Results 721-740 of 34,618 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (9 Feb 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important matter concerning the Defence Forces. As she is from Newbridge in County Kildare, she knows more about the Defence Forces and has more contact with its members and their families than any other Member of the Oireachtas given her proximity to the Curragh. Her knowledge of the Defence Forces is vastly superior than that of most other...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (9 Feb 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Senator. I have listened carefully to her remarks. We place enormous value on the peacekeeping work undertaken by members of the Defence Forces. However, it is important to reiterate that ESTA authorisations are ultimately given at the discretion of the US Department of Homeland Security. While it is possible to seek an exemption to these travel restrictions on the basis of...

Public Art Mural (Exempted Development) Bill 2022: First Stage (2 Feb 2023)

Seán Fleming: No.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Disaster Response (31 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 141 together. The Government provided a total of over €100 million in direct assistance to Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa in 2022, in response to the devastating humanitarian crisis caused by drought and conflict.  We have also taken a lead internationally in drawing attention to the devastating impact of the crisis and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (31 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Emigrant Support Programme is central to our engagement with our communities abroad. Since its inception in 2004, the Emigrant Support Programme has assisted over 530 organisations in some 37 countries with grants totalling over €220 million. The value of the sustained investment in the programme was evident during the incredible response of our community organisations and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (31 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy, 2020-2025, sets out the Government’s vision for engaging with our diaspora communities around the world. As we approach the half-way stage in the strategy’s five-year span, albeit one that was interrupted by the global pandemic, it is right that we would take stock of what has been achieved so far and the Interdepartmental Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (31 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ireland strongly condemns the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. We support international efforts to reduce their influence and assist populations affected by their actions. Ireland is playing its part in helping tackle the impact and the causes of the armed conflict and forced displacement.  Since 2015, we have provided over €36 million in bilateral assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Disaster Response (31 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 390 together. The World Food Programme reports that 349 million people across 79 countries are now facing acute food insecurity.  This is a significant increase since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the situation further.  It is likely that the availability of food will become a significant issue in many...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (31 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Government's international development policy, A Better World, is strongly focused on addressing the needs of countries and communities which are the furthest behind, with an emphasis on those in the world’s poorest or climate exposed regions, especially women and girls. Ireland’s programme of Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a central element of our foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (31 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Government's international development policy, A Better World, focuses on addressing the needs of countries and communities who are furthest behind.  It has a particular emphasis on those in the world’s poorest or climate-exposed regions, especially women and girls.  The Government has provided a total of €1.233 billion for Official Development Assistance in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (31 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ireland maintains a consistent focus internationally on issues relating to refugees and displaced persons.  We raise these issues in UN and EU meetings, highlighting in particular the plight of the most vulnerable, including women and children. We fully support EU efforts to adopt a comprehensive approach to migration, including through resettlement and increased legal pathways for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (18 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: 1342. To ask the Minister for Health when facilities will be provided at a clinic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63877/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: 1351. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline in detail the hospitals that will benefit from a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63904/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (18 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: 1415. To ask the Minister for Health the current position in relation to private dental practices which no longer offer services to medical card holders; if there has been any further update on this service being resumed in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1163/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (18 Jan 2023)

Seán Fleming: 1812. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide correspondence to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63945/22]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I understand what the Deputy is saying. As he has read in the statement circulated, upon reviewing the preliminary end-of-year statement through myAccount, which is Revenue's secure online facility for individual taxpayer services, employees had an opportunity to complete their income tax returns for 2020, declaring any additional income and claiming any additional tax credits due –...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I might take this opportunity to provide a recap on the wage subsidy schemes that were a central pillar of the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The issue raised by the Deputy has been raised with me and I know a number of people are in similar situations. Covid-19 had a sudden and profound impact on the economy with the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: To some extent provision already exists for budgeting at local authority level via the local property tax, LPT, which facilitates a responsiveness of taxation policy to a geographically specific context, that is, each local authority area. LPT is an essential source of funding for local authorities, accounting for approximately 8% of current income this year. The annual LPT allocation...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I appreciate the additional points the Senator made. This is a broader issue than the Finance Bill because much of what has been discussed here is about the role of local authorities. Such a matter would have to be dealt with as part of a whole-of-government approach with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which has a key role in this area. This suggestion could not...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: Before addressing this group of recommendations, I join the Cathaoirleach and Senators in offering my sympathies to the family of the late former Deputy, Bobby Aylward, some of whom were in the Gallery a short while ago. I spoke to Helena outside and explained that I am in the Seanad for this debate and will not be in the Dáil Chamber for the expressions of sympathy. I turn now to...