Results 1-20 of 118 for speaker:Maria McCormack

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Child Poverty: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: Apologies; I was late. I had car troubles. I have read all the notes. I am from Laois; I am conscious Deputy Aird may have asked these questions already. I apologise if he has. We have no food banks in Laois. It is desperately needed. For a couple of years, we have been trying to get it off the ground. What steps are being taken to help this situation? Child poverty and food poverty...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Child Poverty: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: It is unfortunate at the moment that we have this problem. We did not get an increase and social welfare payments just do not match the cost of living. I volunteer with Portlaoise Action to Homelessness. It mainly focuses on going to Dublin two days a week to feed the homeless but we have a lot of food poverty. In the interim, do the witnesses have any advice? I know it is not the...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Child Poverty: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: I would appreciate that.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Child Poverty: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: Yes, I am happy now.

Seanad: Support for Ukraine: Motion (14 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: I wish to give a special mention to the Ukrainian choir that has been set up locally in Portlaoise. It is fantastic and brings so much love and light to our community. Like other Senators have said, with the mixture in our schools and so on, it has been such a positive experience for us. For all the Ukrainians coming over here, it is at a time when they are in dire distress, but they can...

Seanad: Support for Ukraine: Motion (14 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: I second the amendment.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: On behalf of the Sinn Féin, I welcome back our comrade Senator Andrews and say how proud of him we all are. It is really important that we keep the focus on Gaza and the peace deal that it is hoped will happen. We remember the ongoing mission and the five other Irish citizens who are in an Israeli prison. I will address endometriosis today. Over the past few months, there has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: I thank the witnesses for coming in. It seems that there is a complete disconnect between paramedics on the ground and the information we are hearing here today. I have 15 points before me that come from a large group of workers in the ambulance system. I am from Laois. In Laois at the moment, as I am sure Mr. Morton will be aware, we have a big problem with ambulances not getting to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: This was a survey carried out in May. National Ambulance Service female staff of the north-east and east regions were invited to take part in it online. Has Mr. Morton any information about that survey?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: As the director, Mr. Morton is not aware of a survey that the women in his organisation took part in. I ask that he make himself aware of it. Maybe he could come back with those responses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: Mr. Morton has no information on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: The responses are very different from the information the witnesses have provided. The points that are raised by a number of paramedics across the board include that staff morale is at an all-time low and that there are high levels of staff turnover. I want to talk about that. I hear everything about recruitment, different managerial roles and positions and how the service is expanding and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: No. The reasons that have been brought to me for staff turnover include non-compliance with the European working time directive and putting staff health and safety at risk. These are the reasons for staff turnover. What has Mr. Healy to say to that? Overtime and overruns have become the norm. This is information that staff on the ground are giving me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: I am talking specifically about the NAS.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: That is where the disconnect seems to be between the workers on the ground and the witnesses. The workers clearly see staff burnout caused by constant overruns.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: Overruns are where they have to work past the end of their shifts or go to calls after their shifts have ended.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: I am sorry. I am caught for time. To follow up on what Deputy Sherlock said, what plans are actually in place to deal with the disconnect? From the information I received from a number of colleagues across the country, it appears that there is definitely a crisis and a toxic atmosphere. If the witnesses do not see it, they must be living on a different planet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: Even since this has gone on, even with the rejection of the roles and responsibilities, I am not hearing anything positive to go back to the service's workers with today. Those people feel the disconnect between the witnesses and them. There is nothing positive to say.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Ambulance Service: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: Is Mr. Healy happy with that?

Seanad: Budget 2026 (Finance): Statements (7 Oct 2025)

Maria McCormack: I welcome the Aire Stáit. We are hearing more and more people every day talk about the cost of living. Someone said to me recently that it should be called the cost-of-everything crisis because the price of everything is going up. Workers and families who find themselves constantly struggling from week to week needed to hear that this budget would make things more affordable. They...