disappointment of my colleague, Senator Boyhan, at the rushed nature of this Bill. The Minister of State opened a public consultation process on a bank holiday weekend over the summer holiday period. The quality of the consultation was obviously going to suffer and lo and...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I have not even come in on this amendment.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I wish to make two points. If the Minister of State is saying that 28 days is an ample period of time, that is one thing. It is another thing, however, to accept that the Minister has the powers to reduce that period to 14 days. Most people would say that 14 days is a short period of time, especially given that it can take up to six weeks to get access to information, as my colleagues have...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I move amendment No. 29: In page 5, line 26, after “appeal.” to insert the following: “Any such directions have to be consistent with providing for fairness of procedures and in providing wide access to the review mechanism of the Forestry Appeals Committee.”.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: Senator Higgins has laid out the key concerns and rationale behind amendments Nos. 34 and 35. Earlier, we pointed to the restrictions relating to the time and the 28-day period, as well as to the ability of the Minister of State to reduce the period to 14 days. We pointed to how it may take up to six weeks for people to get the information they require. Now, however, there is a barrier in...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: On the point the Minister of State made, I want to make sure she is correct. My understanding is that when a decision is made, only the headline information is made available to the person who has made an observation and such persons are then directed by the Department to make an access of information request for the further details. Is the Minister of State saying that is not the case? My...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: The Senator is not speaking to an amendment. This is a point of order.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I know the Minister of State said she checked this, but I have it on good authority from various people who have been forced to make access to information requests for that information.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I ask the Minister of State to give us a guarantee that will not happen in the future.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: I move amendment No. 56: In page 8, to delete lines 22 to 24.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: Senator Ruane has set out the concerns we have around fees and the requirement under the Aarhus Convention for them not to be prohibitively expensive. We are not aware of what the fee will be. If it is to be aligned with the planning process, starting at €220, the cost would accumulate very quickly. Appeals on forestry are very different from appeals on planning permission and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Lynn Boylan: Yesterday, the Future of Media Commission was established. It is something that both the National Union of Journalists and I have sought for a very long time. Fully independent and sustainable media that hold those in powerful positions to account are vital to any functioning democracy and recently we have seen that important role played out in golfgate. I welcome the establishment of the...