Results 1-20 of 740 for speaker:Annie Hoey

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Annie Hoey: I offer my congratulations to the Cathaoirleach. I am very new to all this and so I do not have great accolades to go back on. I was struck by the fact that, this time three years ago, I was packing up my office and leaving the student movement where I had been the president of the Union of Students in Ireland, USI. I did not know what I was doing, where I was going or what was going to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Annie Hoey: This time four years ago the Cassells report on the future funding of higher education was launched. Today I was announced as the Labour Party spokesperson on higher education. At the time of the report's launch, there was great energy around. It was thought that we would solve the funding crisis in the higher education sector. Obviously, that has not happened. We often use the phrase...

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

Annie Hoey: The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind for students and the education sector. Yesterday saw the launch of the further education and training, FET, strategy, which I warmly welcome. I look forward to working with the Minister and the further education sector on vital issues relating to upskilling, training and skills. Yesterday, too, the Labour Party launched its July stimulus which called...

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

Annie Hoey: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I reiterate my Labour Party colleague's support for the Bill. We broadly agree with the principle of developing a €500 million climate action fund from the proceeds of an existing levy paid by all companies and using it for climate action projects to decarbonise the economy. It is not, however, a suitable long-term plan to fund our climate...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Annie Hoey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him on his appointment. We met on the radio yesterday, so it is nice to meet him in person across the Chamber. On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome this Bill, which demonstrates a commitment from the Government to higher and further education. The new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Annie Hoey: It is disappointing that the amendment has been included in the Bill. I reiterate the Labour Party's support for the foundation of the Department of further and higher education, research, innovation and science, recognising that learning needs to be a continuum from early years through lifelong and adult learning, so it is disappointing the amendment is included. The previous two speakers...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jul 2020)

Annie Hoey: I will speak about direct provision and some serious concerns raised by residents of direct provision centres about how they are treated. These are based on recent correspondence residents received from the international protection accommodation service, IPAS, regarding those who leave direct provision overnight and similar matters. The correspondence states that in line with previous public...

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Annie Hoey: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus guím comhghairdeas agus gach rath uirthi ina ról nua. The Minister comes into this position at a challenging time with huge decisions around the reopening of schools and indeed the reform of the sector as a whole, with the creation of the new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research,...

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

Annie Hoey: Over the weekend I spoke on the Labour Youth panel at our Tom Johnson Summer School about the issue of tackling systemic racism. The speakers on the panel were Amanda Nyoni from the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, MASI, Bernard Joyce from the Irish Traveller Movement, and Dr. Ebun Joseph, who is an incredible lecturer. If Members have a free moment I suggest they take the time to...

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

Annie Hoey: I thank the Minister for coming here today and I look forward to the work to be done by both her Department and that of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on the matter. I will speak specifically about the Cahersiveen case, using many of the words of the people who are there. In their words, the people in Cahersiveen are already victims of trauma, including torture and rape. There...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jul 2020)

Annie Hoey: I would like to offer my thanks to the ushers and to the other staff of the Oireachtas. They have shown great kindness and have made me feel very welcome, as have many people in this Chamber. I hope everyone working here also gets a wonderful break. The Boyne valley is less than an hour away, so they might zip up there and have a look-see. I would like to take a moment to refer to the...

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

Annie Hoey: I welcome the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, to the House. It is a great honour to see one of our colleagues elevated to the role of Minister of State and it is great to have her here. There is no doubt that there is a crisis in forestry licences and there is an impact due to delays. I am cognisant of the delays and the impact these have on individuals. Forestry in Ireland, including...

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

Annie Hoey: There is no clock in here, which makes things a little more difficult.

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

Annie Hoey: That is no problem. I welcome the Minister here. I am delighted that there is a Minister with responsibility for further and higher education, innovation, research and science because those are my favourite topics in the world. I am thrilled that there is a Minister focused on the area. I could take the Minister on a whistle-stop tour of all the different things I could talk about. I...

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

Annie Hoey: I welcome the Minister to the House. It is great to get to address her for a second time. It is a great opportunity to get to look at what has happened recently and to delve a little further into the reopening of our schools and other recent issues. I fear, however, that what we are now seeing in primary and secondary education are the chickens coming home to roost and all the issues Fine...

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

Annie Hoey: I will join in on this jingle-jangle of amendments. I will specifically speak to amendments Nos. 26 to 28, inclusive. When we were first spoke about removing the provision regarding the relevant person, I commended the Minister. I echo Senator Higgins's concern that this measure may find its way back in through another mechanism. The people who may seek to make an appeal in a given case...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Annie Hoey: Senator Annie Hoey of the Labour Party, Agricultural Panel.

Seanad: HSE Winter Plan: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

Annie Hoey: Winter is always an extraordinarily difficult time in our health service, whether one is a healthcare worker, a patient or one who is anxious about a loved one in hospital. My party colleague, Deputy Kelly, raised the issue of the flu vaccine in the Dáil. We are seeking an update on that issue because there is serious concern among general practitioners and many other sectors of...

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

Annie Hoey: I am glad we are discussing this motion here again, as it gives us in the Labour Party another chance to implore the Green Party, Fianna Fáil, and Fine Gael to reconsider the Government decision to kick the issue of sick pay down the line. As my colleague, Senator Higgins, said, the amendment includes the line, "an alternative to sick pay", which I think is a laudable thing to put in,...

Seanad: Leaving Certificate 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Annie Hoey: I thank the Minister for coming again to the House. She has been in and out regularly and we all appreciate her taking the time to be lambasted by questions about what has obviously been a challenging and difficult time for her. We accept that she has an enormous amount on her plate. She has dealt with reopening schools and had a lot of inherited messes to deal with. I do not think any of...