Results 1-20 of 66 for speaker:Sarah O'Reilly

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: The recent RTÉ exposé on nursing homes in Dublin and Laois was heartbreaking to watch. Vulnerable elderly people - our mothers, fathers, grandparents and neighbours - were left without dignity and proper care. Yet, the Government continues to outsource elder care to private corporations, many of which put the bottom line before people. It was shocking to watch an elderly man ask...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: On a point of clarity, it was announced on 13 May, yet all Oireachtas Members in Cavan received a letter from the housing authority in Cavan on 28 May. That was after the announcement. Applications are in and so when the application-----

Seanad: Delivering a World-Class Education System: Statements (12 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: At the outset, I commend the good work of many in the education system. We all want a world-class education system that allows every child to real his or her full potential. However, too many people feel that the Department of Education and Youth is ignoring the voices of those who matter most, namely students, parents and teachers, many of whom have contacted me. There are hundreds of...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank Senator Flynn and the Civil Engagement Group for their work on this issue. I agree with all the amendments and fully support their proposals. It is beyond time that our laws be updated so that images of child abuse are referred to as what they are. We have a very serious problem of child trafficking and child sexual exploitation in this country. Aontú has exposed a number...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: How long have I got?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I thank the Minister for coming to speak to the committee today. In his opening statement, he said on the carer's allowance "... with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government." While this is a positive step and the cost of caring and loss of income are a heavy burden for families, carers often provide 24-7 support and should not...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: My other question concerns workers in Wellman International. Will the Minister answer why a multimillion-euro multinational company has used a tax loophole to cut ties with its subsidiary, gone into examinership and can only offer statutory redundancy, citing lack of funds? It is a multimillion-euro industry. The people who worked there all their lives are being offered statutory...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Deputy Guirke mentioned the lack of supports for people who were self-employed. There is also bogus self-employment. What is the Department doing to clamp down on that kind of thing? We have seen what has been happening with RTÉ. Basically, employees were being categorised as contractors. I actually think the Department knew about this. What will it do in the future to clamp down...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: That is good to hear. On a point of clarity, the Gender Recognition Act 2015 falls under the Department's remit. I was not asking about Scottish legislation; I was only giving it as example. I was asking the Minister if he would commit to amending the Gender Recognition Act 2015. It falls under the Department's remit. As we speak, there are three men in Limerick women's prison, one of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (10 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this important issue. She is aware that Wellman International, based in Mullagh, County Cavan, recently went into examinership. Serious concerns have been raised regarding the future of the company and the rights of its employees. There are more than 200 jobs at risk. The company has been an established employer in the area for more...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (10 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: The Minister of State did not answer any of my questions with concrete solutions. She has a lot of hope and talks a lot about hope. The Government said it was well aware of what was happening. If it was well aware, why did it continue pumping taxpayers' money into a business it knew was going into examinership? These workers are supporting families. They poured years of their lives and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Two weeks ago, an online survey commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on providing supports for the forgotten farmers closed. Like many others, I welcomed the allocation of €5 million in the 2025 budget to support the men and women who, due to restrictions in agricultural policy and administrative delays at the time and through no fault of their own, were...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I was at a very informative presentation yesterday given by EDIT in the audiovisual room. One of the women speaking spoke about her issues with the current inheritance tax system. She does not have any children, and she has a sister with a disability. She wants to make sure that her sister is set up for life if, God forbid, she should pass. She cannot leave more than €40,000 to her...

Seanad: Ireland's Economic Outlook: Statements (28 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. Ireland risks fines of between €8 billion and €26 billion if we fail to meet the EU climate targets. I believe we were set up for a sure fail on unreachable targets and our Government obediently and knowingly signed us up for inevitable failure. In 2008, when the economic crash came, the Government incentivised farmers to produce...

Seanad: Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2025: Second Stage (28 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I am happy to support this Bill today. I am disappointed it is not going any further for another 18 months. Implementing a Bill like this would be a necessary and long overdue intervention in the fight against the decay and neglect that is eating away at the heart of our towns and villages. Throughout the country more than 100,000 homes lie vacant or derelict while families queue for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I commend the O'Farrell family on the constant and dignified efforts they have made to ensure there is justice for Shane O'Farrell as well as reform in our judicial system. To think that 14 years on the family is only now getting an apology from the Government is heartbreaking. Their son's killer had 40 previous convictions and he should have been in jail when Shane was killed. The Courts...

Seanad: Local Democracy Task Force: Statements (27 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Local government is the closest form of government to the people. Its finger is on the pulse of what people need. The Minister of State is aware it is under-resourced, underappreciated and overburdened. He should be aware of the previous report that stated that Ireland has one of the most centralised governments in Europe. It is time to reverse the dominance of central government over...

Seanad: Local Democracy Task Force: Statements (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: May I correct the record?

Seanad: Local Democracy Task Force: Statements (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I referenced ETBs, and ETBs were not included.

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (22 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for coming here today. I was not really prepared to talk about this but I felt I had to because it is a very important subject. The public procurement process excludes local shops and small businesses and indigenous local businesses. I have sat on five or six school board meetings where this has always been an issue. The school cannot go locally to purchase...