Results 1-20 of 308 for at speaker:Emer Currie

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 May 2024)

Emer Currie: The Minister of State is very welcome. It is a testament to the legislation that so many Senators want to contribute on Second Stage.This is flagship legislation from this Government. We have reached the point where we are getting into the nitty-gritty; we are in the final stretch. It is now about tying it all together. The construct is in place and the support is there. I hope we are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (9 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for the update. As the Minister of State will be aware from my opening remarks, I am concerned about the drift in timings and delivery. While we can say that part of this, in terms of the overall delivery of BusConnects for Dublin 15, relates to the bus corridors and planning, there are routes that could be prioritised in the meantime. The year 2026 is a...

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

Emer Currie: Senator Craughwell expressed concern over the transparency of funding that goes towards overseas aid and development, but he also mentioned NGOs. There is an audit process for any public funds to ensure they are being used correctly. We can, of course, send on the Senator's concern but I also suggest he contact the public accounts committee on this issue. Senator Sherlock made a really...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: This is why the witnesses have been very clear about having to address productivity which, unfortunately, has decreased over the years. There is a focus on the spectrum of generosity from the UK in the paper but it takes quite a pessimistic view based on the current vista. What type of spectrum could we be looking at where it could improve?

Seanad: Smartphone and Social Media Use: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister for taking the time today to be with us in the Seanad. I also thank my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, for this excellent motion and her dedication to the protection of children. I will focus on three points. The first is the ubiquity of smartphones. Smartphones have reached into everyone's life, home and pocket. How do we control something as prevalent as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wildlife Protection (17 Apr 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for bring here personally today. Four minutes does not seem long enough to summarise the four years it has taken for a local sports club, St, Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh "Plunkett's" GAA, to get to the point where a proposal for the redevelopment of Martin Savage Park, just off the Navan Road, was ready for a Part 8 planning process. We have an issue when...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wildlife Protection (17 Apr 2024)

Emer Currie: I know I am throwing a lot at the Minister of State this morning on this specific case. It is a huge problem if we cannot deliver essential sporting facilities for local children. An all-weather pitch should be a basic for a local sports club in facilitating so many people and actively encouraging well-being and health. It is a place where friendships and communities are created. They...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2024)

Emer Currie: I welcome the news yesterday about the introduction of tougher sentencing for knife crime. I have raised this issue frequently, both in the Seanad and directly with the Minister for Justice. What is helpful is the differentiation between possession and intent and the added length to sentences relating to the importation and sale of knives. I hope we can continue to build on that because we...

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

Emer Currie: I, too, welcome Senator O'Hara. I am wearing green for him today. I went to Queen's University and spent three very happy years in south Belfast. I am very much looking forward to having another north Belfast voice in the House. I recognise the contribution Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile made to this House. We miss him and his Belfast wit. Regarding Senator O'Reilly's concerns about...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 Mar 2024)

Emer Currie: I am not a member of the transport committee. I came today because I have specific questions as a road user and someone who is concerned about the numbers we are seeing. During the Saint Patrick's Day weekend, 175 people were arrested for drink driving; 1,800 people were detected speeding; 170 people were caught on their mobile phones; and someone was caught doing 209 km per hour in a 100...

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

Emer Currie: I ask that the Minister for Education come to the House to discuss building projects. I have raised this matter previously, but there is a dearth of information on key strategic projects in Dublin West. This issue affects other areas as well. I wish to discuss the unnecessary stress and heartache caused by long admissions timelines and a lack of co-ordination. This year in Dublin 15,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Emer Currie: It is great to have Ms Deane and Mr. Duffy here, and I thank them for how accessible they are on projects. It must be great to have roles that are so positive. The news that the North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, is going to meet again takes the pressure off in some regard. When the North-South strands were not operating, we were coming to the witnesses to assist us in forging...

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (6 Mar 2024)

Emer Currie: It is an enormous privilege to be here again for International Women's Day and on the eve of a very important referendum on Friday to change Article 41.2. That article has let women down for a couple of reasons. It uses limiting language. As the Minister described and as I wished to point out myself, it refers to a woman's life within the home and a mother's duties in the home, which...

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. We have spent a great deal of time post the events in November focusing on law and order. It is timely that we come back to discussing that issue now in order to ensure that we are still all on the same page. I believe that we are. I thank Members of the Seanad for also putting forward amendments to the motion. I commend the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Feb 2024)

Emer Currie: There are myriad interconnected issues that are contributing to our fragile childcare system. Let us be in no doubt the Government is working to address them all, one by one. I want to take a look at core funding. The pay freeze has undoubtedly worked for parents and we are very grateful for it, with a reduction of 25% in fees to grow to 50% in September 2024. That is reforming policy....

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

Emer Currie: I too wish to be associated with our condolences and sympathies with the family of Michael O'Regan. I did not know him myself but I followed him on Twitter. He had some very nice things to say about my father over the years, which I am always grateful to read. He struck me as part of that generation of journalists who never took peace for granted on this island. It was in that context...

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Tánaiste for his strong speech. We will debate the motion from the Civil Engagement Group tomorrow but I welcome the statement he has shared with us today. Like so many other people, I feel utterly helpless. Many Irish people feel this way and are expressing it by the sharing of emails and so on. The platform this issue has in Ireland is notable compared with what is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2024)

Emer Currie: Language is important. If Members want to talk about illegal immigration and the systems in place to protect society from illegal immigration, let us do that. If they want to talk about international protection, a human rights obligation to give shelter to people who are running from persecution, then let us do that. If they want to talk about the critical skills list and the workers we...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Northern Ireland (7 Feb 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for being here. I very much welcome the re-establishment of Stormont at the weekend. I congratulate the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the other new Ministers and the MLAs as they take up their positions. They certainly have a long to-do list. However, it is our to-do list I will talk about today. Careful examination of the language as well as...