Results 1-20 of 144 for going forward speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

International Women's Day: Statements (5 Mar 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...31 candidates across Carlow ran in the local elections. I have heard that there is major interest in Carlow this year and that numbers will increase. I support all women who have put themselves forward to represent their communities. As the local elections draw closer, a significant effort is crucial to encourage women and people from diverse backgrounds to run for elections, and to...

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 Feb 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Sometimes the public gets very frustrated when we have the Opposition motions we do not agree with, but then they see the countermotion put forward that leads to a Bill like this. In March 2023, the Government approved a countermotion to a Private Members' motion regarding the eviction ban which included a commitment that the Government would extend the rent a room scheme disregard for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Industry (5 Dec 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...town. As I said, it will be our culture quarter. Funding is so important there, we need to promote tourism, and Carlow is an area where I believe we need to invest more money. I ask the Minister, going forward, to look at Visual and parts of this culture quarter to support the hospitality sector and the businesses involved.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Nov 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...community Garda cannot be full-time in the village, the villagers want, as the Minister knows, to keep their Garda station open, active and a presence. I am told that funding is not available. This is going to be a huge concern; the Minister is right. The superintendents and community policing units are going around a lot of the counties and rural areas but there has been a lot of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility: Discussion (27 Sep 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ..., the bus is not tackling certain areas. For example, the bus does not stop at Carlow train station. I have received many requests for it to do so. It is unreal that the town bus lane does not go Carlow train station. We have two bus routes, CW1 and CW2. They operate every 30 minutes, seven days a week. It is excellent. I highlighted the next issue about a year ago and am still...

Children's Health Ireland - Patient safety concerns and reviews in paediatric orthopaedic surgical services: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Sep 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I appreciate that the Government is attempting to ensure every possible measure is taken and examined to reduce spinal surgery waiting times in CHI at Crumlin and Temple Street. This includes exploring the transfer of a small number of patients with complex spinal surgery needs to appropriate skills centres in other countries. Perhaps the Minister will fill us in on what the timescale and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (5 Jul 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I know the Minister of State will go back to the Minister. As I said, I have had him in Carlow, we met different groups and given our population growth an injury clinic has to be part of the plan going forward. The Minister of State said an implementation plan for the recommendations from the review is now being developed and areas such as Carlow will be considered as part of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (5 Jul 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...has Kilkenny city, we have no hospital. Earlier this year, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, came to Carlow and saw the pressure on our out-of-hours service and the limited use of a perfectly good X-ray facility in St. Dympna's Hospital. We need an injury clinic in Carlow to make use of the good facilities already there and to allow for the expansion of the services to properly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (27 Jun 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...but were treated differently. One prison officer from Dublin attended his welfare office and asked for a letter stating that he was not looking or available for work. He received that letter and forwarded it to the National Shared Services Office, NSSO, and his pension was paid in full without it being necessary to sign on and meet the jobseeker’s allowance criteria. A second...

Apprenticeship and Further Education and Training: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...Minister, the Ministers of State and the HSE. I am in the community healthcare organisation, CHO, 5 area. I am in contact with the CHO but it is not easy to get people. I find I am constantly going back. I am looking for a forward plan for recruiting more staff in this area. I am sure the Minister of State, with his team in the Department, could find a niche and a way of recruiting in...

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...the activity of criminals in our communities. This is also what we are trying to achieve. We must invest in prevention, support and communities. That is the most important and best way to move forward in this regard. I welcomed the new youth justice strategy in 2021. I again acknowledge the work done by the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, in this area before assuming her...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...repeatedly to the study. It is a bit disappointing that it has taken so long for the report to be published, although I understand it is a huge piece of work and there is a lot of work to be done going forward. When will a timescale be available? What is happening going forward? It is important we provide that information. While it is good that it went to the Cabinet today, I am...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Integration and Refugee Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...and for us as politicians. Mr. O'Sullivan said the Department has introduced a range of measures to deal with the increase in applications. In terms of staffing, what is the procedure as we go forward? I understand the €18 million allocation for the International Protection Office this year is being utilised to recruit a significant number of extra staff. As we know, one of...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Integration and Refugee Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...huge challenges. There is no question about that. The communication has been unacceptable. There is some accommodation that is not fit for purpose. I question how often it is assessed and who goes to check it. I know of people accommodating people who have not been paid. We must be mindful that we all want to work together. We speak about Oireachtas Members. The communication is not...

European Year of Skills: Statements (10 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...world, both inside and outside of work. It is crucial for Ireland to participate in this. I have been told several times that our young people are global role models. As has been said, many good, young adults and teenagers are emigrating to other countries. We cannot allow this. We must ensure we are prepared and that we look after them, be they nurses or gardaí or in any other...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...their opening statements today. I also thank Deputy Whitmore for asking my questions, which is fine. They were about the voice of the child and childminders. That is important. Information is going to be crucial here, and how we communicate it. I will just go back to the Department. The witnesses spoke about proposals to enshrine interagency co-operation in law. These are intended to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Behaviour Analysis and Support: Discussion (4 May 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ..., I am very mindful of awareness and how we can make people aware, including families and even ourselves more generally. How do the witnesses feel about an awareness campaign, or what can we do going forward? It is something that we are learning about every day. What can the witnesses see happening in this regard as we go forward?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Youth Work: Discussion (18 Apr 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ..., all DEIS schools have a school meals programme. Not all DEIS schools provide hot meals but they all at least provide sandwiches, drinks and so on. As part of the programme for Government going forward, all schools over the next few years will have a food programme and that is so important for everybody. No matter what area one works in, one does not want a child arriving in to a youth...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues: Discussion (28 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: ...delays, cancellations, rejections or accessibility issues. They also referred to the let-downs in the system. That was the big issue. I ask the Minister to explain that. How can we do what is needed going forward? All Deputies have met foster carers in their constituencies who have come to us with their worries and concerns. In 2001, the working group on foster care recommended that...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (7 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The negative impacts of higher energy prices on consumers, society and the economy have been felt. We did good things in the budget to help people with higher energy prices. There are supports in place, but we need to reassure the public that there is energy security. We have to be able to keep the lights on. We need unbroken availability of energy sources at an affordable price and we...