Results 1-20 of 176 for long speaker:Thomas Gould

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

Thomas Gould: ...I tried to draft a number of pieces of legislation, one of which related to credit cards, and I thank the Minister of State for taking it on board. I remember going through that legislation and it took us a long time to get it right. That was only one piece of the Bill. The Minister of State needs to look at this issue. Perhaps we have to go back to the justice committee because we...

Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...Will the Minister contact Cork City Council, if I resend the lady's details, and ask it to step in immediately? This has been going on for the almost two years that I have been involved and maybe longer before the lady came to me. She has been clear from day one that she has specific needs due to the trauma that she suffered at the hands of the State. That means it is not possible for...

Anniversary of the Introduction of the Smoking Ban: Statements (11 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...issues I want to discuss is the Gambling Regulation Bill. That should have been discussed this week. I had expected to be here today discussing that vital Bill, which deals with an issue that has featured for nearly as long as the smoking ban has been in place, namely 20 years. This is important legislation that should have been discussed but that is not being discussed. It would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...Defence Forces. According to the Irish Examiner almost 500 claims are currently undergoing litigation. This is likely to be the tip of the iceberg. The majority of people will drop their complaints long before it goes to litigation and most likely without any real resolution. The existing complaints procedures are not fit for purpose. Something must be done to stop driving people to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: I speak to families who have children with special needs or additional needs. For them to commute long distances, and for any child to commute a long distance, can be very distressing. We speak about trauma. The witnesses spoke about having a trauma-informed approach when dealing with families and people entering homelessness. Is this something they are building on? I know from myself...

Protection of Employees (Trade Union Subscriptions) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...people and the one thing I say to them is to ensure they join a trade union. In a trade union, they will have strength in numbers. We are not where we need to be on workers' rights and there is a long path to travel yet. Deputy O'Reilly has put several proposals to the Minister of State. These are credible and represent Sinn Féin's vision for a dynamic and vibrant trade union...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Oversight of RTÉ's Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues and Plans for Longer-term Support and Funding for Public Service Media: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (27 Feb 2024)

Thomas Gould: Thank you, Minister, and your staff. I know it has been a long evening and I appreciate your honesty. I also put on the record Siún Ní Raghallaigh's commitment and what she has given to RTÉ in 15 months. I do not know her personally, but listening to people talk about the lady she seems a person of great integrity and honesty who did her very best to bring transparency to...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Oversight of RTÉ's Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues and Plans for Longer-term Support and Funding for Public Service Media: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (27 Feb 2024)

Thomas Gould: If you have the reports in March, how long will it take? There is a large number of reports now. We have the Future of Media Commission report, which recommends the abolition of the TV licence. It also recommends that RTÉ would come under the control of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the public accounts committee. Will you give that commitment, or are you going to let Fianna...

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 Feb 2024)

Thomas Gould: .... Will the Minister consider extending this programme to ensure that services are available in all areas? The programme is particularly important in rural areas, where people have to travel long distances to pharmacies. I understand that only GPs can prescribe methadone. Pharmacists have a role to play in this regard, particularly as they are likely see people more often than GPs...

Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...these changes and that Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have turned a blind eye to the addiction sector and their huge failings. All of this happened under austerity and it is still here today. For too long, those in addiction, their families and communities have been the black sheep of society. We believe the Bill should have given people an opportunity to discuss it but the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Affordable Homes, Public Lands, Strategic Planning and Projects: Land Development Agency (23 Jan 2024)

Thomas Gould: I have a few other questions. I will not spend too long on that because I am caught for time. Mr. Coleman mentioned earlier that there is a property next to the former St. Kevin's Asylum development called Atkins Hall, half of which was developed privately and the other half of which was not developed. Did the LDA consider bringing that in as part of the development of the St. Kevin's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (12 Dec 2023)

Thomas Gould: 218. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether he is aware of issues with the 245 bus from Cork to Fermoy that is currently regularly experiencing long delays and missed departures. [54877/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Analysis of Private Rental Sector Discrepancies: Discussion (10 Oct 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...the representatives on the work they do in this regard. I would like to see the RTB get more powers and resources. I am aware that there are many really good landlords. The RTB has come a long way but could go further. I encourage the Minister in this regard. There is an opportunity to structure the whole private rental sector in a really positive way that supports not only landlords...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Thomas Gould: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and acknowledge the long journey that has taken us to this place. In 2019, when Deputies Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire and Martin Kenny published their Bill, it was clear that no victim of sexual assault should face questioning on their clothing in a courtroom without legal representation. Some four years later, following Trojan work by victim...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Cost Rental Tenant In Situ Scheme: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...and county - is doing great work. My issue is whether it has the staff to do it with the volume that is coming at it. I welcome the scheme. I want to see it succeed. My party has been on for a long time about rolling the scheme out, and it was good that the Minister took our suggestions and those of others on board because we can work together sometimes, such as when it comes to trying...

Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Statements (13 Jul 2023)

Thomas Gould: Sinn Féin stands firmly in support of Palestine and the Palestinian people. On this island, we have faced centuries-long struggle and oppression endured over 800 years. Our history has taught us at first hand the harsh realities of being under the rule of a foreign oppressor that believes it has a right to seize our land. It is not difficult, therefore, to draw significant parallels...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Jul 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...and families who are desperately trying to pay their bills. They are being stretched to the limit because their pay packets cannot go further. The wholesale cost of gas and electricity came down a long time ago but the companies are not passing it on to consumers. Despite that, the Government has failed to act and has sat on its hands in an effort to cut costs. My question is a simple...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (11 Jul 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...are 50 units fewer compared to last year. These are the figures out today. I will give the Minister another figure. The target for social housing builds in Cork between 2022 and 2026 is 3,732, with 202 long-term leases. This is just fewer than 4,000 builds. There are 1,000-plus people going onto the housing list in Cork every year. Therefore, if the council builds everything the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...at 3 p.m., respectively. Both are must-win games, but there are four dual players who will have to make the terrible decision of which team to line out with. These ladies have trained all year long and they and their team mates have made sacrifices, yet they are being forced to make this decision. I have written to both associations asking them to act, as have the players. It is time...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Gould: 14. To ask the Minister for Health if he has taken action to address the long delays in accessing equipment for children with disabilities. [25904/23]