Results 1-20 of 1,026,531 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Heather Humphreys OR speaker:Paschal Donohoe)

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

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I concur with my party colleagues. We support much of what is in the legislation and we all want the Defence Forces to be fit for purpose, but issues have been laid out by Deputies Cronin and Ward, the latter of whom spoke about his family’s connection to the Defence Forces and the fact pay and conditions have always been an issue. It is dreadful that we have not yet dealt with that,...

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

Brendan Howlin: Legislation on the Defence Forces, in general, being debated in this House is a rare occurrence. I cannot recall many occasions when the time of the House has been occupied by this issue, and maybe that will give us an indication it is an area of public policy that has not been focused on enough over the years. It goes to the heart of why the Defence Forces are so undermanned at the moment....

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

Micheál Martin: That is no secret.

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

Réada Cronin: -----while providing the minimum permissible Dáil debate on those topics. The Tánaiste published this Bill prior to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence having published its pre-legislative scrutiny report. He has no basis for excluding certain posts from membership of representative associations, and, as he dropped it as a legislative initiative, I ask him now to...

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

Mark Ward: Many aspects of this Bill are welcome. However, following on from report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, it seems that the Government is determined to squander this opportunity. Poor pay and conditions in the Defence Forces are not a new phenomenon. I speak as the son of a former Defence Forces veteran. My father spent 25 years serving this country at home and abroad. I saw...

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

Réada Cronin: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill, which sets out to rebuild and restructure our Defence Forces as a modern, confident entity that reflects our modern, confident State. Being straightforward, procedural at times and administrative in nature, the matters within it would ordinarily preclude extensive discussion or debate. Regrettably, the non-straightforward approach means this...

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

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

Micheál Martin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to present this Bill that will play a key role in driving the necessary transformation of the Defence Forces to the House. A number of high-profile reviews have been undertaken on matters relating to the defence sector in recent years. Key reports include those of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the Independent...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is saying there are four additional classes required in the school.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: Yes.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will follow that up with the Minister for Education. It is very devastating news for parents. It creates a lot of anxiety when parents cannot be clear or certain that their child will get a place next September. We have worked hard to try to deal with that in the first two years of Government. We dealt with the backlog and got new schools and new classes. The NCSE has approved more...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Again I raise the issue of the continued use of the concept of parental alienation in family law, which has no basis in Irish law whatsoever, is in violation of the Constitution and the rights of the child and is continually abusing the rights of parents - mothers and fathers - and children, who are being psychologically damaged by the continued use of this. I ask that every effort be made....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Deputy is nothing if not relentless, anyway.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I commend the Deputy for raising this issue. We need to try to find a way now to resolve it and deal with it. It is a very serious issue. I have had presentations from people who have been victims of what the Deputy has outlined, which resulted in the loss of a child for a period by one of the parents. It is quite frightening that it happened. It needs perhaps the relevant Oireachtas...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: This week, I met some Carlow fire and rescue members. Two of them are nearly 60 so they are going to have to retire. We have good news that there is legislation coming in to allow our firefighters to stay on until the age of 62, which is really welcome. If the legislation is enacted prior to 16 May 2024, Carlow County Council will abide by it but, if not, the firefighters will have to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: While we did announce our intention to do it, and legislation is being prepared and has been approved by Government, I cannot give the Deputy a guarantee that this is all going to be through both Houses between now and-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Mary Butler: It is two weeks.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: They are due to retire on 16 May.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is a tall order. Inevitably in situations like this, when we announce new departures and new legislation, there will always be those who will be outside of the enactment of that legislation.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I would say Deputy Murnane O'Connor would accept a dispensation for Carlow.