Results 4,961-4,980 of 5,269 for speaker:Joan Collins

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: I welcome that the Cabinet has agreed to hold two referendums on International Women's Day next year, although the detailed wording will have to be scrutinised. When is it intended to hold referendums on the Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016 and the right to housing? The water in public ownership legislation has been buried on Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (6 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: 146. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many speech and language therapists are currently working in each health district of Dublin city and county; how many positions are currently vacant; and how current numbers compare to each of the past ten years. [53980/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disabilities Assessments (6 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: 147. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many children are currently waiting for a speech and language assessment in each health district of Dublin city and county; and how long are they waiting. [53981/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disabilities Assessments (6 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: 148. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how long after an assessment does a child in each health district of Dublin city and county have to wait until they start the recommended speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53982/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (6 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: 199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of speech and language therapy courses and places that are currently in the third-level educational system; and what plans are in place to increase the number. [53983/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (7 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: 103. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider raising employers PRSI to the EU average. [51736/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (7 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: I ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider raising employers' PRSI to the EU average. I am surprised that the question is being taken now. I had submitted it to the Department of Finance, which rejected it and said it was not under its remit, and it has turned up here.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (7 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: I hear what the Minister of State is saying. There was an agreement to increase employers' PRSI in relation to State pensions. Research by SIPTU shows that increasing employers' PRSI to the EU average would provide an extra €10 billion, similar to what we spend on education each year. The Nevin Institute has said the tax revenue from employees exceeds the EU average while employers...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: I am glad the Government has brought forward a Bill to make our planning system clearer in the aftermath of repeated calls from the Opposition at the committee on housing and by interest groups. I echo my fellow Deputies' concerns over the lack of: a proper explanatory memorandum for the Bill; adequate speaking time on the third-largest Bill in the State's history; and time for Members to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (7 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: 104. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that benchmarking of the State pension will be included in Budget 2025 as per the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 (details supplied). [53990/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: 110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a ‘cost-of-disability’ payment will be introduced in Budget 2025 (details supplied). [53989/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (7 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: 134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that core social welfare rates will be raised to at least the rate of inflation since 2013 when once-off cost-of-living payments end, so that core social welfare rates have not been cut in real terms since 2013 (details supplied). [53993/23]

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) (No. 2) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: It is now eight months since the Government lifted the eviction ban and took away the only thing keeping thousands of people from facing eviction. It was a political decision to allow a level of homelessness in this country that has not been seen in modern times. Time will tell the full damage of lifting the no-fault eviction ban, but we know that since the Government took away the ban, in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (13 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: Greyhound's bin charges have increased from €16.50 to €24.47 in 18 months. Panda is increasing annual charges by 8.4% less than a year after it increased its general waste bin charge by 12%. You would expect to see the rest of the waste collection companies following suit soon. The privatisation of our bin service is bad for households but it is also bad for workers. We saw...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (13 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: What we have to do here is set the principle, and this must be done by the Government, that waste collection must be remunicipalised. Very important issues are at stake here. One is the overseeing of waste management. Waste has a great effect on pollution, water quality in our seas and rivers, and the spread of microplastics, not to mention the waste we export for other countries to deal...

Increased Fossil Fuel Divestment: Motion [Private Members] (13 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: I welcome the fact that the Government is accepting this motion in principle. I would like to hear a reply from the Minister of State on whether the Government will amend the Fossil Fuel (Amendment) Act 2018 in a manner that will widen its reach so it is applicable to all funds within the ISIF by means of the removal of the exclusionary clause within section 49A(1) regarding financial...

Increased Fossil Fuel Divestment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: Deputy Collins is the one who is miles away from reality.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: I agree with everything Deputy Ó Cuív has said. We have to look at how we can make a difference very quickly and then build on that to get the longer term issues dealt with. I agree that, in conjunction with Pavee Point and other organisations, we must look at what provisions we can insert in the planning and development legislation to reflect the needs of the community. I am...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: Yes.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Joan Collins: I hope the scheme will be a quick win.