Results 1-20 of 911 for at speaker:Thomas Gould

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: When the Tánaiste was Taoiseach in 2022, he gave a commitment that he would phase out long-term leasing. Since then, leases have been signed for 182 social housing units in Cork city. That is at a cost of €3 million per year that the Government is spending, with an average cost of €400,000 for these homes after 25 years. The council and the Government will not own these...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (15 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: The Minister mentioned "evidence-based". Obviously, the Minister is quite an intelligent man and being Minister for Finance, is good with figures. He quoted that Cork City Council delivered 800 additional houses. That is a misprint, that was 800 families. Some 1,000 to 1,200 came on to the housing waiting list the same year. I am not a genius or an expert in maths but if 800 houses are...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (15 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I support these amendments in relation to the ability to draw down funding. We are in the middle of the worst housing crisis in the history of the State and we will not having the ability to access vital funding. We have the highest house prices, rent and homelessness figures in the history of the State. We have almost 8,000 people on housing lists in Cork. The Government's affordable...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (15 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...figures set by the Government and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, of just over 30,000 houses a year are too low. Then we hear the Minister say the Government will hold a review and look at the data. I do not know. It just shows how out of touch the Minister is if he thinks 30,000 houses a year will solve the housing crisis. The man has no understanding of what is happening on the...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (15 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: That is fair enough. To get back to the point, on derelict and vacant sites, according to the census there are 163,000 vacant properties. A number of years ago, I got a site in Blarney Street put on the derelict sites register. I have mentioned it here a number of times. This butcher's shop was empty for 33 years and because it went onto the derelict sites register and Cork City...

Road Safety and Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (15 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: On Monday evening, a young man in my constituency was seriously injured in a motorbike accident. At the moment, he is in a critical condition. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this time. He, unfortunately, is just one of a number of people, especially young people, who have been involved in serious road accidents in my constituency. There are a number of reasons for this. A...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Sports Events (14 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I do not accept the Minister of State's assertion that there is no role for the Government in this matter. Hurling is not just another sport. It is our national game. It is part of our culture and tradition. It is what Irish people from the island of Ireland and all across the world associate with being Irish. To say the Government has no part to play in it, while other sports are on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. First, I welcome the money that has been put into the community fund. However, the people of Fair Hill and Fairfield have not had a community centre for decades. For the past ten years, this brilliant community has again been trying to develop a community centre. At the moment, it has a two-bedroom house from Cork City Council, to which hundreds of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...an important issue. It is shocking to go back over some of the points in this reply. Mention was made of supporting children and enabling students with additional needs to receive an education. The Minister of State also said it is a priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement. He said that €2.7 billion is being spent. He spoke about these...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I am very disappointed that neither the Minister for Education nor the Minister of State with responsibility for special education is here today. This goes to the heart of the way Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig has been treated. It is insulting to the seriousness of this issue we have tabled that the Ministers are not here to discuss it. Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig in Cork has been trying to...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (2 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...children who were fighting to improve the terms and conditions of their husbands, partners and loved ones in the Defence Forces because they did not have the ability to do it themselves. I know that is the core of this Bill but it does not go far enough. Members of the Defence Forces must be listened to and involved. How will the Government sort out recruitment and retention if it does...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (2 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: Glanmire flooded at the same time as Midleton flooded. The works have started in Glanmire, but the tragedy is that those works were sanctioned a number of years earlier and if the Government and the Minister of State's predecessor had not delayed, Glanmire would not have flooded that day. Areas such as Blackpool in Cork flood constantly. Will the Minister of State provide funding to...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I hear what the Minister of State is saying but people in addiction services, those who have family members affected by gambling and those who are in recovery tell us that these free bets, even if they are free to everyone, are a hook to get people into gambling. We have met with the people on the ground and that is what they have told us. The Minister of State made a point about giving...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I hope the Minister will be able to clarify. One of the requests of the groups and people I have met is that there would be a complete ban on all inducements, including free bets, free spins or that people get €20 or €30 if they sign up. It is my understanding, and I will stand corrected if I am wrong, that the Minister of State said that specific people and groups cannot be...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I do not want to be confrontational or get into an argument. I sat in for some of the justice committee because my remit is addiction, recovery and well-being. It is very important that this Bill is right. At no stage did anyone feel - maybe I am wrong here - that this would affect sporting organisations and charities. That was never the intention. This was for the likes of Paddy Power,...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...and I had a meeting about coaching the other night. He does a lottery for the club every Sunday night, as does Mr. Tommy Collins and another few lads, all of whom are volunteers. I mentioned what was happening and Mr. Ahern could not believe it. He did not know about it. I was talking to people in GAA clubs over the weekend. I was talking to a club treasurer and I asked him if his...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: First, I welcome the Minister of State's decision to bring forward amendments in the Seanad. This is a very important Bill. The reason it did not get the scrutiny it needed in the justice committee is that no one thought charities or sporting organisations would be covered. People view gambling as online gambling, betting shops and in-person gambling. They do not look at the GAA, sporting...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I move amendment No. 64: In page 92, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “Prohibition of Credit Card Gambling 113. (1) A licence to which this section relates shall not be issued by the Authority to an applicant for such licence unless the application is accompanied by an undertaking given by the applicant in the prescribed form stating that if the licence is issued...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I ask the Minister of State to reconsider his position on this. This is a constructive and positive amendment. It seeks to protect people who are vulnerable and at risk. It would prevent people from losing money they do not have. I take on board the Minister of State's sincerity with regard to the Bill and that he is trying to bring forward the best possible legislation, but we have to...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Pleanáil Teanga Lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht: Plé (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: Tá brón orm ach níl ach cúpla focal Gaeilge agam so I have to speak English. First, I will start with Seán Ó Laoi in Gael-Taca. I am lucky and am very proud that both my daughters can speak as Gaeilge. My children can do something I could never do. As a parent, you always hope your children will take one extra step. My wife has a good bit of the language....