Results 1-17 of 17 for speaker:Noel O'Donovan

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion (7 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and wish him well in his endeavours in the years ahead. I raise the issue of student accommodation and the shortages thereof. It has been mentioned a few times by my colleagues here. There is no denying we have major issues when it comes to a lack of housing, which is also creating significant issues with homelessness, but the lack of housing is also...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (1 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and thank him for being here to discuss an issue that is really important to me, the Minister and the farmers of west Cork. I refer to the issue of derogation. The Minister will know that, during a discussion on the CAP in this Chamber a number of weeks ago, I discussed the importance of derogation for the farmers of west Cork, many of whom I represent....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (1 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I thank the Minister of State for his words. I genuinely see and understand his conviction about holding the derogation. For the farm families I represent, this is a business that needs certainty like any other business. On holding a section at 250 kg N/ha, if we can statistically check the water quality in streams and rivers surrounding an area that is at 250, I believe it would support...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I want to raise the issue of the driver test wait times at present. It has been raised in this Chamber previously. Specifically, in west Cork, the Southern Star did some research recently and the wait time is six months at present. That is absolutely ridiculous. I am calling for a debate in this Chamber with the Minister for Transport directly on the matter because the RSA is not fit for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I want to raise an issue I spoke about some weeks ago when the Minister for agriculture was in the Chamber, the nitrates derogation. A specific issue has come to light in recent weeks in the Timoleague–Kilbrittain area of my constituency, Cork South-West. Farmers in the area have been farming to a stocking rate of 250 kg N/ha, but in the week before the Easter recess a map was...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (9 Apr 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Like other speakers, I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and, like my colleague beside me, I wish him a very happy birthday. I know that on birthdays it is customary to receive presents but we are looking for presents today so I hope he will give us many.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (9 Apr 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I might not go that far. Seriously, the issue of flooding affects all of us right across the constituencies we live in and indeed this country. I want to discuss not only Bantry and the flooding issues we have encountered there but also the issue of road maintenance and river clearance and drainage. As has been mentioned, Councillor John Michael Foley is here from Timoleague. I welcome...

Seanad: Disability Services: Statements (8 Apr 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Like other speakers, I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. Her success in her position is a success for all of us and will be a success for people with disabilities, who are people we represent. I genuinely wish her well in her work in the years ahead. A figure that has been reported in recent times is that 22% of the population, or 1.2 million, have a disability or a disabling...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (1 Apr 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State and the students in the Visitors Gallery to the House. I hope they enjoy their moment watching us debate issues that are really important for our areas and for this country. I welcome the Minister of State and his appointment to the role. He is a model for many in this Chamber in how he does politics and his success is an ambition for all of us. In one of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (1 Apr 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I thank the Minister of State for his response. The thrust of my point referred to the national level in terms of how we can improve the efficiency of the delivery of these capital projects and, more locally and parochially, in respect of Dunmanway. At a high level, I welcome the Minister of State's words and engagement with Uisce Éireann. We need to speed up the process because we...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Apr 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I, too, welcome the British delegation to the Chamber, although as a new Senator I have not worked with Jeremy much. I put on record the appreciation of the people of this country for how relations now are. It was a testing and challenging few years. The people in my community in west Cork express positivity about the relationship. I thank our guests for their work and wish George the...

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (25 Mar 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Like previous speakers, I welcome the Minister of State. There is an extra element of pride for me in welcoming him here because he is a fellow Corkman. I have known the Minister of State for many years through politics. It is a great credit to him personally and to his family that he has been elevated to the position he holds. I genuinely thank him for his public service to Cork and...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy National Plan: Statements (20 Mar 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Like all the other speakers, I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. A comment was made earlier about politics being about listening. It is something all of us as politicians need to always remember. From my engagement with the Minister so far in his role, I know he is someone who cares deeply about our farming industry and farmers right across the country. As a public representative, I am...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I wish to discuss the issue of housing, and more specifically a wastewater treatment plant in Dunmanway, west Cork. Dunmanway, my home town, is famous for being the home of Sam Maguire, even though we do not win the cup too often. For the past number of years, people have been unable to build houses in the town. Similar to the issue my colleague, Senator Murphy, raised about an area in...

Seanad: Care, Supports and Enhanced Provision of Services for Older People: Motion (5 Mar 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and congratulate him on his appointment. I had engagement with him in his previous role and he showed energy, drive and determination when he visited Bantry after the recent flooding so I am sure he will bring a similar type of work to this Department. It is timely to have this debate on improving supports for elderly people as our first...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: As we look out the windows of the Chamber this afternoon we will see, dare I say it, signs of spring or a good summer ahead. Unfortunately, the issue I will raise is the flooding events in west Cork during the past weekend. It was yet another flooding event for many of the rural communities I represent, including Rossmore, Ardcahan, which is near Dunmanway, and Halfway. Ballinascarty,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: As these are my maiden words in the Chamber, may I begin by wishing the Cathaoirleach well in his position as Chair. I also extend my well wishes to the Leader of the House and my party colleague, Senator Kyne. I look forward to working with them both and with all Members of this House for the collective and common good. I also put on record my appreciation to the leader of my party, the...