Results 1-20 of 686 for speaker:Emer Currie

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Emergency Services (29 May 2024)

Emer Currie: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I welcome the Minister of State and thank the Taoiseach for the announcement last night that emergency medicine doctors are to crew the helicopter response service alongside paramedics for four months in a new trial. That is a huge step forward for the thousands of people who desperately need major pre-hospital trauma care. Ireland is an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Emergency Services (29 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I refer to the situation in Ireland compared with the rest of Europe and the world, as well as the disparity on the island itself and in rural versus urban areas. This is an opportunity we need to grasp with both hands.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Emergency Services (29 May 2024)

Emer Currie: When I initially submitted this question, we did not have this extremely positive news. The important line in the Minister of State's contribution was the confirmation that the overall delivery of HEMS services in Ireland is consultant-led but the service is delivered by highly-trained advanced paramedics. She also stated: "emergency medicine consultants, with considerable experience in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Emergency Services (29 May 2024)

Emer Currie: -----and the benefit of the North-South is going to be availed of. We have the North-South Ministerial Council up and running for the first time since 2017. Let us add this matter to the list of things where we co-operate.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I am the Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson for special education and inclusion. I have met with our new Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, a couple of times in the last couple of weeks with regard to our inclusive education policies and the shortage of special class, autism class and special school places for September 2024. Obviously, this is a huge priority for her and is critical for the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I raise the work of physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical services as opposed to paramedic-led emergency care. A lot of our focus is on having access to air or road ambulances which primarily aim to get patients to hospitals and emergency departments in a timely manner. However, in other countries, they bring the hospital to the scene of the emergency, whether that is at the...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I invite the Minister, Deputy McGrath, to take the floor.

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: Before we move to the Fianna Fáil spokesperson, Senator Ollie Crowe, I welcome our visitors from Archbishop McHale College, Tuam. You are very welcome to the Seanad.

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I welcome the Minister to the House today.I am delighted to speak about the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill. Despite the attendance here today, this is a really significant moment for us as a country. It shows that we have been able to bring economic stability and are now in a position, because of the national reserve fund and economic prudence, to take...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: -----to invest in public lands. I do not want that to happen again.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 May 2024)

Emer Currie: The Minister of State is very welcome. It is a testament to the legislation that so many Senators want to contribute on Second Stage.This is flagship legislation from this Government. We have reached the point where we are getting into the nitty-gritty; we are in the final stretch. It is now about tying it all together. The construct is in place and the support is there. I hope we are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (9 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for being here. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, has been vocal about the cost of gridlock and the priority that needs to be given to public transport, walking and cycling to help us meet our climate targets. We are investing an eye-watering amount of money - I believe it is €100 billion - in capital transport projects in the coming decades and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (9 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for the update. As the Minister of State will be aware from my opening remarks, I am concerned about the drift in timings and delivery. While we can say that part of this, in terms of the overall delivery of BusConnects for Dublin 15, relates to the bus corridors and planning, there are routes that could be prioritised in the meantime. The year 2026 is a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members for their contributions. If the Polish ambassador was still here I would congratulate him on his country's constitution day. I, too, want to express my sympathies to the D'Arcy family and the Fine Gael party on the death of Mr. Michael D'Arcy Snr., who made a significant contribution to Irish politics as a Minster, Deputy and Senator. Senator...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: Senator Craughwell expressed concern over the transparency of funding that goes towards overseas aid and development, but he also mentioned NGOs. There is an audit process for any public funds to ensure they are being used correctly. We can, of course, send on the Senator's concern but I also suggest he contact the public accounts committee on this issue. Senator Sherlock made a really...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the witnesses. It is great they are here again. I thank them for their report on the subvention. I have a couple of questions and I hope the witnesses can answer them. Since the last time the witnesses came before the committee what work has been done to come up with this report? Did it purely examine the financials of the subvention in more detail?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: For some people this could make it harder to buy into the concept of a united Ireland because the cost has increased. When the witnesses speak about another 5% of Irish national income to fund a united Ireland, will they give me a comparison? They work in economics and they are used to this. If we are going to sell this to people on this island how would we describe what it looks like?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: It would help. We seem to be continually having a debate on whether planning and preparation has started. This work is part of it. It would be useful to be able to position the cost in a relatable way for people, for example in comparison to the effect that austerity had or the cost-of-living crisis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: That is the impact it could have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: This is why the witnesses have been very clear about having to address productivity which, unfortunately, has decreased over the years. There is a focus on the spectrum of generosity from the UK in the paper but it takes quite a pessimistic view based on the current vista. What type of spectrum could we be looking at where it could improve?