Results 1-20 of 143 for long speaker:Pat Casey

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

Pat Casey: ...that we have balanced representation in terms of having more female representation. Fair play to Carlow County Council, which has 50:50 representation. Wicklow County Council has a significantly long way to go. Wicklow County Council ended 2019 with probably the highest female participation but, sadly, three female councillors have vacated their seats and been replaced with male...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Pat Casey: The Senator can do so as long as they are relevant to the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Pat Casey: ...has clearly answered the Senator. She shares his concerns. She has given him a pathway for how to progress this issue in regard to class K. I acknowledge the work he has done on this issue for a long time but we are very much time-bound this evening and I need to move on.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Second Stage (28 Nov 2023)

Pat Casey: ...for the leadership role he has provided in the party over the past while. The fiscal landscape of budget 2024 marks a significant chapter in the annals of the financial system, defining a century-long narrative shaped by successive Governments and finance Ministers throughout an independent national story. In the promising early years of our independence, many people, doubtless both...

Seanad: Local Government Matters: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Pat Casey: ...going back to the local authorities to implement the various rural schemes in villages and smaller towns. Putting People First introduced the local property tax. I saw that as a means, at long last, of giving councillors power over the budgetary process and some say in where the money would go. We then had the introduction of the 20% equalisation fund. Fortunately, that has now been...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Pat Casey: ...process. On top of that, there is EirGrid. The critical lack of grid infrastructure across Ireland is a major problem. I have some concerns. While auction day was significant, we still have a long way to go. Is the State prepared for this? Will we be able to deal with these applications effectively and efficiently? If we are to meet our targets by 2028 and 2029, this has to be...

Seanad: Report on Working Conditions and Skills Shortages in Ireland's Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Motion (22 Feb 2023)

Pat Casey: ...is no industry. We talk about seasonal work and irregular hours. That is the industry. That might not be the case in cities where there is a continuous and consistent level of business all day long, every day, where people can plan and they know exactly what they are going to do Monday to Sunday. Once we go outside the city, for example to Glendalough, if it is raining at 8 a.m., we...

Seanad: Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Pat Casey: ...first time to greet the Minister of State. I welcome her to the House and congratulate her on her appointment. As the saying goes, it is never too late. Today is a good day but we all know it is long overdue. Several years after the Central Bank recommendation to make individual decision makers and financial institutions responsible for their actions, we now have a Bill that will make...

Seanad: Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (17 Nov 2022)

Pat Casey: ...thanked the cross-party Oireachtas group for its work on progressing the Bill. The passage of the Bill would see Ireland become the latest EU country to implement the right to be forgotten initiative, alongside France, Portugal and the Benelux countries. This move has been welcomed by another of our distinguished guests in the Gallery, Mr. Sam Russell. Senator Gavan spoke about the...

Seanad: Transport: Motion (9 Nov 2022)

Pat Casey: ...introduced, the number of passengers doubled almost immediately. If we honestly believe in public transport, it has to be a priority for Government to seriously look at this motion and consider introducing medium and long zones in public transport for people who are coming from commuting counties to work in Dublin. This aligns with my point of view in Wicklow because once you leave that...

Seanad: VAT Rate for Tourism and Hospitality Sectors: Statements (Resumed) (19 Oct 2022)

Pat Casey: Over a long period of time, accommodation has been driven by supply and demand. That is the main driving factor in that regard. This principle is leading to the high cost of accommodation. A few other factors are driving demand. Given the way the hotel sector is at present, we have only 62,000 hotel bedrooms available in the country. More than 42% of them are in four- and five-star...

Seanad: Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Pat Casey: ...is being put in place. It is good to see that there have been no amendments and that the Dáil has more or less recognised it for what it is doing and has accepted that. However, we still have a long way to go within the insurance sector to make additional reforms to get it to where we realistically need to get it. Any of us who have worked in business or who run a business always...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: A long time is a lot longer than five years. Mr. Fraser has been in the Department for ten years as Secretary General. How many people have returned to his Department from secondments?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: ..., CE, schemes are beginning to play to provide services in community settings. Community employment scheme and volunteering cannot be sustained at the levels we are asking in the medium and long terms. I have been told by a number of CE managers - the Leader will know this from her previous brief - that there is a huge skills shortage, never mind looking for somebody to go on a CE...

Seanad: Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 Feb 2022)

Pat Casey: I welcome to the Chamber our guest, John Fitzgerald, who I know for a long time and who has been at the heart of the community first responder scheme since 2004. I was first introduced to it at a public meeting in Bray in 2003 and my own community in Laragh and Glendalough was one of the first within Wicklow to get up and running in 2004. I also welcome Celine and Jason who are not from my...

Seanad: Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Feb 2022)

Pat Casey: ...for staff to them. A lot has been said. Senator Gavan mentioned the JLC. I will speak about my experience of the JLC. Sadly, my father passed away very suddenly and I had to take over our hotel long before I had ever intended to do so. I relied on the JLC. It gave me a framework within which to structure my pay and conditions for staff. I have engaged with the JLC process. Senator...

Seanad: Broadband Roll-out: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Pat Casey: ...debates. I think we can draw a line under that and say that whether we agree or disagree on whatever we did in regard to the roll-out of broadband, we all got a sense of relief in 2019 when, at long last, the contract was signed and we could start delivering this much-needed infrastructure. Senator Dooley and a number of others mentioned that people do not care and that they just want to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Discussion (16 Dec 2021)

Pat Casey: ...during that period. I know of some businesses that are now being challenged with a claim that once they reopened their doors, despite the business being interrupted by Covid, they were no longer covered for business interruption. The insurers are no longer accepting that period within the claim. It seems to be all about insurance and the insurance industry. As my party colleague...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2021)

Pat Casey: ...However, there is no alternative to diesel at the moment. In talking the way we are, we are just wasting our time. The real solution for heavy use of diesel is probably hydrogen. Yet, we are a long way away from hydrogen being developed for use in heavy haulage or agriculture. It is fine to talk about these things. However, the reality for these people who depend on diesel for their...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2021)

Pat Casey: ...people are willing to look for it. All of the housing reports that have been sought are available to Senators on the Department's website. Senators can recommend changes to the Finance Bill, as long as such recommendation has no financial impact on the Government.