Results 341-360 of 587 for speaker:Naoise Ó Cearúil

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: Does Professor McMullin think we may be trying to be too perfectionist about it? I mean that in the sense of having to ensure that every peer review has been covered rather than trying to pass the carbon budgets and that the council is doing the best it can, especially within the time constraints. I appreciate Professor McMullin's argument that there is not as much of a time constraint...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: I thank Professor McMullin. He spoke pretty passionately about the need to be self-sufficient from an energy standpoint. I agree with him about solar and other energy. Professor Daly went through the findings from the energy systems scenarios. Something that is missing - and I am not sure if the witnesses have considered this or modelled it in any way, shape or form - is nuclear power. I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 757. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a response to a departmental query (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44566/25]

National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030: Statements (17 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: I would like to first welcome the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People. I particularly commend the fact that it was developed in partnership with disabled people, and the five key pillars in terms of inclusive learning and education, employment, independent living and active participation in society, well-being and health and transport and mobility. Two Thursday's ago, I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Nuclear Plants (18 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 97. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has assessed the potential role of nuclear energy in Ireland's future energy mix; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49081/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Nuclear Plants (18 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: We have seen an increase in electricity demand and rightly we are focusing on renewable energy. However, we have major challenges in meeting our 2030 and 2050 climate targets. Indeed, the climate action plan commits to 80% renewable energy by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Has the Minister of State's Department assessed the potential of nuclear energy in Ireland's future energy mix?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Nuclear Plants (18 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: I appreciate that the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 prohibits nuclear power generation in this country and that the programme for Government focuses on renewable energy. I completely understand that, but the question relates to any type of consideration given to nuclear. We look at the likes of small modular reactors that create between 50 MW and 300 MW of energy. What I am saying here...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Nuclear Plants (18 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: I recognise the expertise this State has garnered in offshore and onshore wind energy and indeed solar. I was at the launch of the Timahoe North Solar Farm in Kildare only three weeks ago, an excellent facility that will provide energy to a significant number of people in Kildare and across the country. However, my argument here is that if we look to Belgium, for example, they recently...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 189. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made to increase Defence Forces personnel towards the target of 11,500 by 2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49097/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Policies (17 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 277. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing financial supports for people living with coeliac disease, in recognition of the additional cost burden associated with purchasing gluten-free food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47710/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (17 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 1137. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to a proposal under the long-term illness scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47730/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (18 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps he will take to safeguard undersea critical infrastructure given the recent €60 million investment in sonar capabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49096/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (18 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 46. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on Ireland's engagement with EU partners on defence innovation, including the development of radar and AI technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49098/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (18 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 148. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure Ireland meets its commitment to protect 30% of its oceans by 2030 through the designation of Marine Protected Areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49080/25]

School Transport: Statements (23 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: I commend the Minister of State on the amount of work he carried out over the summer, particularly in relation to school transport and special education. There was a marked improvement this year in comparison to previous years. It is important to acknowledge that. However, there continue to be serious issues with school transport. The programme for Government commits to ensuring better...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: After-School Support Services (23 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 11. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being implemented to ensure that the shortage of after-school childcare places does not act as a barrier to parents returning to the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50173/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: After-School Support Services (23 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: We have seen the enormous demand for childcare throughout the country, particularly in my own constituency of Kildare North. However, a lot of the focus has been on preschool and not on after-school childcare. It is extremely difficult for parents to find after-school care and also to go back to work. What measures are being implemented to ensure this shortage of after-school childcare...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: After-School Support Services (23 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: I recognise the progress that has been made and the advancements, particularly around the additional funding with the national childcare scheme, NCS, and with core funding. The reality of the situation still stands that the shortage of affordable childcare drives what is called the motherhood penalty, which is the economic setback that parents, mostly women, face after having children. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: After-School Support Services (23 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: I was going to reference next the work the Minister did as Minister for Education in ensuring that more schools opened their facilities after hours for childcare, particularly for after-school care. The Minister will be aware, however, that there have been difficulties with some school boards in getting those schools open. There needs to be a co-ordinated effort between the Minister's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish-Speaking Community: Teagasc agus Stádas na Gaeilge sna hInstitiúidí Tríú Leibhéal: Plé (23 Sep 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as teacht isteach inniu. Ar dtús báire, cosúil le Ashling Kate Wall, is as Cill Dara dom chomh maith. Thosaigh mé mo shaol polaitíochta i gComhairle na nÓg. Ó thaobh na gcumann Gaeilge sna hollscoileanna, déarfaidh Pádraig Mac Brádaigh, Julian de Spáinn agus Róisín Ní...