Results 1,401-1,420 of 1,049,257 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Richard O'Donoghue OR speaker:Brendan Smith OR speaker:Eamon Ryan)

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I will wait a minute before calling on the Minister of State. There is another group of speakers indicated who are not here. I know they have been caught unawares because the debate has moved quickly. I will proceed to the Minister of State in the next minute or two if nobody comes in.

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. There is very little I can disagree with in anything they have said.

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Brendan Howlin: So you are not proceeding.

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I will say the point critically here. We are at the end of a political cycle and we can see the quietness around Leinster House today. This is a three-party coalition. There is no commitment in the programme for Government on Seanad reform. It is not there. Critically from all of our perspectives, it is important as we look towards our manifestos for the upcoming general election to...

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: The fundamental tenet of this Bill, which is to continue the exclusion of people who do not have degrees in terms of electing the Seanad, is completely and utterly wrong and indefensible. It is outstanding really that this Government feels comfortable bringing forward such a Bill. It is antidemocratic, elitist and archaic. There was nothing in the Minister of State's speech that defended...

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Denise Mitchell: Unfortunately, the Government has missed a huge opportunity with this Bill. It has taken what the Supreme Court found and interpreted it in the narrowest of ways. Seanad reform has long been talked about, but the Government has done all the talking and taken no action. Let us be honest; it only moved on this Bill because it was bounced into it. We in Sinn Féin are not in a position...

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Under the Constitution, the national Parliament consists of the President, the directly elected Dáil and an indirectly elected nominated Seanad. The Dáil is the paramount body on proposals for legislation, public expenditure and taxation. The Seanad has specific delaying and deliberative functions. In terms of their respective roles, the Dáil is stated, in Article 15.1 of...

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputies for their contributions on this important topic. I will start by answering some of the points raised. Deputy Kelly queried the mechanism around this debate and, to put on the record, in summary and further to my earlier statement it is to allow the Department to provide the monies allocated in budget 2025 it is necessary to comply with the technical requirement under...

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Alan Kelly: Update it.

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Martin Heydon: That is why we are here and doing this. I want to return to the broader point raised by Deputy Kelly, which a number of his colleagues in the Labour Party raised previously, that maybe we should take some of that money off and that there are other sports-----

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Alan Kelly: I did not say that.

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Martin Heydon: That is a point I picked up. I know some of Deputy Kelly's colleagues in the Labour Party previously have said the money should be taken from this fund for other sports. It misses a broader point. The Government does not treat horse or greyhound racing as a sport. I am not a Minister with the Department of sport; I am a Minister with the Department of agriculture. For very good reason,...

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Amendment put.

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: In accordance with Standing Order 80(2) the vote is deferred until the voting block tomorrow evening. I thank everyone for their cooperation.

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan. The proceedings on this matter will be taken at the end of the first round of speakers.

Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (22 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024 before the House. There are three main components in the Bill. First, it proposes a significant extension of the franchise for electing the six “University” members of Seanad Éireann to graduates of designated institutions of higher...

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Ar an gcéad dul síos, I declare an interest because I was reared on a family farm with cattle, dogs and sheepdogs. The Ceann Comhairle knows this. I still have sheepdogs. My son is farming the mountain sheep. It would be impossible without sheepdogs. I would like to put a question to Deputy Bríd Smith. Although she is not here now, I am sure it will be carried back to...

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Danny Healy-Rae: I am glad to get the opportunity to speak in favour of this important proposal. Overall, the horse and greyhound industries are integral to the economic and social fabric of rural Ireland. With continued support and strategic improvements they can continue to provide significant benefits to the economy and social benefits to communities across the country. Indeed, going back more than 40...

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (22 Oct 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: Our culture needs to change. This sector is receiving large amounts of money, in the millions of euro, without rigorous animal welfare criteria being satisfied or any conditions relating to workers' rights in the sector being attached to the funding. Is it an oversight issue, considering there have been numerous reports of serious animal welfare concerns? This has been notable in the last...