Results 201-220 of 671 for speaker:Tom Clonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: I apologise that I was not here earlier. I am also a member of the Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, which is sitting at the same time. I will have to go back into that meeting shortly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: I thank our guests for their contributions. Caring is the pathway to independent living. I was disappointed to read the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment. It allows the State to step back from its obligations and to put that into our Constitution would be a travesty. I do not know what to think about it yet but I was disappointed to see the wording as it is. I have one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: Who, in effect, is the lead agency through which the funding has to be accessed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: For the CAS funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: My final question, on disabled citizens’ voices, is for Ms Weldon and Ms Kenny. Ms Weldon said that we should move forward ideally by co-creating, not just by consulting or, as is often the case, saying, “Take it or leave it”. Most commonly, people are told there is nothing for them, meaning they must rely on their elderly parents until they go into crisis, after which,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: I have to go, unfortunately, because I have to attend a meeting in the committee room next door. It was really great to meet our guests. I am just so sorry to have to leave. I thank them for their time. It is late in the evening. We appreciate it. I apologise to the Chair.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: Several weeks ago, I had a Commencement matter about the Snunu family - a Syrian woman, Nouralhuda, and her three children, Ahmet, Mohamed and Rital. Rital is a little girl; she is only three years old. They have been detained in Kuala Lumpur International Airport since May in a small room with a hole in the ground for toileting. The temperature is over 30°C with massive humidity....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: On a point of order, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: I apologise for this. I was in my office and I heard a contribution on the floor that identified a family from Bangladesh and the small town in which they are now living.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: It is a small village. I think that exposes them to hostile scrutiny and possibly worse. We should have a discussion and a healthy debate about immigration and the challenges we have with housing and accommodation. We should absolutely have a debate, but it is wrong and unethical to highlight one particular family in this way given the volatile scenes we have seen recently.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: I am very upset by it and I would be terrified that that family and their children will be exposed to hostile scrutiny or possibly worse. I am asking the Cathaoirleach whether we have any scope to remove that from the record.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Tom Clonan: It is no disrespect to the speaker whatsoever.

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister for coming in. I hope I have enough time to say what I want to say. The most important people in all this are the victims of the stabbings last Thursday. I preface anything I am going to say with that. I am not looking for anybody's resignation or sacking. What we need now is solidarity and a bit of unity in this House, but in order to do that, we have to face the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: I echo the expressions of sympathy to the Honan family on the loss of Tras Honan.I also echo Senator Dooley’s comments about Dublin city. As a proud Dubliner, I am dismayed to see the city descend into anarchy as it did. I wrote an article inTheJournal.ie on 21 October in which I predicted precisely this set of circumstances. I think a Rubicon has been passed in that members of An...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: I do not think she is for turning on it but can we have a debate on just ratifying the protocol?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Restoration of Oireachtas Library and Reading Room: Motion (28 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Restoration of Oireachtas Library and Reading Room: Motion (28 Nov 2023)

Tom Clonan: I commend the work Senator McDowell has done on this issue. As a newcomer to these Houses, I was shocked to learn that the library in its current form was to be dispensed with. I have always had access to a library as an academic. What is a library?A library is the most powerful engine for arriving at the truth, with data, evidence, facts and nuance. As parliamentarians, we are...

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

Tom Clonan: I remind the House of the situation that confronts hundreds of disabled children who are still languishing on waiting lists for complex spinal surgery in Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals. To add to this injury, there is the assertion that they will not be referred abroad for treatment. We rightly raised the issue of the children who are suffering in Gaza, thousands of whom are dying, but...