Results 1-20 of 1,013 for at speaker:Paul Gavan

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2024)

Paul Gavan: As the Cathaoirleach knows, I am spending quite a bit of time in Cork at the moment and last week I had a very good conversation with one of the local taxi drivers there. He was telling me about how tough it is in the industry at the minute, of the huge hours they have to work, issues, unfortunately sometimes, of antisocial behaviour and the fact that it is very hard to get younger drivers...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 May 2024)

Paul Gavan: As the Acting Leader knows, yesterday was May Day, a day of celebration and solidarity for workers and a day to recognise the achievements of our trade union movement. One of the most important sectors of our economy is construction, where unions, including my own union of SIPTU, have fought valiantly to establish a sectoral employment order. This is an order to underpin rates of pay and...

Seanad: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2024)

Paul Gavan: ...25, to insert the following: “(b) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (1): “(1A) Where a European Works Council stands established pursuant to the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996 in relation to the employment in which it is proposed to create collective redundancies, the employer or responsible person...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Apr 2024)

Paul Gavan: As the Cathaoirleach knows, I have spoken many times here about the housing crisis in Limerick but today I want to raise the housing crisis in Cork. On my many visits to Cork in recent weeks, I was genuinely shocked by the number of vacant houses, particularly in Cork city. There are over 500 right now in areas like Mayfield, Farranree, the Glen, Togher, and Carrigaline. Many of the people...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Apr 2024)

Paul Gavan: I give a warm welcome to Senator O’Hara and his parents. What a fantastic start and a brilliant speech. It will be great to work with him and I look forward to it. I wish former Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, well for the future. I commend him on his public support for a united Ireland, his aspiration to see a united Ireland in his lifetime, his encouragement for those in his...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (21 Mar 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is very welcome, it is good to see him. As he knows, the return scheme was launched with much fanfare at the beginning of February. It is a scheme that was long overdue and was very much welcome. According to the return websites, the aims of the new recycling scheme are to achieve EU recycling targets protect our environment, reduce litter and waste and play a key...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (21 Mar 2024)

Paul Gavan: I know that the Minister of State is in the invidious position of reading out a statement and that this is not his direct responsibility but that statement is honestly appalling. The fact of the matter is that no one in a wheelchair can access these machines. That is a gaping chasm as a result of a failure to consult people with disabilities. The line the Minister of State has been given,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Mar 2024)

Paul Gavan: ...fine. I raise our health services. From people across the Chamber, we have had requests for the Minister of Health to come into the Seanad and so far he has not agreed to come. Having heard Senator Clonan this morning, the urgency is there for all to see. The issue I want to raise does not relate to University Hospital Limerick on this occasion. I want to extend my range and talk...

Seanad: An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Daichead ar an mBunreacht (An Comhaontú maidir le Cúirt Aontaithe um Paitinní), 2024: An Dara Céim - Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Agreement on a Unified Patent Court) Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 Mar 2024)

Paul Gavan: As always, the Minister of State is very welcome. The purpose of the Unified Patent Court is to fundamentally reform the patent system in Europe and Ireland, and to provide a legal framework. A single court ruling will be directly applicable in the member states that have ratified the Unified Patent Court agreement. This will enable patent holders to enforce their rights and defend patents...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Mar 2024)

Paul Gavan: ...issue affecting small businesses, particularly in the centres of Limerick, Cork, Ennis and Tralee, where we have seen a series of business closures. In Limerick, it was the closure of Debenhams that caused a real downfall for local businesses. We lost four British shops within one month at the tail end of last year. In Cork, a number of high-profile restaurants have closed recently....

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister is welcome. I also warmly welcome Poushali Kundu from the National Women's Council, who has taken the time to be here for this debate. I commend Senators McGreehan and Clonan for speaking so powerfully on this matter. It is hard to add to that. I will briefly speak to the amendment. As someone who spent most of his life protesting as a trade unionist and socialist, there is...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (6 Mar 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is very welcome. We have a housing crisis. It is worth saying that, because it is very clear from the speeches made by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil representatives here that they do not believe it. That is absolutely shocking. When Fine Gael came into power, 3,500 people were homeless and now, 13 years later, the figure has gone up to 13,500. That is its...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is very welcome, as always. The current employment permits system is designed to enable appropriately skilled non-EEA migrants to fill vacancies that cannot be filled from within the State. I appreciate that this Bill is challenging, technical and lengthy, and I also appreciate the engagement the Minister of State and his officials have had with the office of my...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Directives (22 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: It is always good to see the Minister of State. I thank him for coming in. I will start by quoting his colleague, the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, in response to a question from Deputy O'Reilly last November with regard to the platform economy. The Minister said that "Ireland has robust mechanisms for the determination of the employment status and the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Directives (22 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I will be clear because the history of this is important. One of the key aims of the original directive was that the EU Council would push for a position in which workers would be legally presumed to be employed. That position was watered down and the Government supported the watering down. That is the key point I am making. On the...

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Motion (21 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: It is good to have the Leas-Chathaoirleach in the Chair. It is an issue that has been close to his heart in the past. I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate the Civil Engagement Group for its passion and for this comprehensive motion, which is a roadmap for what can, should and must be done. I commend all speakers so far this evening. It is great we can send a unified message on...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I begin by acknowledging that tomorrow is Lithuania's national day. I welcome the presence of the ambassador in the House. I want to raise the issue of the economic and social intervention fund, ESIF, for Limerick. This is a really vital fund that has been providing essential funding to community groups across Limerick city, and to some of the most disadvantaged groups not just in Limerick...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I want to come back in because this is a good amendment. I have to agree entirely with Senator Boyhan that talking about the spirit of the amendment really means nothing at the end of the day unless the amendment is accepted. Talking about the role that the new mayor will have in terms of chairing is all well and good but, as has been pointed out, we are here to discuss the legislation...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is very welcome. I wish to express a little frustration regarding these amendments. Sinn Féin is not opposing them but we did ask for a briefing note on them. Even from what the Minister of State has just said, there is quite a lot involved here. We did not get such a briefing note. That is not a good way to go about doing business in terms of tucking these...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Acting Chair. The Minister of State is welcome back. With regard to amendment No. 8, if we want this position to be a truly transforming one for local democracy, the position of mayor must be the sole focus of anyone elected. To allow for other employment during the term of office would be a definite signal to the electorate that this is not a role that has value. If it is to...