Results 161-180 of 382 for long speaker:Seán Kyne

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...with the funding model in place for 20 years over successive Governments. I do not think the model is fair for a county of its size which has numerous challenges, including offshore islands, a long coastline and a large geographical area. It receives proportionately less money per head than many neighbouring counties. It does not have the same rates base as some neighbouring counties...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Dec 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...station at Oranmore was officially opened by the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and local councillor, Mr. Liam Carroll, the Mayor of County Galway at the time and a long-term supporter of the project then and now. I welcome the vision of Galway County Council and the fact that these funds are in place and allow an application, which will be...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...for providing that funding. That new structure has been in place since the start of this school term in Autumn. These are huge improvements on the prefabs that have been in place for too long. Tá frustrachas ann sa pharóiste maidir leis an easpa dul chun cinn ar an togra seo. Tá an scoil ar an liosta le haghaidh foirgneamh nua le cúig bliana anuas. Bhí go leor...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Second Stage (8 Dec 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...We are also in a make-or-break week on Brexit. Whether there is a deal or no deal, Brexit will have an impact on our fundamentals for a number of years. If there is no deal, it could have an impact for a long period of time. We are in a weaker position now vis-à-visa year ago because of the Covid challenge that all economies, including ours, are facing. The State agencies, IDA...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (2 Dec 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...not for the want of trying on behalf of the staff, board of management, parents, school community and all politicians in the constituency. I welcome Senator Crowe here today in that regard. They have campaigned long and hard for what they need and deserve, but progress is stubbornly slow. The crunch issue seems to be that the available site may be too small. At present, the school is a...

Seanad: Technological Universities Agenda: Statements (2 Dec 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...own devices when it comes to funding. We must resource them to allow them to survive and prosper. When opportunities arise to expand and develop, the Government cannot be found wanting. GMIT has had a long-running interest in acquiring additional land in Crowley Park that is near its campus in Galway. The HEA is engaging on that and I hope the acquisition can be supported. We must...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Dec 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...to enjoy flexibility and eligibility regarding social protection. This is so important given the constant toing and froing of people north, south, east and west for work reasons, thereby continuing a long tradition of movement of citizens between both countries. Under the immigration heading, I am pleased that UK citizens will receive special status following Brexit. At the same time,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2020)

Seán Kyne: We saw the photographs yesterday from Kent when queues of trucks built up after the French started a trial of post-Brexit checks. Lorries seeking to cross the English Channel were forced to stop in long lines as they tried to approach the Eurotunnel entrance. There have been warnings of queues of up to 7,000 lorries post Brexit. The French were rehearsing post-Brexit immigration...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Nov 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...investment. Primary care in the community, innovative use of technology and health promotion will all be prioritised. Health insurance may become a necessity of the past, with legislation like this no longer needed. That is the long-term aim of the Sláintecare report, which calls for free and equal access to healthcare for all. Until Sláintecare is fully implemented, this...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Nov 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...without masks and everything else. Who knows where we will be? That is certainly the wish and the aim. I welcome all the provisions the Minister of State mentioned there. Lines 9 and 10 of Long Title of the Bill state, "for those and other purposes of amend the Credit Union Act 1997". It may make sense legally; it does not make sense to me. It might be missing a comma or perhaps the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital (18 Nov 2020)

Seán Kyne: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I was listening to them in my office and I heard most of the deliberations. There has been a long history and saga with this project but it is heartening to see the photographic evidence the witnesses have presented on the progress where we can see the physical size of the project and the progress over the past year with the heights of the...

Seanad: Political Donations: Motion (11 Nov 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...people are very well versed in being asked to donate to a political party. Sinn Féin has the great advantage of being able to fly a nationalist flag and paint a picture of an old Ireland that is long gone. What we have in our democracy is a low-cost, low-spend, transparent and accountable system of politics. All anyone would ask is that there is a level playing field for those of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: HSE Winter Plan: HSE (11 Nov 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...effort of the many healthcare professionals all year round each year, as well as the high level of care and the positive experiences people have in the health system in general. There are always long-term challenges and some seemingly ever-present ones. Then there are sudden ones such as Covid-19. The winter planning is usually based on the previous winter, and the first couple of weeks...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...budget is the largest investment in the history of the State. It continues the swift action to support people, businesses and communities throughout the country. The rainy day fund from last year along with the careful and prudent management of the finances of our country in recent years have enabled us to access the funding that is needed now. This point is lost on many people. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (1 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...of rural GP services. The importance of sustaining rural communities and providing services to them may seem like a broken record, but the GP is at the heart of that. When people retire after a long number of years, they may have 30 or 40 years of service in a community, it can be difficult to find a replacement. The area I have raised is not remote; it is seven miles from Galway city....

Seanad: Aviation Industry: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...was served by Aer Lingus, Flybe and Ryanair and which added new routes from Germany.The year 2020 was forecast to be an equally strongly performing year but we know the impact of Covid. Flybe, a long-term partner airline in Ireland West Airport, was hit and ceased trading. The airport was closed from 30 March until 30 June and it is projected revenues for the year will decline by some...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...lockdown - we hope this is something that will be limited - such as Dublin and Donegal, people cannot avail of the stay-and-spend scheme in respect of businesses which, unfortunately, are closed. We do not how long these lockdowns will last. I ask the Minister to be open to reviewing the scheme, monitoring the uptake relating to it, ensuring that the spend allocated by Government is...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (18 Sep 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...manner and being. He has significant experience as a Senator having served three different terms and, as Senator Wilson said, he was on three different panels, which I did not know. He has had a long and distinguished career in these Houses and at local authority level. We all wish him the best in his future role as Leas-Chathaoirleach. We look forward to working with him and to...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Seán Kyne: ...and further education to individuals, the economy and wider society. The number of students is increasing. The Department of Education and Skills estimates that number will exceed 220,000 by 2022. That projection was made long before Covid-19 and its impact on our economy arose. I have no doubt this number will increase as a result of the need for reskilling, training and upskilling....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State's Response to Impact of Covid-19 on Gaeltacht Areas and the Islands (18 Jun 2020)

Seán Kyne: I agree with the Chairman. He referred to the Government and twilight. It has been a fairly long twilight. Hopefully, there will be a new Government soon. This is an area with significant potential. Many small businesses do not have that online presence. The trading online voucher scheme is hugely important in establishing that presence. Once it is established and once one puts in...