Results 2,701-2,720 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Assisted Human Reproduction (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: What assurances can the Minister's Department offer to children who find that the State does not consider their mother their legal parent? This relates to children who have been born through surrogacy. Any proposed legislation is still some time away. What proposals are there to protect children's rights and welfare in the interim? I know the Minister supports resolving this issue and has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Assisted Human Reproduction (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. As I said, I wanted to raise this issue again. I know it falls under the remits of a number of Departments, including the Departments of Justice and Health. I also know that the Minister has met with the groups. In fairness, I believe he also went out to them the day they were here outside the Dáil. This is so frustrating for them. They hear a lot of very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Assisted Human Reproduction (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I have two suggestions for practical solutions. With regard to the upcoming legislation, could the Minister and the Ministers for Health and Justice write to the committee to see if the pre-legislative scrutiny stage can be progressed as a matter of urgency? I believe it falls under the remit of the Joint Committee on Health although I would argue that some of it should fall under the remit...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 3. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department has taken to address the chronic staff shortages facing a significant number of early years services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58930/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: This question asks what actions the Department has taken to address the chronic staff shortages in early years services and for the Minister to make a statement on the matter. It has become particularly relevant in the last two weeks with recent announcements by the Department of Education. I will get into that in my later contribution.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: In recent years, there has been a serious issue with retaining staff. We have had that discussion and we know it comes down to the pay and conditions. Highly qualified people are training up to degree level and sometimes beyond but are getting poor rates of pay. I hope the JLC process works. The Minister said the State is not the employer. I wish the State were the employer; I would like...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I agree. I have always argued that there should be a wage scale. I would prefer to see that being taken on by the State but, in the absence of that, I hope the JLC process is successful. I welcome what the Minister said about the short-term measures because I think they are doing something similar in the education system in terms of people who are doing their masters. Is there any data...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Procedures (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Deputy Mattie McGrath has sent his apologies regarding his question.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (3 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: The next question is in the name of Deputy Pauline Tully and her substitute is Deputy Thomas Gould.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 91. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the breakdown and a detailed explanation will be provided of the additional €5 million youth services funding to assist youth organisations as Covid-19 restrictions lift. [60686/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 92. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the €73 million youth funding for UBU your place your space; the additional new services for 2022; and if this is in addition to the €5 million outlined in his Budget 2022 announcement. [60687/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (8 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 96. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the UBU programme for 2021 and 2022. [60723/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (14 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 336. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress that has been made on the Oireachtas Report into Future Funding of Domestic Water Services and the recommendations specifically in relation to private well owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61981/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 408. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the approximately 467 teachers on secondment that were to be made available for substitute work have made themselves available to schools given schools continue to report failing to find substitute teachers to cover classes in view of the fact they do not know the way to contact these teachers; the reason the teachers were not deployed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (14 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 411. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts that have been made to streamline the Garda vetting process for substitute teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61669/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 569. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend vaccine passports to include booster shots given that several persons have been told they will need proof of boosters to travel to certain EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61230/21]

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Apologies have been received from Deputy Costello. I ask any member or witness participating remotely who experiences sound or technical issues to let us know through the chat function. Otherwise I will proceed. As this is a public meeting the chat function on Teams should only be used to advise participants of any technical issue or urgent matter and not for general comments or...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Thank you, Ms Ward. There definitely will be questions. We move on to Ms Frances Byrne from Early Childhood Ireland.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Child Poverty: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Thank you, Ms Byrne. Again, I believe there will be questions. We move on to SPARK. Ms Bayliss, would you like to make your opening statement?