Results 1-20 of 6,122 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank all the Deputies for their very informative contributions and the obvious passion they have towards this subject. It is great to hear some people's passion not just for the sector itself, but through having past experience in it. It is incumbent on us all to recognise the world-class arts sector we have, both amateur and professional. That is recognised internationally and...

Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024 be deemed to be read a second time this day eighteen months, on the grounds that this amendment is premature as the Minister proposes to await the report of the Expert Advisory Committee on the Arts Council...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who is not here today. Increasing the provision of disability residential services is a key priority for the Government and the HSE. All Deputies across the House will have specific cases relating to the many families who are finding...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: Again, I agree with the Deputy. I think we are all in agreement that we do need to commit to tackling the waiting lists. That is why we have a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for disability at the Cabinet, working within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, as part of the wider Government response to increase the number of residential places and improve...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Supports (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I acknowledge the Deputy's advocacy for this important health hub. We all recognise the need to respond on a nationwide basis to the health needs of people who are homeless. That includes areas outside Dublin and, to the Deputy's point, including Cork city will be a critical investment for the HSE. I will reiterate to all the Ministers in the Department of Health the need for support...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Services Provision (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Deputy raises some very important points. I assure him that investment to improve our infrastructure and accelerate infrastructure delivery is a key priority of this Government. As I said earlier, over the coming weeks Ministers will publish their capital investment plans for the next five years. As the Deputy has said, it is critically important that Kildare North features heavily in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Supports (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy Burke for raising this important matter. I know how passionate he is about this integrated homeless health hub. I have heard him speak about it on many occasions, as he has again today. I welcome the opportunity to take this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health and to inform the House of the current position relating to the provision of an integrated homeless...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: Again, I thank Deputy O'Rourke for giving me an opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for education and her Department. I appreciate the frustration the Deputy has expressed about the alignment of the NCSE, the SENO and the school. It should not have to be the case that the Deputy has to come in here and express his dissatisfaction with the fact the school has been put in this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Services Provision (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I compliment him on his passion and advocacy for key infrastructure projects in his constituency and for raising the requirement for investment in infrastructure, and its delivery, to become key priorities for the Government. He earlier raised the issues with large-scale renewable energy projects so this very much follows from that....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this Topical Issue in the Chamber. Like the Deputy, I share the same ambition on the delivery of inclusive education in our communities and I commend him on raising this important matter. The Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the programme for Government makes a number...

Emergency Inspection of Dublin Zoo Bill 2025: First Stage (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: No.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: Re-Turn has done a tremendous job over the last 18 months since the deposit return scheme, DRS, was introduced. Re-Turn, and the composition of its company as part of the extended producer responsibility, EPR, in the delivery of the DRS, is not obliged under the company law Act to publish its salaries. In good faith, however, it does provide its annual report, as per our Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: Again, we are working on how we can build additional capacity into our recycling systems to avoid the additional exportation of PET. I will say that Re-Turn has been good to work with. It is very efficient. It is a retail-led scheme. We have seen the success of it. It has been widely recognised. We are exploring avenues in regard to how we make use of the unredeemed deposits. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy and understand the merits of the question on affordability and the challenges people may encounter when building homes. However, the grant eligibility for solar PV is very much focused on older homes where the need is greatest. Many homes built since 2021 must comply, as I said in my earlier contribution, with Part L of the building regulations and require high energy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I again thank the Deputy for his response. We have already made changes to the uptake on solar PV installations. In May 2023, in order to bridge the affordability challenges we reduced the VAT rate to zero, which applies to new builds as well as existing homes. That was an important step forward. In doing so, we drove down the cost. As I said, retrofitting new homes on the basis that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: My Department is committed to increasing recycling rates, reducing plastic waste and supporting investment in domestic recycling capacity. In 2023, Ireland recycled 30% of plastic packaging, exceeding the EU target of 22.5%. However, stricter targets of 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030 will be challenging. These figures cover all plastics, including PET. As EU exporting reporting does not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fisheries Protection (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: We need to be very careful identifying ----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fisheries Protection (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: -----specific entities here in the House without the right to reply.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fisheries Protection (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: In fairness, we need to be very careful of the language we use regarding the extensive investigation that was undertaken around the ongoing monitoring of the River Blackwater and other catchments. It is incumbent on us to ensure this is done through an evidence-based, fact-finding mission. We are reassured that no water quality issues have been detected. We have also ensured that the river...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for his question. Our Department is very committed to helping households cut energy, reduce emissions and generate their own clean power. Grants of up to €1,800 are available through the SEAI for solar photovoltaic, PV, installations in homes built and occupied before 2021. Since 2022, over 90,000 homes have received grants totalling over €196.7 million,...