Results 561-580 of 34,618 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Overseas Development Aid (12 Jul 2023)

Seán Fleming: For 2022, the Government provided a total allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €1.045 billion. This was the first year the allocation exceeded €1 billion. The actual outturn for 2022 has been calculated for submission in the coming weeks to the OECD, which monitors levels of ODA internationally. It shows the exceptional impact of ODA-eligible costs of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Birth Registration (6 Jul 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue. On the details of the particular application, I am not aware of it but I hear that the Senator has been in contact. I might touch on that matter in a few moments. The Senator might tell me roughly what month the child was born in and in what country. He may have given me some of that information but when he comes back, he might give me that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Birth Registration (6 Jul 2023)

Seán Fleming: I want to thank Senator Conway for that further information. I will ask the office in the Department of Foreign Affairs to contact the Passport Office directly. I am not promising anything, only that I will follow up on the matter to the best of my ability. Ultimately, the decision has to be made by the relevant deciding officers, and we all know I should not interfere in a particular...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sports Funding (4 Jul 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Department of Foreign Affairs has had a long-standing and very positive relationship with the GAA, recognising the central role which the organisation plays in Irish communities all over the world, both as a sporting organisation and as a very unique social and community network. The Department supports the organisation’s overseas activities primarily through the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (4 Jul 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains and administers a voluntary roster of suitably skilled and vetted individuals who are available to participate at short notice in election observation missions, organised by the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The current Election Observation Roster was established for a period of five years,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sustainable Development Goals (27 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ireland played a significant role in the development and adoption in 2015 of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have prioritised their implementation nationally and internationally. The SDGs provide the overall framework for the Government's international development policy, A Better World. In September, world leaders will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (22 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains and administers a voluntary roster of suitably skilled and vetted individuals who are available to participate at short notice in election observation missions, organised by the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The current Election Observation Roster was established for a period of five years,...

Legal Proceedings: Motion (21 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to section 4(2)(f)(iv) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Acts 2003 to 2021, hereby authorises the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to instruct solicitors and junior counsel and senior counsel, in a manner that safeguards public funds, in relation to the defence of legal proceedings initiated against Deputy James Lawless by Kim...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Budgets (21 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: International climate finance is a priority for the Government and for Ireland’s foreign policy. Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs led on a cross-governmental process to formulate the Government's International Climate Finance Roadmap, which was published in July 2022. The Roadmap sets out how Ireland will deliver on the target of providing at least €225...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: A total of 65 fixed penalty payment notices were issued in 2022 and 146 prosecutions were taken at the District Court. In 2022, the NTA initiated 54 prosecutions of individuals operating an entirely unlicensed SPSV service without either an SPSV driver licence or a vehicle licence. This was in addition to its prosecution of persons operating on expired SPSV licences. I am informed that,to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter regarding the ongoing challenges to the taxi industry posed by illegal operators, which I will answer on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The regulation of the SPSV industry, including enforcement and compliance in the SPSV sector, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the NTA, under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the N17 national primary route in line with Government policy as set out in the national planning framework and Project Ireland 2040. As he will be aware, I am answering today on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who unfortunately cannot be here in person. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue on behalf of his constituents in Sligo. There have been many accidents and fatalities on the road. One factor that is not taken into account sufficiently in these areas is the number of lives saved by improved roads infrastructure. We often talk about the cost benefit of roads, but we cannot put a price on people's lives. People are fatally...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the House. According to the Women's Aid impact report, which was launched earlier today, 12 women died violently in 2022. These 12 beautiful lives were stolen and 12 families were forced to suffer immeasurable grief. I can assure the Deputy that the Government is utterly focused on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We all understand, and I think the figures show, but I am subject to correction on this, that in 90% of the cases where women suffer domestic violence, the perpetrators are known to them. We must start on this basis. It is not a random issue. We must take it that something of a more insidious nature is happening behind the scenes before it...

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...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Protected Disclosures (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I am taking this on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. I recognise how incredibly difficult it is for the families who lost loved ones during the pandemic, which presented one of the greatest and most wide-ranging public health challenges internationally in recent history. I extend my sympathy to the Delany family - Senator Clonan mentioned that Bernadette and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Protected Disclosures (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I understand what the Senator is saying. I will definitely raise this matter with the Minister for Health in order to follow on the issues that have been raised. It is probably no good to say it in the context of the case in question, but a big lesson has been learned here. Before a report is commissioned and the terms of reference agreed and commenced, it is important that the person who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank Senator Gallagher for raising the matter of the public pay and pensions legislation with regard to the community pharmacy sector and its future. I am speaking today on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. The Minister recognises the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care. Community pharmacy is often one of the most accessible...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Senator again for those further remarks. We look forward to progress being made at the discussions which are happening today. I mentioned in passing earlier that regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure were made under the FEMPI legislation and that legislation expired at the end of 2019, thank God. Under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 these regulations...