Results 2,061-2,080 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (19 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I welcome this amendment and it is good to have the role of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission strengthened. That is welcome. I agree that by adding the High Court to the Circuit Court, it gives the legislation additional seriousness and a greater standing. I also welcome the inclusion of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. From my own experience of...

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (19 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I move amendment No. 14: In page 8, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “(2A) Failure to comply with an order granted by the Circuit Court by the person concerned would be a Category 4 offence subject to a class A fine.”. I am withdrawing amendment No. 15 on the basis of the Government's amendment No. 13. Amendment No. 14 seeks to strengthen the provision...

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (19 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I will withdraw amendments Nos. 14 and 15.

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (19 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Obviously, I always err on the side of wishing to see the review being carried out sooner than after four years. However, I welcome the fact that it has been reduced from five years to four years. That is a positive move.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (19 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 161. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a pregnant and at high risk childcare worker can continue to be paid their supplemented employment wage subsidy scheme wage in cases in which they present a medical certificate to their employer but remain at home. [26861/21]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I must say, I am glad to see the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, taking this Topical Issue matter. It falls into his constituency as well so it is actually quite good. I am sure he will be aware of the situation. In counties Carlow and Kilkenny, several businesses are having significant issues in operating online. I want to specifically discuss one business called Sunshine Juice in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (25 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister of State. In Topical Issue debates, as with parliamentary questions for written answer, there is often a standard type of answer given. Regarding the review to which the Minister of State referred, is that a genuine process? Have there been successful outcomes to it or is it a case of saying there is a review happening in the hope it will kick the whole issue down the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 79. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a list will be provided of all new routes established by the National Transport Authority since March 2020. [28471/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Transport Authority has the legal authority to remove vehicles from one operator and transfer them to another operator in cases in which that operator has been successful in a tendering process to operate a route instead of the existing operator. [28473/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Transport Authority is the entity responsible for all scheduled bus services within the State; and if they be private or public service obligation services. [28474/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 83. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for buses running light, that is, empty from Kilkenny to Clonmel and vice versa before commencing the 245 service from Clonmel to Cork and vice versa. [28475/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all recent purchases of buses for use on public service obligation routes have been undertaken by the National Transport Authority and as such hold the title to the buses. [28472/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 197. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be an increase in spending on childcare in 2022 in order to move Ireland towards a quality, affordable and sustainable childcare sector for all children. [28678/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (26 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost associated with widening access to student assistance fund support for migrant, asylum seeker and undocumented students. [28557/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 1. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the official complaint by an association (details supplied) to the United Nations and the Ombudsman for Children regarding the systemic discrimination against children and families by his Department in the context of its childcare policy under the national childcare scheme; and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Is the Minister aware of the official complaint by the Association of Childhood Professionals to the United Nations and the Ombudsman for Children regarding the systemic discrimination against children and families by his Department in the context of its childcare policy under the national childcare scheme? Will he make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: My issue with this, which I have raised previously, relates to after-school and children who are being shut out of that scheme. A whole cohort of children is falling through the cracks. I thought that there was a commitment given to review the scheme last year. A parent working outside the home or in education can avail of this but we should be looking at the needs of children. When we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I apologise if I missed it, but what does the Minister expect the timeframe for the review will be? I welcome the review and think it is vital. I really hope that it will be a genuine review and the issues will be taken on board. It is becoming a big difficulty particularly in areas of disadvantage where parents just need a little bit of extra support. They may not be working outside the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services (27 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 3. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he is taking to address the shortfall in volunteers in the youth sector given that the sector relies heavily on volunteer hours and that many services are now facing closure due to a serious shortfall in properly trained volunteers. [28589/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services (27 May 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: This question is on the youth sector. There has been a shortfall in the number of volunteers in the sector. It relies heavily on volunteer hours. Many services are now facing closure due to a serious shortfall of properly trained volunteers.