Results 1-20 of 71 for speaker:Elisha McCallion

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Elisha McCallion: I thank Senator Norris for allowing me to speak. I am looking forward to working with all the Members in the term ahead. It gives me great pride and it is an honour to second the nomination of Senator Ó Donnghaile as Cathaoirleach. As the only other representative residing in the Six Counties it would be a fitting tribute, as has been pointed out by the previous speaker, to nominate...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Elisha McCallion: I am not from Kerry. Unfortunately, I have no stories to share with yourself. I did some work with you, a Chathaoirligh, in the Good Friday Agreement committee over recent times. I am not your cousin or your political cousin.

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Elisha McCallion: I do want to congratulate you on taking up the role today. I am deeply honoured to be standing here today, representing the people of the North. Quite a number of people have suggested that there is no representation from the North. Of course, that is not right. Two of us here live in the North. It is deeply disappointing, however, as has been said by many other Members, that we do not...

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

Elisha McCallion: I want to begin by echoing some comments made by fellow Members on the extension of maternity leave and putting it on record that I fully support the campaign as well. I want to discuss an issue of serious concern to me. It should be of serious concern to all Members in this Chamber. Since the establishment of the institutions in the North, we have yet to see the convening of the...

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

Elisha McCallion: It is welcome news that An Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, is meeting with the joint First Ministers of the North, Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill, next week. However, at this early stage, can I invite the new Taoiseach to visit Derry and the north west to discuss how the Irish Government can assist the regeneration of a region that, as I have previously outlined, has been devastated by...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: As has been done by other Members, I, too, send my condolences to Jack's family, but I want to speak about a living soccer legend. James McClean is an outstanding young man. He is a father, a son, a brother and a husband. James McClean is proud to be Irish. He is proud of his roots in Derry and he is loved by the people of Derry where he grew up. He is also an outstanding soccer player...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (16 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: I take the opportunity, while debating this Bill, to highlight a serious situation for businesses whose operations straddle the Border. They are facing the prospect of being cut off from potential funding from the EU for their businesses because of the Border and because the British Government has decided to leave the EU. These are some of the most vulnerable businesses in the country. The...

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

Elisha McCallion: Notwithstanding what my colleague has said about us opposing the Bill as presented today, I can do the maths and I acknowledge that it is highly unlikely that our opinion will carry. On that note, I call on the proposed new Minister with responsibility for the potential new Department to meet representatives of the north-west Cross-border further and higher education cluster that was...

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

Elisha McCallion: Over the past few days, we have heard many people discuss, and quite rightly so, the need for people across the island to staycation, as the concept has become known. It is right for so many reasons that we encourage those who are fortunate enough to be able to afford a holiday to stay on the island, not least because it would help our economy and industry.It also encourages people to learn...

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

Elisha McCallion: On behalf of the Sinn Féin team, I also welcome the Minister to the House. I have no doubt that he has a mighty task ahead of him but he will have our support in doing his job in the time ahead. I am not sure whether it is a compliment to be held in such high regard by the current British Prime Minister but I assure the Minister that I will not hold that against him in the time ahead....

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (29 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: I extend my welcome to the Minister to the Chamber and wish her well in her job in the time ahead. The Bill is designed to legally regularise assistance for the many people who have lost their jobs or whose jobs have been put on hold due to the pandemic. Of course, we want the payment to be put on a strong, statutory footing, and with that in mind, we will support the Bill.The Government is...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak on the proposed amendments. The ignorance across the board as to how the North is actually governed is somewhat shocking. I am really shocked that the Minister does not even know the currency we use in the North. We use sterling.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: She referred to euro amounts on several occasions. She should also know that, unfortunately, the British Government sets the rates, much to my pain. If we continue the conversation about the need for the long-overdue reunification of this country, that will be sorted in the future. The ignorance in this Chamber is startling. It scares me but it does not surprise me. It does not surprise...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: Will the Minister check this information? The information we obtained from the European Commission two weeks ago states very clearly it is within the gift of the member state to make the payment. I ask the officials to look at this again. Certainly as far as Europe is concerned, if there were a willingness from the Government to make a payment, it would have no issue with it. What seems...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: In order that the matter is not closed off, if it is the case that what I am saying is correct, can we then look at some sort of regulation that can be brought in after the legislation is passed to ensure that these people actually get a payment?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: If they-----

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: The Minister is telling me that if it could be done she would have done it. If I can prove to the Minister that it can be done can we then do it?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Elisha McCallion: It is, reluctantly.

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

Elisha McCallion: I welcome the fact that tomorrow we will have the first meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council. It is a very important meeting, as everyone will agree, and an important forum as part of the all-Ireland framework as together we try to deal with the many issues that face us on an all-Ireland basis. Not least of those is the current pandemic and what seems to be the strong possibility,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2020)

Elisha McCallion: I bring to the attention of the Leader a matter on which I have written to the Minister for Health and which colleagues in the North have also raised. Issues have arisen with tracking and tracing of cross-Border workers. I ask that we immediately find out for employers what the current protocols are for employees who reside in the South but live in the North and vice versa because there...