Results 1-20 of 860 for speaker:Erin McGreehan

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Erin McGreehan: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his election. He is a very strong and true republican, just like myself. I come from a long tradition of true Irish republicanism. As that republican, I am incredibly proud to stand here today as a worthy Taoiseach's nominee, not just a party member, given some Senators want to put down these nominees. We are hard-working people. We are here with a...

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

Erin McGreehan: I have a few issues to raise. It is almost a matter of what not to raise after listening to the contributions of all the other Senators. I lend my support to the calls for the extension of maternity leave. I have had four babies. It is a very strange and vulnerable time. I have not had one during the pandemic but one cannot underestimate the worries and fears of a young family going...

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

Erin McGreehan: I ask the Leader to request that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy O'Gorman, come to the House. As all Members are aware, there is a serious crisis in the childcare industry. Many mothers of young babies or older children are trying to go back to work, but are prevented from doing so by a lack of childcare facilities. This goes back to the issue of the under-resourcing...

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

Erin McGreehan: I want to raise several issues. Yesterday, we saw the second meeting of the Ireland-Northern Ireland Specialised Committee between the UK Government and the European Commission. At this stage in the transition period, the Commission wanted a lot more done. For example, it wanted an office in Belfast, which was originally agreed by the UK but then denied. I requested that Dundalk be an...

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

Erin McGreehan: I echo the concerns of my colleague, Senator McGahon, on the Scallywags crèche in Togher. It is a viable business and it must be reopened. I hope to work with the Minister and Senator McGahon on that case. I wish to highlight some good news. I congratulate the Taoiseach on the hard-won funding agreed in Europe this week, particularly that under the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP....

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

Erin McGreehan: I echo the concerns expressed by Senator O'Reilly on the serious issue of domestic violence. Women's Aid and Safe Ireland need resources and we need to work on preventing domestic violence and protecting women. I also echo Senator McCallion's contribution on cross-Border tourism. Last week, I stated that the North-South Ministerial Council should look at connecting and joining forces in...

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

Erin McGreehan: I welcome the July stimulus which provides €4 billion in direct expenditure, €1 billion for taxation measures to directly support businesses and €2 billion in credit guarantees, as well as the new employment wage support schemes, the restart grant and €2 million investment in training and education. The list goes on. On the day of the announcement, the leader of...

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

Erin McGreehan: I welcome the Minister to the House. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him the very best in his difficult position. I very much welcome this Bill to the House. It marks another step in trying to achieve the Sláintecare principle of universal access to care at low cost or no cost. It is a great sign of the way this Government is going when one of its first Bills through...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Erin McGreehan: I am sharing time with Senator Blaney. I thank the Minister and welcome her to the House. I will leave all the statistics and formalities. The Minister's is the single most important Department for us as a country to express who we are and who we wish to become. I look forward to the Minister's term of office and the progress she will make in ensuring a diverse, sustainable and inclusive...

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Erin McGreehan: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today. She is very welcome. I congratulate her on the Trojan work she has done in the few short weeks since her appointment. There was certainly no honeymoon period for the Minister and it is a phenomenal achievement on her part that, four weeks in the position, she has announced one of the biggest packages we have ever seen in the education...

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

Erin McGreehan: I echo the sentiments of Senator McCallion on the North-South Ministerial Council and the special committee on Brexit. I want to raise the issue of the stockpiling of medicines. The global pandemic has placed great strain on the lives of many people over recent months. We have seen heroic work by those on the front line in the health sector. The Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19...

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

Erin McGreehan: I take the opportunity to call for a debate on women's health, including the need for a women's health strategy and a proper action plan. For too long we have had a situation where women's health is ignored. Unfortunately, we have recently seen the consequences of that failure, which can be a matter of life and death. A specific issue I would like to see examined is fertility. There are...

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

Erin McGreehan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for this opportunity to speak on the Bill. I congratulate the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, on bringing this Bill to the House. It must be a great honour to be here as Senator and Minister of State, only the fifth in the history of the State and the first in my lifetime. It is a truly historic day for Senator Hackett, standing as a Seanadóir in this...

Seanad: Withdrawal Agreement Between the United Kingdom and the European Union: Motion (23 Sep 2020)

Erin McGreehan: I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on the first Private Members' motion of the sitting of the Seanad. Senators will all agree that it is timely. Brexit has unfortunately been a word that has haunted us Border and northern people for years now. We have been tortured by the what-ifs. What if there is a hard border? What will be the consequences and what will happen? After years of...

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

Erin McGreehan: The Minister is very welcome. I congratulate her on the reopening of schools, which was a mammoth task. Things are not perfect, but in the main it is positive that our children are back at school, back with their friends, and are working well in the bubbles and pods. I know my children are very happy with the rules. They are so happy to be back with their teachers, their routine and their...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2020)

Erin McGreehan: I echo Senator Seery Kearney’s views on disability permits. The system is antiquated and the exact same issues are raised with me constantly. I want to raise two issues. First, I would like to hear from the Minister with responsibility for communications on the roll-out of the national broadband plan, which has been unacceptably delayed. I have been contacted by many parents...

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Erin McGreehan: After that contribution, I may as well throw away my speech and just thank the Minister. It is great to have a Minister come into the House who is so open to improving the lives of children and all citizens of our nation. All Senators agree that the screening of newborns is among the most important screening programmes. I know people who, because they were born in Newry, were screened for...

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Erin McGreehan: I apologise, I thought I had longer. I just want to ask the Minister-----

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Erin McGreehan: That is fine, I just want to ask the Minister to prioritise childhood development checks. I appreciate his time, effort and candour here today.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Tests (7 Oct 2020)

Erin McGreehan: I welcome the Minister of State. It is good to see her in the House. I thank her for the opportunity to raise this issue, which many people have been contacting me about in recent days and weeks. Indeed, many of my colleagues across all parties have been raising it as well. I must stress the disbelief I felt when I heard that the Covid centre in Dundalk was to close and that Ardee was to...