Results 27,201-27,220 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (10 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: Let us take the questions in sequence.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: 11. To ask the Taoiseach the Cabinet committee that addresses matters relating to Palestine and Israel. [51613/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: It is about Israel and Palestine.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: Last week, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, stated that we, presumably the Irish Government, would be open to new thinking on the Israel-Palestine peace process. To be specific, in an interview he gave to the Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, he stated: We will continue to advocate, yes, for new thinking because I think the solution now is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: Put it into the public system.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: In privatising.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs launched a six-week public consultation on the draft childminding action plan at the end of last August. The plan aims to improve childminding in this State, which has been largely unregulated up until now. Estimates for the number of childminders in Ireland vary, from the Department's figure of 19,000 to the 35,000 suggested by the Central...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: Providing a safe and caring environment for children does not necessarily require that level of formal qualification. Many individuals who are currently involved in childminding never had the opportunity to attain third level education. They rightly consider this requirement to be extraordinarily onerous. Childminders are also concerned about the level of inspections of their family homes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: Grandparents.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome what the Taoiseach said. If it migrates into actual policy in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, it will address some of the real concerns but the concerns are real. People involved in what is regarded as informal childminding are concerned that they will simply be put out of business. Families are concerned that the arrangements they have had for years with wonderful...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: There are over 700 defined benefit pension schemes in the State covering more than 100,000 people. These workers thought they had made provision for their retirement but in recent years there have been worrying precedents. The UK has enacted a law to prevent solvent companies from walking away from their obligations to their employees in respect of occupational pension schemes. In October...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: I believe there is a way of achieving both objectives. It is not to make companies insolvent but to protect people by ensuring that solvent companies do not walk away from their obligations.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: That is not an excuse to abolish all defined benefit schemes.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: 3. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure last met; and when it is next expected to meet. [50153/19]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: It is more than a year since the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, promised that the new national maternity hospital would be publicly owned and run. Twelve months on, there has been absolutely no legal clarity on the matter. In fact, a bizarre situation is ongoing whereby the Vatican, apparently, can veto the new hospital set to be built with public money and determine which procedures...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): National Economic and Social Council (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: 7. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of his Department with the National Economic and Social Council. [50154/19]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): National Economic and Social Council (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: According to the latest census figures, there 79 black spots across electoral divisions in Ireland. These are areas where the average unemployment rate is above 30%, with those between the ages of 25 and 34 the largest segment of those without a job. Those who are jobless most frequently cite the construction sector as their previous occupation. In short, a large pool of potential...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Civil Service Renewal Plan (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will not be surprised that I do not agree with him that the Civil Service renewal programme was over-hyped when it was launched in 2014. It was well presented and it was an important initiative for a number of reasons. We were in the middle of a crisis at the time. As I have said publicly, the day before the troika left this country the head of its team told me that the civil...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Civil Service Renewal Plan (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: Mayo gets extra.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Dec 2019)

Brendan Howlin: We have these debates because all parties looked at how we dealt with European issues after the rejection of a number of European treaties. To make the work of the European Council more relevant, we wanted to have a debate in this House in advance of Council meetings and for the Taoiseach to come back to report after Council meetings. The level of attendance at this debate and the fact that...