Mary has received an update from the Minister of Health on the Vaccine Rollout. 143,000 vaccine doses have been administered up to January 24th. The vaccination of the third group in the Government’s Vaccine Allocation Strategy will begin in February. Under the Vaccine Allocation Strategy, people aged 70 and older will be vaccinated in the…
Planning Information
Mary recently attended an information seminar with the Office of the Planning Regulator, where they announced the publication of planning information leaflets. These leaflets provide information on all aspects of the planning system and are available free of charge. Click here for more information. FacebookTwitter
Coco’s Law
Mary supported the passing of Coco laws which criminalises the publication, distribution or sharing or threat of distribution or sharing of intimate images without consent. The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, referred to as Coco’s law in memory of Nicole Fox Fenlon, provides for a number of measures including increasing the maximum…
Electoral Commission
Mary welcomes the announcement that in Spring 2021 Government intends bringing forward legislation to establish an independent Electoral Commission to do the following: Oversee elections and referendums Inform the public about elections and referendums Update and maintain the electoral register Conduct elections Regulate online political advertising in the public interest Introduce a consistent regime relating…
Mother & Baby Homes
Mary welcomed the unreserved apology from An Taoiseach last week on behalf of the state to the survivors of Mother and Baby and County homes. Mary says the report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes doesn’t comprehensively capture the totality of experiences of unmarried mothers and their children over the 75…
Leaving Cert 2021 Update
I raised Leaving Cert Students concerns at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting again last night with Minister for Education Norma Foley who is acutely aware of the stress on students and their parents. She is working with the Leaving Cert Advisory Group which includes teachers, unions, student and parents representatives to find the best…
Affordable Housing Bill
Mary supports Governments Affordable Housing legislation, published by Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien TD, which will deliver affordable homes to both purchase and rent. The legislation aims to support people who earn too much to qualify for social housing but insufficient to secure a mortgage to buy or rent an affordable home. For the first…
Water Environment Bill
Mary contributed to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government, Planning and Heritage pre-legislative scrutiny Report on the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020. This legislation is important to achieve the following objectives: Bring Ireland into compliance with EU Water Framework Directive 2000 Modernise the administration and legislation for water abstraction Provide an EPA administered…
Fagin’s Law
Mary supports Government proposed legislation to make the grooming of children into crime a crime. The Criminal Justice (Exploitation of Children in the Commission of Offences) Bill will, for the first time, create specific offence where an adult compels, coerces, induces or invites a child to engage in criminal activity. While current law already provides…
Legislative Programme 2021
The Government has published its proposed legislative programme for the Oireachtas Spring session. As Fianna Fáils spokesperson for HLGH Mary will take the lead in the Seanad on Affordable Housing Bill, Land Development Agency Bill, Planning and Development and Nature Conservation (Heritage) Functions Bill, Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill. Full schedule is attached, please click here….