Results 1-20 of 133 for speaker:Sarah O'Reilly

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I raise the issue of the roads in counties Cavan and Monaghan. They are in such poor condition that drivers are getting seasick, particularly those who drive tractors and there are many of those. Earlier this year, I welcomed the announcement from the Department of Transport that there was an 11% increase in funding for rural roads in Cavan and Monaghan. This increase, however, does not...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I want to raise the issue of the increase in scams. Research conducted by FraudSMART shows that 78% of Irish adults are being targeted by scam text messages, emails, calls or online content at least monthly. I know of a woman who used an online portal for a job application only to realise it was a fraudulent website when it asked for her debit card details. We often joke about the early...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: It is a fact.

Seanad: Draft Commission of Investigation (Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools) Order 2025: Motion (16 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister for coming in today to discuss this important issue. I welcome that we are going to have a commission of investigation into sexual abuse in schools over several decades. I read the draft terms of reference for the commission of investigation last night and I am concerned about some of the wording and provisions in it. In recent weeks we have had legislation from...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the officials for coming. I agree this has to be broadly welcomed but, like a few people here, I am from a self-employed background. Small- and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the area I come from. We know that they have struggled with extra costs over the past couple of years. The additional improvements to employees' wages, extra bank holidays, extra sick days and...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: In light of the bogus self-employment scandal in RTÉ, has the Department conducted any research into the potential for employers to reclassify workers? I see that as an issue that is on the increase, particularly in my own area.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: What statutory, if any, safeguards will be in place to protect against funds being raided, as happened during the banking crash?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: The groups are all welcome and I thank them for their presentations. I will ask some questions about their submissions. I thank the witnesses for all the work they are doing in our communities. They are visible on the ground in my community. I want to highlight LDCs and their budget cuts. In 2008, €84 million was available. That was reduced to €49 million for 2025. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Planning Challenges in Offshore Renewable Energy: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the witnesses very much for coming in today. I just have a couple of questions. In his statement, Mr. Moran said this is an "incredible opportunity to build a resilient economy, and to revitalise coastal communities, with secure, affordable, clean energy". A while ago, he touched on it being affordable. We do see - I know it is different - we have more onshore wind farms than...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Planning Challenges in Offshore Renewable Energy: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: What is the biggest cost that would push the price up?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Planning Challenges in Offshore Renewable Energy: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank Mr. Moran.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Planning Challenges in Offshore Renewable Energy: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Finally, to pose a question to Captain McCabe, it was said in the submission that there are 17 organisations representing the seafood sector and fishermen. Are they all still engaged?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Planning Challenges in Offshore Renewable Energy: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Does the group get feedback from them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Planning Challenges in Offshore Renewable Energy: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: It was said that 81% of Irish fishing vessels are under 12 m and that the working group has recommended that vessels without monitoring systems should avail of the scheme from the Marine Institute, which makes this equipment available without charge. Is there a good uptake in this regard or is this known? Are vessels availing of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Planning Challenges in Offshore Renewable Energy: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I will come back to what Deputy Mac Lochlainn spoke about earlier with regard to fishers and the potential loss that they see from this because of the effects on their fishing grounds. Fishers need to be reassured because they feel they were sold out previously. In relation to the developers' community benefit funds, will they acknowledge that the people most affected will be fishers? ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Planning Challenges in Offshore Renewable Energy: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Transport Policy: Statements (10 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for coming. This subject is close to my heart. When I became a councillor in 2016, I realised that the two biggest issues in our county were a lack of roads funding and a lack of public transport. Since then I have not stopped banging on doors looking for what the people of Cavan deserve in infrastructure. I live in Bailieborough. It is the second largest...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Calleary. I welcome this legislation but it has flaws. I recognise the O'Meara family and thank FLAC, the Free Legal Advice Centres, for the briefing it provided to members of the social protection committee on this Bill. The Bill is welcome in that it makes the widow's pension inclusive of cohabiting couples who are not married or are in a civil partnership....

Seanad: Post Office Network: Statements (9 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: The Minister of State is very welcome. This is a very important subject. In the past ten years, 257 post offices have closed. In Cavan, seven post offices in total have closed permanently in the past ten years, including in Corrraneary, Killeshandra, Kilnaleck, Mount Nugent, Swanlinbar and Tullyvin. The north west is getting one of the biggest hits of all, including the Minister of...