Results 1-20 of 277 for going forward speaker:Seán Fleming

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (30 Apr 2024)

Seán Fleming: ...offences had previously only carried sentences of five years but they were doubled and came into effect for offences since 1 November last year. It is something the Garda treats very seriously. Across government we are committed to creating a system that allows victims to feel comfortable in coming forward and to know they will be supported and protected. I must compliment the Garda...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (8 Feb 2024)

Seán Fleming: On behalf of the Minister I want to thank Senator Sherlock for raising this matter this morning. A priority of this Government is to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that necessary supports are provided to our schools to cater for the needs of children with special educational needs. It is important to remember that the vast majority of children with special...

Investment Funds Trading in the Residential Property Market: Motion [Private Members] (17 Jan 2024)

Seán Fleming: I thank everyone who contributed to the debate. I reiterate that supporting homeownership is a top priority for the Government. I know some parties in this House are generally opposed to the principle of homeownership. It is extraordinary that they come with a motion relating to people who want their own residential house and that they talk about residential property prices. The policy of...

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: ...and any implications it has for us. The Tánaiste has said that Ireland cannot rely on our geographic isolation for our security or isolate ourselves from world events. This does not mean, however, that the Government is using these events as a way of eroding or diluting Ireland’s neutrality, as some have claimed. In that context, I reiterate that there are no plans to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: ...and extreme drought have more recently been compounded by widespread flooding. Communities continue to rely on humanitarian assistance for their survival. In 2023, Ireland provided nearly €20 million to support those communities. On top of these ongoing crises, the world has witnessed a series of devastating natural disasters this year, including earthquakes in Türkiye,...

Seanad: The Political Situation in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2023)

Seán Fleming: ...for their very thoughtful and detailed contributions. I welcome the Seanad's close engagement with matters relating to Northern Ireland, which is a key priority for all of us in both Houses. The Government welcomes the various opportunities for discussion in this House initiated by Senators this year to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and to discuss the impact of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Northern Ireland (27 Sep 2023)

Seán Fleming: ...he is deeply committed and interested in and he has been watching very closely since this whole issue regarding the Northern Ireland legacy Act and the Bill was originally announced some time ago. I also join Senator Blaney in acknowledging Senator McGreehan's continuing interest in this matter as well. Senator Blaney has been a particularly strong advocate and voice of criticism on this...

Education Costs: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: On behalf of the Government, I welcome the opportunity to respond to what has been a very insightful and informative debate on the important issue of the cost of education. The Government is acutely aware that many Irish families feel additional financial pressure each year when they are preparing to send their children back to school or college. It is important that the Government...

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." On behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I am happy to have the opportunity to introduce the Bill. The purpose of this Bill is to set out a system of controls on the abstraction and impoundment of water to protect our water environment and to ensure compliance with Ireland's...

Seanad: Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: ...about the valuable community spirit of the credit unions and mentioned the role of An Post, which has a significant role to play in communities, and the fact there is personal contact when you go into a credit union building. Senator Maria Byrne said she was a member of the credit union and precisely explained the issues of the common bond and boundaries. We have provided in legislation...

Defective Concrete Products Levy: Motion [Private Members] (4 Oct 2022)

Seán Fleming: ...that some of the costs associated with this scheme should be borne by industry. This was widely reported at the time and it should not come as any surprise that the Minister for Finance will bring forward a levy to ensure the industry contributes to the cost of redressing the issues that originated with it. As was announced in his budget 2023 speech, my colleague, the Minister for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (4 Oct 2022)

Seán Fleming: ...announced the introduction of a levy on pouring concrete, concrete blocks and certain other concrete products used in the construction of buildings in his budget 2023 speech. This follows a Government decision of November 2021 which approved an enhanced redress scheme for householders impacted by the use of defective concrete products in the construction of their homes. The Government...

Emergency Budget: Motion [Private Members] (28 Jun 2022)

Seán Fleming: ...be in the position we are in today. We cannot skirt over that. I understand why the Opposition has tabled this motion. It is easy and very popular to say we should always spend more. Those of us in government understand that but we have a greater responsibility to look after the broader picture, not just for this week but for next week, next month and next year. We have shown we...

Insurance Reform: Statements (22 Jun 2022)

Seán Fleming: ...is insuring their home. The number of houses without insurance is something to bear in mind. The first thing I wish to do is respond to some of the specific issues in this debate, which has gone on for more than three hours. I was asked by two or three Deputies across the Chamber why the Government is not supporting the Private Members' Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021. I...

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Seán Fleming: ...of the Bill in recent weeks. Lower interest rates are better for consumers and that is why the key purpose of this legislation is to reduce interest rates. Members of the Opposition will say that the Government is not being ambitious enough, but we have to strike a balance here to reduce rates without reducing access to credit. I will outline what we are proposing for cash loans. There...

Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (25 May 2022)

Seán Fleming: ...to rates that would compare with mainstream lending rates. Lower interest rates are better for consumers; I am aware of that. The purpose of this legislation is to reduce interest rates and the Government remains open to cutting the interest rate again in the future based on evidence we will ask the Central Bank to collect. I want to explain how we arrived at the figures I am...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 May 2022)

Seán Fleming: ...I can see where he is coming from with his proposal. Lower interest rates are better for consumers. The key purpose of this legislation is to reduce interest rates. Deputy Doherty will say that Government is not being ambitious enough, but we have to strike a balance and reduce rates without reducing access to credit. We can reduce rates right down but we might not have any companies...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 May 2022)

Seán Fleming: I understand. Part of our work here is to encourage people to go to credit unions as well. Deputy Doherty and I often have discussions on credit unions. It is something that we would support, but this legislation is introducing a cap at this stage and what Deputy Doherty is calling for is provided for in the legislation. The rate can reduce to the rate the Deputy is talking about, but we...