I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank Senator Mullen for tabling the motion. It is important we debate the issue and that legislation be introduced. Many people employed in the public and private sectors are aware of illegal activities but are afraid to come forward. Read more…
I join my colleagues in extending sympathy to the people of Norway on their recent tragedy. It highlights the issues of the arms trade and access to arms. The seriousness of these issues were never brought home to me more than three years ago when I visited the area of Chad bordering Sudan, where over 10,000 people under 18 carried machine guns. Read more…
I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for bringing forward this legislation. Many of the issues I wanted to raise have been mentioned but I will refer to one or two issues, one of which concerns my experience of dealing with young people. Read more…
I wish to raise again an issue I raised a number of weeks ago on why we are facing a problem with junior doctors. In fairness to the Minister, he has dealt with it in the best way he can in a very short time but the issue which caused the problem was the centralisation of job applications and the lack of consultation between HSE management and local management on what vacancies will arise. Read more…
I thank the Minister for giving us the time here today to debate this jobs initiative. It is very important that we provide hope. Listening to other speakers, there seems to be a negative view out there, so I should open by talking about events last weekend, when one of our international golfers, Read more…
I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for providing that clarification in her speech.
I welcome the move by the Minister to restart the processing and acceptance of applications under the fair deal scheme. This move brings clarity to the situation and will be a relief for thousands of older people and their families throughout the country. Read more…
While an amendment has not been tabled in respect of the issue I wish to raise, will the Minister for Health consider the matter? This morning, I received a comprehensive 31-page legal opinion regarding extra-territorial jurisdiction courtesy of Amnesty International. Read more…
I wish to follow up on a matter raised yesterday by Senator Whelan on the shortfall in the number of junior doctors. He mentioned his area of Portlaoise and the midlands in general. My information is that there will be a shortfall of 450 junior doctors on 1 July. Read more…
Like my colleagues, I welcomed the Minister of State to the House and wish her well in her role. I welcome the Bill. It is important that we put in place conventions that have been passed at international level. Read more…
Having come from a Parliament where a person is given only one minute speaking time, I am conscious that many Members in this House would have already this morning used up their entire allocation of speaking time for the year.
I support Senator Landy’s comments in regard to repetition. Perhaps in calling for Ministers to come to this House to explain themselves, we should by way of reform commence with ensuring we do not have repetition in this regard. While it is important people are allowed to make their points, we should perhaps review procedures at an early date to ensure we use our time effectively. I ask that the procedures be reviewed at an early date.
