Results 1-20 of 58 for speaker:Aubrey McCarthy

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

Aubrey McCarthy: I have in my hand the recommendations from the report by the Housing Commission, which was recently published. The commission was established in December 2021. At that stage, there were 8,900 homeless people, including approximately 2,450 children. Today, nearly three and a half years on - that is, two and a half years of work and a year of a delay - the number of homeless has nearly...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jun 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I mentioned in this House recently that one in four people experience some form of mental health problem during their lifetime, which is a significant proportion of the population. I am writing today to urge the Government and, importantly, South Dublin County Council, to address an urgent need in the Dublin Mid-West area for a dedicated Solace Café. These cafés have been put in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Report of Housing Commission: Housing Commission (10 Jun 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the members of the commission for their presentation. For those who do not know, I am a new Senator but I have been involved in homelessness and housing for the last 20 years. When the commission was set up in December 2021, I was rather excited. I always keep a tab on the homeless figures in my office. At that stage, the figure was 8,914, with 2,400 of those being children. Now...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Report of Housing Commission: Housing Commission (10 Jun 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I hear what Dr. Lyons is saying but if he looks at the Covid crisis and the 100,000 Ukrainians coming into Ireland, we managed to work at those. All of the people got together, all of the experts such as Dr. Lyons, and we fixed it. Housing, it seems, is one area we are not able to fix. If we are able to house 100,000 Ukrainians with the click of a finger, and the same with Covid, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Report of Housing Commission: Housing Commission (10 Jun 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: The recommendations in this are a game-changer, and the witnesses have done great work. How did it come about that the former Housing Commission was disbanded? Why are the witnesses only now coming to the housing committee? Why are we dealing with this only now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Report of Housing Commission: Housing Commission (10 Jun 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: Was it ever launched?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Report of Housing Commission: Housing Commission (10 Jun 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I absolutely agree.

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

Aubrey McCarthy: I raise the issue of end-of-life care and bereavement. Last week, I had the Irish Hospice Foundation come in to visit, and they reinforced the urgency of the work they do and the need for a compassionate, well-co-ordinated approach to end-of-life care and supporting individuals. I spoke a number of weeks ago in this House about a friend of mine, Jason, who was confined to hospital and...

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

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Minister for being here. I will have to speak fast. When I heard about the 50% tariff threat, I was googling and I came across President Ronald Reagan’s warning on tariffs, how they affect the economy and how, while it may seem patriotic in the early stages and designed to protect industries, history has taught us it carries a steep, long-term cost. High tariffs bring...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: We are sharing time.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Minister for being here. I am a new Senator here, but I am certainly not new to business. I employ just over 40 people across the transport, hospitality and service industries. When we are talking about competitiveness, certainly, I have felt the weight, but I have also felt the potential of running companies in Ireland. We hear much about Ireland being a hub for foreign...

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

Aubrey McCarthy: I have spoken before about being involved in housing and homelessness for many years. I have campaigned for housing wherever we could get it. Back in 2016, I was asked to address the Oireachtas joint housing and homelessness committee, as it was called at the time. I was told by the then Minister, Simon Coveney, that homelessness would be eradicated by 2020. Since then, the numbers have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach, and I thank the witnesses for their presentation. As they can see, I am fairly new, so I did not know Deputy McGrath had to read that. I want to address what Deputy Stanley mentioned there about the 100% mortgages, and I know Dr. Cassidy and Dr. O'Toole mentioned it as well. They mentioned the lower loan-to-value for the banks, so they are in a much safer...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: Was Dr. Cassidy surprised that the UK reintroduced them recently, only in the last month?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: Another hat I wear is as chair of Bluebell community council. We are doing a large housing project in Bluebell with the Land Development Agency and DCC. It is an affordable housing and social housing project. We are finding through our research with the community that affordable housing is not very affordable. What role does the Central Bank play in promoting affordable housing solutions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: Regarding lending to small builders, they are struggling to get finance for 50 to 60 houses. What role does the Central Bank play in that? Can changes be considered across the banking sector to address this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: Mostly it seems to affect the development of apartments because you have to build the whole apartment block; you cannot just sell one apartment.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I rise not only as a Senator, but as someone who has walked alongside some of the most resilient people who are in recovery in our country, those who have faced not only addiction, but also homelessness, marginalisation and social exclusion. I see them fighting daily for a second chance at life. Most of the Senators know my involvement in rehabilitation. In Ireland today, the need for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: Three years ago, our nation was shaken by the brutal murder of Aisling Murphy, a young woman who was taken away when her whole life was ahead of her. It certainly struck a chord all across Ireland. We had hoped it would be a turning point across society when it comes to violence against women by males. We had hoped it would be confronted with urgency, honesty and a lasting change. Women's...

Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Business of Joint Committee (21 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: A Chathaoirligh, I also congratulate you on your role. I am new, like Senator Nelson Murray, to the Oireachtas committees. I come from a business background. I am in business not only in the transport sector but also in the hospitality sector, so I know how tariffs and the VAT rate can affect the hospitality sector. Another role I have played is learning how to use enterprise to fund...