Results 21-40 of 6,063 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: Again, I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. I am sure they will understand that the Government and the Minister for Health are very much committed to ensuring that all women and families receive the highest standard of care, both at Portiuncula and across all maternity services nationally. The Minister and her Department officials will continue to work closely with the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising this important matter. I take his point. I was a backbencher too so I understand the frustration when you put in a Topical Issue and the relevant Minister or Minister of State is not present. I will relay that back to the Chief Whip. The Government is very much committed to supporting children with additional needs to reach their full potential, and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: -----are under way to determine the future direction of the services in the region. It is important to also highlight UHL's annual budget spend has increased from €265 million in 2019 to over €507 million in 2024. A package of wide-ranging reform support measures also is being implemented. It is important these measures are aimed at both capacity and reform of the healthcare...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank both Deputies for raising this important matter around concerns relating to the delivery of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who is unavoidably absent today. The safety and quality of our maternity services are of critical importance to the women and families who use them, as well as to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy Quinlivan for the timely opportunity to address the House on capacity at University Hospital Limerick. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who sends her apologies that she cannot be here to provide an update on the measures that are being taken to alleviate overcrowding. Since the Deputy last raised a Topical Issue on this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: We are all in agreement that the people of the mid-west rightly deserve access to responsive urgent and emergency care. The HIQA review was published today. It has an extensive range of findings across the healthcare service in the mid-west. I would be interested to hear what the Deputy disagrees with in the HIQA report.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I would be interested to hear if there is anything in the report that he disagrees with. It will be given full consideration and all the findings-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this important issue. Ireland's healthcare system is changing with the introduction and implementation of Sláintecare, the first cross-party plan for major health reform in Ireland which was introduced in 2017. The Sláintecare vision is to provide universal, accessible, affordable, person-centred, safe and high-quality health and social care...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I certainly agree on the necessity around an early access programme. We are making significant progress in regards to the treatment of cancer. However, I would agree that access to medicines should not become a barrier; it should become part of the normal process. I will report what the Deputy has said here to the Minister. In...

Insurance Costs: Motion [Private Members] (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: As we conclude the debate, I want to acknowledge that the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and his officials who have been listening throughout this debate. I want to bring us all back to the essentials we are discussing here today which is that insurance is not abstract. It is a daily reality for every motorist, every small business and every household. It is the guarantee that if the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Trade Agreements (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator Higgins for raising this important matter at a critical junction of EU external trade policy and international law.While it is a complex and sensitive issue, I appreciate the opportunity to outline Ireland's position. On 4 October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union upheld the ruling of the General Court of 29 September 2021 annulling the Council decision on the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Trade Agreements (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I must note that the negotiations on the replacement agreement have not yet fully concluded in Brussels and any further comment would be inappropriate at this stage. However, I will say that Ireland's approach has been guided by two principles, namely, respect for the rule of law and support for the United Nations-led process on Western Sahara. I reiterate that Ireland continues to keep all...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: On behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion, I thank the Senator for raising this very important matter on behalf of the families he represents in Wexford. I know myself how important school transport is. It is the lifeline of many communities. I fully appreciate the urgency of the matter. As the Senator will know, the school transport scheme...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: No.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this really important matter and for her continued interest in the transformation of our Defence Forces. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be here due to prior commitments. On his behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond and I thank the Senator for bringing this matter to the forefront...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I again thank the Senator for raising these important matters. The Commencement matter submitted by the Senator did not reference anything regarding the conservation or preservation plan for the Curragh Camp. However, I will raise that with officials to try to get a detailed briefing note to the Senator. I know how important it is to her. The Tánaiste assured me that he will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: Our textile separate collection system is currently under strain due to adverse international trading conditions caused by wars and currency crises around the globe. This is a complex problem being experienced across Europe at the moment. Under waste management legislation, local authorities are responsible for waste management planning and this includes managing capacity issues and the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220, 221 and 222 together. The Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001 require producers of farm plastics to either establish a deposit and refund scheme for farm plastic waste or to participate in an approved compliance scheme for its recovery and recycling. Since the introduction of the farm plastics extended producer responsibility (EPR) model,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Department is conducting a review of the performance of the WEEE and Batteries extended producer responsibility sector. The review is intended to ensure that the producer responsibility organisations (PROs) are contributing effectively to Ireland's transition to a circular economy. The review will assess their performance and examine the experience of having competition in the compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (30 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 370 and 377 together. The Programme for Government is clear on the intention to support small businesses and I am aware of the issues facing retailers across the country. The establishment of the Small Business Unit within my Department is a recognition of the importance that the Government places on small businesses. We have simplified access to...