Results 3,561-3,580 of 5,534 for speaker:Maureen O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Payments (6 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 26. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reverse the decision to means test the back to education allowance which came into effect in April 2016; if his attention has been drawn to issues facing persons seeking the grant such as persons working one hour per day over three consecutive days who are considered to be full-time workers; and if there is an education officer to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Payments (6 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 28. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the 52-week basis of family income supplement allocation as it does not take into account changes in a person's working circumstances within the 52 weeks. [28736/16]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management: European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management (6 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I welcome the Commissioner. It has been a good opportunity to hear his views and to present ours and ask the questions we have. No doubt it is a gigantic task that the Commissioner has at present and ahead of him. I am struck that when we talk about disasters that require humanitarian aid, we can separate them into the so-called natural ones that come about because of climate, such as...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Budget Statement 2017 (11 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Is cinnte go bhfuil athrú tagtha ar chúrsaí a bhaineann leis an mbuiséad. Tá atmaisféar difriúil againn inniu. Bhí na buiséid a bhí againn le blianta beaga anuas go huafásach. Chuir siad isteach go háirithe ar dhaoine ar an imeall agus ar dhaoine faoi mhíchumas. Chuir siad isteach freisin ar sheirbhísí...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 1: Tobacco Products Tax (11 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I agree with everything the Taoiseach said in terms of this being a public health issue. We know the effects, physically and economically, on society of smoking. I would like to see a tobacco-free Ireland. We know the health risks of smoking and I acknowledge the work of the Irish Heart Foundation in this regard. We also know the statistics for those who smoke and get lung cancer and so...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (11 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 13. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when commitments will be honoured to increase Ireland's intake of refugees fleeing the crisis in Syria as part of a wider European response; and her views regarding the refugee crisis. [29387/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tobacco Control Measures (11 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 78. To ask the Minister for Finance given that under Statutory Instrument No. 271 of 2016 roll-your-own tobacco must come in minimum 30g sized packs, previously 12.5g or 25g, if the Revenue Commissioners have the necessary measures to deal with the likely increase of illicit pouches on the market due to 22% of 25g consumers and 29% of 12.5g consumers stating that they would seek an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (11 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 287. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) regarding their passport and rights abroad as an Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29388/16]

Funding for Education: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I acknowledge some of the positives in the budget: the increase in funding, the extra teachers, the guidance counsellors change, the additional posts for SNAs and resources, and also the provision in relation to those one-teacher primary schools that are on islands. The facts are that there is an increase in the numbers attending both primary and second level schools, and the question is...

European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I wish to share my time with Deputy Pringle, six minutes and four minutes. The two most urgent issues for the European community is the human tragedy in Syria, with the loss of life, the destruction and the displacement, and what only can be described as a sleepwalking exercised into CETA. I listened to the Taoiseach's speech on CETA and the long list of positive reasons to support it, but...

Services and Supports for People with Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: Motion [Private Members] (19 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I was struck by the headline on an article about Alzheimer's disease and dementia which stated, "Dementia tsunami looms". However, the figures are startling and they justify the use of the word "tsunami". An increase of 240% is forecast in the number of people who will present with either dementia or Alzheimer's disease. We are aware of the figures from the 2012 research in the review...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Appointments (20 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 157. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific criteria such as relevant academic qualifications, election-related professional experience which his Department uses in the selection of current members of the roster of international election observers; the way this roster compares with international best practice of standard-setting bodies for example UN, EU, OSCE, IFES;...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs and Trade Issues: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (20 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: While I will not go back over everything Deputy Darragh O'Brien has said about Syria, I want to emphasise that our efforts at the diplomatic level need to be much stronger. I refer not only to our diplomatic efforts with Russia and Iran, but also to our efforts with all the countries that are involved in the bombing of Syria. Some of those countries are members of the EU and the Foreign...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs and Trade Issues: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (20 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister's positive comments on Cuba. The continuation of the relic that is the Cold War has had a detrimental effect on the Cuban people. President Obama has acknowledged the harm that has been done and been progressive about other aspects. The US Congress is the stumbling block. It has made time for legislation to continue the sanctions but not for the Congress men and...

Other Questions: Human Rights (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 26. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his engagement with the authorities in Northern Ireland and Britain on the outstanding issues faced by prisoners in Maghaberry Prison, especially in view of the lack of progress on the agreements reached between the prisoners and the authorities. [30282/16]

Other Questions: Human Rights (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Will the Minister outline the engagement he has had with the authorities in Northern Ireland and Britain on the outstanding issues faced by prisoners in Maghaberry Prison in view of the lack of progress on the agreements reached between the prisoners and the authorities?

Other Questions: Human Rights (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: As the Minister knows, a group of us have been visiting Maghaberry Prison regularly. The most recent visit was at the end of September. We know the reasons why the prisoners engaged with the authorities and, most recently, with the ICRC, as well as the various agreements, such as Stocktake. It was disappointing when we were there at the end of September to learn the issues are still...

Other Questions: Human Rights (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: It is extremely disappointing there has not been progress. Even after the Stocktake report, the prisoners took part in another process and it now looks like another one. They are not seeing anything from the good will they are showing. They assure us that their only interest is in a conflict-free environment but yet these issues persist. There are alternatives to full body searching....

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 28. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any engagements with his Turkish counterpart or the Turkish ambassador regarding the repression of teachers and third level educators following the attempted coup in July 2016; and his views on whether the current administration is potentially in breach of human rights standards. [30280/16]

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I am interested in hearing from the Minister about the extent of his engagement with the Turkish Foreign Minister and the Turkish ambassador regarding the repression of teachers and educators following the attempted coup in July this year and his views on whether the current administration is potentially or actually in breach of human rights standards.