Results 5,401-5,420 of 6,188 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank People Before Profit-Solidarity and all of those who worked with them to bring forward this Bill. It is a reasonable proposition and worthy of discussion. I welcome the fact that we can have a discussion on it. Sinn Féin will not oppose this Bill. We think it should proceed to Committee Stage and we have long called for an increased emphasis on harm reduction in this area....

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I move amendment No. 1: In page 9, line 10, after “2015” to insert the following: “and who has arrived after the commencement date in section 1(4) of the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024”. I have a few general questions and observations regarding the legislation which I may ask about later. The first three amendments...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have a couple of things. I want to respond to Deputy Murphy first with regard to amendment No. 3. It is about bringing it in line with what is in the temporary protection directive but really, the intention is to put people arriving under the temporary protection directive on the same footing as those who are fleeing conflict and oppression. In other jurisdictions, it would obviously be...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I know the Deputy was not. I just wanted to put that on record. Regarding the 90 days, and the point that the Government is going to do that anyway, that is not something with which we agree. As I said, there are two big problems with it. There is an incentive there when we compare what people will receive inside State-provided accommodation with what they will receive outside it. It...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: May I finish my point briefly?

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: To respond to Deputy Murphy, we do not agree with the 90-day provision. I have pointed out the issue with incentives and the challenges they could create. Another consideration is that people in places like the east coast, Cork and so on will not be able to find accommodation and could end up on the streets. It is wrong that this might happen to people who are fleeing their home country...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 14 and 15.

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I did not get an answer to my question as to what in my amendments constrains future action. We might consider this issue further in the Seanad. I just do not accept it is the case. Sometimes, bald statements are made but I am not sure there is anything to substantiate this one. As I outlined, there are currently three tiers of provision. First is the direct provision system that has been...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 104. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the roll-out of the Towns First policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4037/24]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 105. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there will be another round of the Community Recognition Fund in 2024. [4039/24]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 114. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development how her Department will work with local authorities to encourage them to apply for new funding for the town and village renewal scheme; if there will be a minimum submission requirement for each local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4040/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: School Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the application process will open for the Safe Routes to Schools Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4698/24]

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I echo the expressions of condolence to the family and community of John Bruton. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. I also echo the Minister's comments about the staff of her Department, particularly those on the front line. I was listening in on the meeting but I missed the administration head. I have one question in that regard. On the working age payments-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: For most of the payments, if not all, the processing times are close to target and they are paid in four to eight weeks or perhaps a little longer sometimes. It is increasingly my experience that there are delays. The social welfare appeals office is obviously an independent office that is funded through the Department but the timescale for those appeals can be considerable. Is the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Briefly, sometimes when people are asked for additional information, they were not asked for it in the first place. The appeals office comes back to them looking for information for which they were not asked in the first place and they are then asked to provide it. I say that as a point of information.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Sometimes, yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is true sometimes but sometimes it is-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is precisely the point and I put-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I accept that. To some extent, I see it as a minor bit of progress in that the Minister is not saying there is any policy objection from the Department to examine that. That is positive because there has been a firm resistance in the past to examining that. It was a recession era change. The message that people, particularly the organisations, have got is that it is immovable. If the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am not sure if it is miscellaneous or the working age payments. The point on payments follows on from the point made by Deputy Ó Cuív about payments made to those from Ukraine. I seek clarity from the Minister. In the Dáil last week, when debating one of my amendments, she raised the possibility that one of my amendments might prevent the reduction of payments to people...