Results 121-140 of 676 for speaker:Emer Currie

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Support Services (15 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State. I feel that suburban and urban villages are being left behind. We are doing all this amazing work and we have set out the strategy. Suburban villages such as Ashtown, Ongar and Blanchardstown would really benefit from this. I know there are concerns about city centres, but it is a different thing. We are afraid of the worst-case scenario when the horse has...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: I find it hard to believe that any unionist would be shocked that the leader of Fine Gael aspires to a united Ireland. It is certainly not the first time the Tánaiste or others in the party have said so. He did so only months ago on a well publicised edition of the "Claire Byrne Live" programme. A united Ireland is a legitimate political aspiration, which is enshrined in the Good...

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for her remarks on the piloting of antigen testing. I wish to confirm my concern for those affected by the difficulties in aviation and with connectivity in general. Connectivity is so important for brand Ireland as well as for consumers and businesses. There is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the digital green certificate and people are...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Impact of Brexit on the Food and Drink Industry: Discussion (14 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: I thank the committee for accommodating me today. I raised in the Seanad when we were discussing Brexit the issue of the impact on the food and drink sector. The whiskey and dairy whiskey industries are exemplars of all-island co-operation. I very much hope we can resolve the issue. We have spoken about the protocol. It is great to hear at first hand from the representatives of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Ireland's Future (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: It nice to see everyone again and to meet Ms Harmon for the first time. I will pick up on a point Deputy Brendan Smith made about the Civic Forum. This is an aspect that I have raised, and I note people like Emma DeSouza fly the flag for the Civic Forum. To me, it is just a gaping hole in the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. That agreement belongs to everybody and mechanisms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Ireland's Future (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: I asked how the witnesses felt about encouraging multilateral progress. Throughout the document, it is stated that, if unionists do not come to the table, we should proceed. What are Ms Harmon's thoughts on how we can try as best as possible to make them part of the conversation? There is an emphasis in the document on politicians being part of this. How would Ms Harmon see that being managed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Ireland's Future (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: No, that is fine. I do not know if the Chairman also wishes to pitch in on the Fine Gael side.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: My children will thank us for this Bill. They stood outside their schools shouting "What do we want? Climate Action. When do we want it? Now." They started doing that when they were four and six years of age. In 2050, they will be 37 and 35 and because of this law, their children will not have to do that same thing. We will have a climate resilient biodiversity-rich environmentally...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Solar Panels for Public Buildings, Schools, Homes and Other Premises) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: This Bill is about breaking down barriers and putting climate action into the hands of communities. Whose hands could be better than the hands of children and empowering schools that are leading the way? This is not just about microgeneration' it is also about letting them know that they have control over their future. While the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jun 2021)

Emer Currie: Kon'nichiwa, a Chathaoirligh, and a happy one-year anniversary to both of us. He has been fair, fun and approachable and I can ask for no more. I want to raise the matter of Farmleigh estate. Farmleigh estate has 78 acres at the edge of Phoenix Park. The house accommodates dignitaries when they come to visit, but the grounds are open to the public. Last year, I was able to convince the...

Seanad: National Maternity Hospital: Statements (2 Jul 2021)

Emer Currie: There are incredibly clever and well-respected people on both sides of this debate and I want us to be fair to them all. Here is what I believe we can all agree on. We all agree we need a new maternity hospital. While Holles Street is full of rich clinical experience, it is infrastructurally poor and no longer fit for purpose. We all agree a new maternity hospital should be co-located...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Emer Currie: I was not going to speak on this legislation, but I then engaged with some publicans during the week and I want to reflect some of their views in this regard. I welcome the clarity that this legislation gives to them, the Garda and the local authorities. The point made to me by the publicans concerned how stressful it has been for publicans in recent months to be aware of the parameters...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cycling Facilities (5 Jul 2021)

Emer Currie: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am not going to ask him about anything that the Government does not already agree with in principle. The Liffey valley is recognised as a special amenity area. It is an area of outstanding beauty and special recreational value.The Minister of State will be aware it is recognised by Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council and the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cycling Facilities (5 Jul 2021)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for the update. It is encouraging to hear the cycling infrastructure and the appropriateness of the road network at the Strawberry Beds are on the radar, but I want them to be on the radar in the right way. This area cannot be a rat run for the M50. It should not just be there to accommodate people travelling from one side of the city to the other. The...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Emer Currie: I echo the sentiments expressed by other Senators. We do want to get to the point where companies with fewer than 50 employees will be part of this benchmarking. There is nothing to stop them doing it voluntarily but we do have to consider, with all of the pressures they are under, especially at present, whether they have the HR infrastructure to cope. There is also the capacity and...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Emer Currie: It is lovely to address Senator McDowell in the Chair. I am not the spokesperson for equality so I feel like I am gate-crashing Final Stage. I have been invested in this over the years. I left my job because of a lack of flexibility. I recognise that there are more than 60 Bills relating to employment and equality that we will work on. This is the benchmark. It is up to us to then...