Results 1-20 of 5,012 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Irish Blood Transfusion Service (21 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll McNeill. I have taken all of her concerns on board and I will definitely come back at the end on what she has brought up. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is a non-commercial State agency responsible for collecting, processing, testing and distributing blood and blood...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Irish Blood Transfusion Service (21 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I totally agree with the Senator. The increase in demand is driven in part by the success of the recent investment in expanding the surgical and health system capacity by delivering better access to care for people. To ensure this demand is met, donor attendance figures are up by 10,283 in the year to date. This is an increase of 8.9% on target. There has been an increase. With the...

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yesterday, I attended the briefing in the audiovisual room and listened to the parents and families of children on the waiting list. My heart goes out to them. I welcome that the Government has committed to an inquiry and I urge that this happens as soon as possible. It is right to acknowledge that we are not where we need to be in addressing urgent problems in spinal care, despite the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application for emergency works to address structural problems with a roof (details supplied). [55988/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a request for funding to equip two modular SEN classrooms, as currently, the school cannot fully equip the classroom for full operation (details supplied). [55989/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application for emergency works funding to repair a collapsed roof that contains asbestos (details supplied). [55990/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a new build for a school will proceed (details supplied). [55991/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application by a school (details supplied) for repurposing of existing space to accommodate two special classes. [55992/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: School Meals Programme (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. The Nutritional Standards for School Meals have been in place since its inception and were developed by...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Dental Services (14 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also welcome Rodion and his family. We are delighted to have them here. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address the issue of accessibility and dental services for people with disabilities. The national oral health policy has two key goals, namely, to provide the supports to...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Dental Services (14 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I assure her once again that the Government is committed to supporting access to oral healthcare services for people with disabilities, which is evidenced by the significant investment in recent years. A package of measures was introduced in 2022 to expand the care available under the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS. Significantly,...

Financial Resolutions 2025 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am delighted to announce further investment in budget 2026 for the national drugs strategy and health and well-being. The total allocation for drugs and inclusion health has increased to €289 million. This is an increase of €11 million in non-pay related measures. I am determined that people throughout the country will access timely quality care. I am committed to the...

Seanad: Supports and Services for Patients with Head and Neck Cancers: Motion (8 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank Senator Craughwell very much. I welcome his daughter here today. Since I became Minister of State with responsibility for health, cancer has come up so much. So many families are affected by cancer. It is not only the Senator's daughter but he, his wife and all of them together who are affected. As he said, they are a unit working within the hospital. I want to say well done....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Prison Service (7 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy O'Callaghan, who is in the Dáil Chamber today. The Minister is acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons and the resulting challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons. Work to increase capacity has begun. Since...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Prison Service (7 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank Senator Byrne for bringing up such an important issue. On behalf of the Minister, I want to underline the importance of the commitment to progressing and implementing policies aimed at increasing the use of community sanctions that reduce offending, divert people away from imprisonment and provide effective rehabilitation. That is something we are working on. On 6 May 2025, the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legal Aid (7 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator for this matter which is an area we have all been making recommendations on. It is something that is important to us all. As the Senator will know, I am here today to represent the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. It is important to note that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services. Criminal legal aid is granted by the courts and concerns the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legal Aid (7 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will certainly bring this request to the attention of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. I feel it is very important. Access to justice is a fundamental right, a cornerstone of our democracy and central to the rule of law. Nowhere is this more significant than in cases where victims of domestic violence need court support. This is exactly what the Senator is saying. As I mentioned...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (7 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the two Senators for highlighting this very serious issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee. The Department of Education and Youth plans to address the additional accommodation needs for St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School, Cootehill, County Cavan. St. Aidan’s is a co-educational comprehensive school under Catholic patronage....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (7 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senators. I see the seriousness of it. Every day I deal with schools in my area, Carlow-Kilkenny. I want to echo the Senators. I have to compliment the teachers for their hard work and dedication over the years. There is the urgent matter, as Senator O'Reilly said, of the 37 students - local children - looking for a school. Both Senators can be assured that I will be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mortality Rates (2 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As you are aware, Ireland was the first country to have a National Policy on Men's Health and this Government remains committed to reducing premature mortality among men. The HSE is leading on the implementation of the second Men’s Health Action Plan, launched in late 2024. Following its publication, €200,000 was allocated in Budget 2025 to recruit a National Lead for...