Results 4,781-4,800 of 4,811 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (19 Jun 2025)

Neale Richmond: I sincerely thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising this timely and important issue. At the outset, and before I get into the specifics, I condemn any incidents of racially motivated abuse. I know the Deputy shares that view, as does everyone in this House. It is important to say that sometimes because we can tend gloss over it. Such behaviour is a scourge that we must all stay united in our...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (19 Jun 2025)

Neale Richmond: I really appreciate the opportunity to come back in. I cannot stress enough how important it is that any of these issues that are brought to the attention of the House are solved by all of us. None of us can claim responsibility. None of us can shoulder all the blame. If we work together, however, we can alleviate the impact of what is happening. Community gardaí play such an...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank the cosponsors for bringing the Bill to Second Stage and all the Deputies for an engaging discussion on the issue. It is an important matter and, as previously stated, the Government fully supports transparency in the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals regarding transfers of value to healthcare professionals or organisations. It is clear...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (19 Jun 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains firmly committed to Ireland’s international development assistance programme and to its overriding priority, to reach the furthest behind first. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been closely following the reports and announcements in relation to USAID. Ireland’s Embassies and Missions, particularly in developing countries, have also been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (19 Jun 2025)

Neale Richmond: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a longstanding and highly valued partner for the Government's international development programme. In 2024 and 2025 to date, Ireland has provided a total of €18 million in support to UNFPA: €13.1 million in 2024 and €4.9 million to date in 2025. The 2024 funding of €13.1 million involved a core grant of €4.5...

Presidential Voting Rights: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jun 2025)

Neale Richmond: I really appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I can confirm the Government is of course not opposing this motion. From my time in this Chamber and before that in the Upper Chamber, I know we all share a long-standing desire to deepen the connections between Ireland and the global Irish, but especially on this island. I know there are very few of us in the Chamber who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Personal Injury Claims (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Senator sincerely for raising this timely and pertinent matter. Before I deliver the reply on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Burke, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the Senator's long-standing personal, professional and political commitment in this area. It is an area to which she brings a great level of familiarity, and one that I would imagine is the rival of any...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Personal Injury Claims (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I will ensure the relevant Departments look to see if the SME test should be applied. I am not ruling that out. I just wanted to be frank and direct to make sure I was not misleading the Chamber about what can be achieved by the SME test on this compared with other areas of policy or legislation where it may be applied. However, the case the Senator has laid out, not only here this morning...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am grateful to Senator Clonan for raising this issue. The importance of the National Educational Psychological Service, which he raised, is not lost on this Government. It provides a critical service to almost 1 million children and young people and almost 100,000 staff who work in our primary, post-primary and special schools daily. The Government has set its commitment to double the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: It is important to say that I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, as opposed to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Senator will understand the need for the Department of Education and Youth to make sure there are qualified psychologists coming into NEPS in particular. That goes to the heart of the issue at play. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Control of Dogs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank Senator Andrews for raising this matter. I ask him to bear with me. I have a slightly lengthy answer which I will deliver on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon, who has asked me to take this Commencement matter. The Control of Dogs (XL Bully) Regulations 2024, SI 491 of 2024, that banned XL bully dogs came into force in two stages beginning...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Control of Dogs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I will make three points in very brief reply to the Senator. First, with regard to the use of the word "type" and how it came to be and the need to separate, there is an XL breed but then, within the breed, there are types of dogs. That is the differentiation that was sought because there is a very specific thing at play here. In terms of the training in respect of identification and those...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (2 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. Ireland's international development programme focusses on providing support for countries and communities most seriously in need. The Government's policy for international development, 'A Better World,' provides the framework, with the objective of reaching the furthest behind first and addressing the needs of those living in some of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (2 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: International climate finance is an important priority for the Government. The Government has made significant progress in scaling up Ireland's international climate finance in recent years. Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap sets out how we will deliver on the target of providing at least €225 million annually in climate finance by 2025. This target constitutes a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (2 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: Development co-operation is integral to Ireland’s foreign policy. The priorities for Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) are set out in 'A Better World', the whole of government policy for international development. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is a key area of focus, and the policy recognises that universal access to health care,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I sincerely thank Deputy Dolan for raising this important matter and allowing me the opportunity to outline the changes on behalf of the Government and his party colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for special education, Deputy Michael Moynihan, that have been recently made to the enrolment criteria for specific speech and language disorder special classes. There are 63...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: As I outlined previously, the Department has reviewed the enrolment criteria and updated the circular. The updates to the circular were informed by robust engagement with the speech and language therapy service in the National Council for Special Education, the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists, and speech and language therapists in the HSE. It was a multifaceted process....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: If it is arranged, then that is the next step. I am more than happy to put on pressure to ensure that it delivers a welcome outcome.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: As the Deputy will know, I am very aware of this issue and I have been lobbied intensely by the local councillors. I will lay out a few points for the interest of the Chamber before I get to the meat of the ask, as is appropriate in such a debate. It is important to state for the record that the annual enrolment process for new junior infants at primary and new first years at...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy for using the time available to highlight a really important issue. Being married to a special education teacher, I hear about this quite regularly, as the Deputy can imagine. For anyone who thinks politicians are going on holidays in two weeks' time, I can assure them not only are we not but our school leaders and teachers certainly are not on holidays at the moment....