Results 15,681-15,700 of 17,803 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (20 Feb 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to outline the position on educational planning in schools on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills.The Department of Education and Skills recently wrote to the Teachers Union of Ireland and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland to reiterate to them the importance of planning for pupils with special...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (20 Feb 2019)

Helen McEntee: I reiterate that when we look at the figures we see that in the past seven or eight years there has been an increase of more than 37%. Although we still have more work to do, the Senator will agree this is a significant increase. We have the significant number of 14,000 special education teachers in our schools providing support to students on a daily basis. A total of €1.8 billion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (20 Feb 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Chair. I would not like my constituents to think I am travelling too much. Travel, however, has definitely increased at the moment. I am delighted to be here again to update the committee on developments. As usual, it has been a very busy time since I was last with the committee in December, not least regarding Brexit. I attended the General Affairs Council yesterday where...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (20 Feb 2019)

Helen McEntee: We are okay on time. We have another 45 minutes owing to the delay in the Dáil. I thank members and the Chairman for their comments and support. Ireland has a unique opportunity to sell itself and otherwise engage with member states and countries across the world on St. Patrick's Day. It is an important opportunity for us to relay the best of what we have to offer in trade,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Human Rights (14 Feb 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank both Deputies for raising what is an extremely important issue. The Government's position remains the same as it was in the previous eight statements, which is that the situation requires the attention of the UN Human Rights Council. We have raised the issue of Bahrain with the council and we will be sure to raise it again. I reassure both Deputies that the Department of Foreign...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Human Rights (14 Feb 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. It is, of course, a matter of grave concern for the Government that, eight years on from the beginning of the 2011 pro-democracy protests, Bahrain has not progressed in the way we had hoped. In fact, it has become an increasingly restrictive society, civic society space has contracted significantly and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising what is a very important issue. While much of my response is quite technical in outlining the situation as it stands, the Senator has brought it back to what it should be about, namely, families, children and their parents. While he, I and many others would recognise both people in the example he gave as parents, the letter of the law says otherwise. We have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2019)

Helen McEntee: There have been recent discussions on this matter which do not just follow on from the Attorney General's request for further clarification from the Department. There have been other legislative developments, led by the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection which will I hope have a positive impact in this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2019)

Helen McEntee: Nobody blamed them.

Government's Brexit Preparedness: Statements (17 Jan 2019)

Helen McEntee: It is all online.

Government's Brexit Preparedness: Statements (17 Jan 2019)

Helen McEntee: I will update the House on the work that is being progressed to protect the continuity of the supply of medicines and transport connectivity between Ireland and both the UK and continental Europe. First, as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, I will focus on the EU's preparedness and contingency planning, which has provided the basis for much of our own domestic...

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Order for Second Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now".

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (16 Jan 2019)

Helen McEntee: I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” I am very pleased to introduce the National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018. This Bill will provide the legislative underpinning for the rainy-day fund, the Government committed to creating in A Programme for a Partnership Government. It is an important plank of the policies pursued by the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Issues (16 Jan 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his comments. I appreciate that this is a matter of major concern for him, although I understand that he is not just talking about his own community and county, and that this may well be an issue in other areas as well. That said, I assure the Deputy that Irish Water is trying to develop and implement a long-term investment perspective to strategically address...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Issues (16 Jan 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, who sends his apologies for not being able to be present. I will first outline the work that Irish Water has been doing, which is important to set the scene for what we are discussing. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects of water...

Post-European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for their questions. I should have outlined at the beginning that while there are announcements to be made tomorrow and there will be further clarity on the legislation about which we are talking, a lot of work has been done in trying to prepare. Certain industries, particularly agriculture, have already been affected by Brexit. In the past three budgets we have been...

Post-European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2018)

Helen McEntee: I would like to have ten minutes because a number of questions were raised about disinformation. I thank Deputies for their statements and questions about the December European Council meeting. As the Taoiseach indicated, I shall focus in my wrap-up remarks on the efforts to combat disinformation, the fight against racism and xenophobia, as well as citizens' consultations on the future...

Post-European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his question. I join other Members in wishing everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas. I hope everyone gets a good break. I am sorry to disappoint Members, but I will not be outlining in great detail the contingency planning that will be announced tomorrow by the Taoiseach. As many Members have mentioned, the Commission has published its communication on...

Post-European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2018)

Helen McEntee: Is there any substance to which views?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Brexit Issues (18 Dec 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for their statements. I know this is an extremely important issue for them. Deputy Breathnach referred to the UK's proposed shared prosperity fund. The UK is considering such a fund on the basis that it will leave the European Union and will no longer receive Structural Funds. Ireland has no intention of leaving the EU and would be foolish to even consider doing so....