Results 121-140 of 1,433 for speaker:Micheál Carrigy

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank him for taking this Commencement matter, which relates to the voids programme. Under the Housing for All action plan, each local authority was targeted by the Department to reduce vacancy rates within its council housing stock. Longford County Council was given a target of reducing its 2021 vacancy rate of 7.2% to 3.5% in 2023. This was an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the Minister of State for what was a negative reply. Basically, the query I put concerns the fact that local authorities are being asked to deal with voids but they are not being compensated for the cost of doing so. The figure of €11,000 per house was decided in 2020. I have given the Minister of State figures on the increase in inflation, not just from the local authority...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I raise the national broadband plan and suggest we have a discussion with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, about the advice given as to where builds take place. I will speak in particular about one area in south Longford, the town of Ballymahon, and the general area, which is where the largest tourist infrastructure project and investment in the country is located but the area is not...

Seanad: Sports Funding: Statements (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister of State. I concur with all other Senators that increased funding is needed for sporting facility infrastructure. It is well known that it is important for young people to be involved in sports and to keep active for their well-being, physical and mental health and the benefits in later life of having been involved in sport. There was a recent announcement regarding...

Seanad: Sports Funding: Statements (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: Is that for new applications?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: My matter relates to Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in Keenagh, County Longford and the monastic site on Inchclearaun in Lough Ree. Corlea Trackway is a 2,000 year old Iron Age highway, which was uncovered in the bogs in south Longford. It has been developed into visitor site, managed by the OPW. Visitor numbers are quite low because it is not being promoted well enough. The range of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I am glad the Minister of State recognises the Corlea trackway is unique. We want to see further investment and expand the visitor numbers to the centre. I do not understand why clarification of the ownership of these items is being sought. They have been in the ownership of the OPW for the past 33 years and it is ironic it is now wondering about ownership and the requirements that will...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome to the Public Gallery Jack Fagan and Alex O'Brien, transition year students from Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard, who are here for the day to see what goes on behind the scenes in Leinster House. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 9 be taken before No. 1. I pay tribute to a former friend, colleague and political adviser of mine and of all of us in Fine...

Seanad: Civil Legal Aid (Neighbours’ Dispute Mediation Services) Bill 2023: First Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend and extend the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and to provide for related matters.

Seanad: Civil Legal Aid (Neighbours’ Dispute Mediation Services) Bill 2023: First Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: Next Tuesday.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I apologise for being late. I was struck by the comment made about drama here in Leinster House. Some people think there is already a drama group here and we would not need to set one up. Regarding outdoor spaces, this is the way to go. During the Covid-19 pandemic, several community groups in County Longford, where I am from, bought into this approach. We now have several outdoor...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: Yes. There used to be the 1% arts fund for community or arts projects in the regions. It now seems to be gone. What are the views of the witnesses on this fund being brought back? Would it be something they would support? About ten years ago, I undertook a project at home myself under the auspices of that fund. Approximately 1% of the cost of a capital project was spent in an area and...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local and Community Arts: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: Or leverage for putting pieces of art in place more so. That practice seems to have stopped.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: The Minister is very welcome. There are just a couple of points I wish to bring up. I am speaking as an ex-smoker for a long number of years. I have been off them for 20 years, thank God. I was in a school in Longford, with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, approximately 18 months ago, where a lady named Grace Kearney from the local family resource centre, Bridgeways in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, for securing an additional €1.3 million for Longford County Council in 2024 to cover the loss in rates following the closure of Lough Ree power station. It means that we will not have to cut services. In future, though, I ask that the Department agree multi-annual funding for Longford County Council so that we do...

Seanad: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I concur with the sentiments of both Senators Garvey and Murphy in congratulating the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, with regard to putting this in place. As has been said, people said this would not happen; it is now happening.It is important to acknowledge the significant funding the Government has put aside over the last 12 to 15 months, from the energy...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Schools Building Projects (25 Oct 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: This matter is in regard to an extension to Ardscoil Phádraig in Longford, where I have been on the board of management since I was elected in 2009. The school principal is Rosemary Johnston and the deputy principal is Bríd Nevin. The school is under the auspices of Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board and is a co-educational post-primary school located in north...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Schools Building Projects (25 Oct 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the Minister of State. We must give gratitude for the significant investment by the Government in schools building projects throughout the country. As she stated, the project is currently with the design team, which has submitted a stage 1 report. I ask that the report be expedited and dealt with straightaway in the context of continuing in the process. Is there a shortage of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I concur with what Senator Kyne's comments on school transport. There is an issue with school transport in my area and the same probably applies in every part of the country. In my own area there are children who have no school transport, yet we have people who are fully licensed and medically fit to drive buses. They can drive long distances to Cork, Dublin and Galway but they are not...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Oct 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister. I concur with all the comments that have been made. I congratulate my colleagues in Young Fine Gael who took on this campaign two years ago and have brought it to a stage where the Bill will be passed in the Seanad. If there was ever a prime example of what young people can do and how they can make changes in our country, this is it. It is an achievement be able to...