Results 5,501-5,520 of 5,534 for speaker:Maureen O'Sullivan

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I will also speak about climate change. On one hand, it appears that we are finally realising the urgency of the effects of climate change but on the other hand, the actions we are taking are not matching that realisation. The European Council will focus on a particular target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. That is vital because the past 20 years have included 18 of the warmest...

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I acknowledge Deputy Curran not only for his work on this Bill but for his work on drugs generally, going back to the time of his drugs strategy when he was a junior Minister in a Fianna Fáil-led Government. I was at the launch of the national drugs strategy, entitled Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. There were many positives in that strategy, the cover of which stated it was a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 70. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the findings of a report published by an organisation (details supplied); the way in which he plans to address the concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51704/19]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (11 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason for progressing the housing and planning and development (amendment) Bill; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Bill adds many requirements and restrictions that will make it much harder for persons and environmental NGOs to take cases against developments; the way in which he can address the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hare Coursing (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 5. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the practice of licensing live hare coursing will be reviewed in view of recent opinion polls (details supplied) and the fact that RHD2 disease is present here, which is a threat to the survival of the Irish hare; and if the views of many persons that live hare coursing has no place in modern civil society will be accepted....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hare Coursing (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: My question relates to hare coursing, the RHD2 virus and also the results of a recent opinion poll which relates to hare coursing having no place in a modern civil society. What are the Minister's views on the matter?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hare Coursing (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: The Minister is correct that we have discussed this matter before. The RHD2 virus was not considered enough of a threat to ban live hare coursing, although it should have been, as should the well documented injuries to hares that occur before and during coursing. The practice is banned in almost every advanced country in the world, with only three allowing it. All of that should have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hare Coursing (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: There were two polls.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hare Coursing (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Respect should be accorded to the findings of the RED C poll. We are told that live hare coursing is important for the rural economy, but I do not accept that. Before the American Civil War, the southern states argued that ending the slave trade would affect their rural economy. Banning live hare coursing will not damage the rural economy in this country because there is a viable...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: On Tuesday, in an exchange in the House, the Taoiseach referred to the UN human development index ranking, which had Ireland in third place for quality of life. It was calculated using the three categories of health, education and income. The statistics were life expectancy of 82 years, 18.79 expected years of schooling and gross national income of €55,659.68. There has been growth...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I will always acknowledge progress but that progress is not being applied very widely. I will give a particular example. We all know Brother Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin day centre. Last Saturday night, he was out on O'Connell Street at the GPO with a group singing carols from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. At 10 p.m. on Saturday he made his way to a fundraising event for the Capuchin day centre...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing Regulation (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 17. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the definition of regulated coursing matches requires clubs to comply with rules 11 and 13 of a club (details supplied) specifically in respect of the open seasons order for which she has sole responsibility. [51892/19]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 35. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has considered the merits of having a more advanced announcement of the national Famine memorial day and location in order to allow many of the diaspora who are citizens of other states as a direct result of the impact of the Great Famine to travel to the commemoration and book in advance; if she will progress a specific...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architects Register (12 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 361. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 268 of 23 January 2019 and 873 of 5 February 2019, if transparent income and expenditure accounts have been received from an organisation (details supplied); and if so, when overdue registration accounts will be made available for independent scrutiny. [52372/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 82. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his efforts to improve pay and conditions for members of the Defence Forces; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this perceived unfairness is having an influence on the recruitment and retention of members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53011/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: We know that pay has been an issue and I acknowledge the efforts that are now being made in that regard. I hope that the proposals outlined by the Minister of State will prove to be productive and effective in addressing the issues. There is no doubt about the pride Irish people feel in the Defence Forces and their peacekeeping work and also the very visible role they have played in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: The answer is that time will tell. The effectiveness of what the Minister of State proposes will be seen if members of the Defence Forces no longer leave in the numbers they have been leaving. Retention of experience is vital. The other way we will see the proof of the proposals outlined by the Minister of State is that young people will see joining the Defence Forces as a viable career...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Partnership for Peace (17 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 63. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the future relationship of Ireland with a restructured Partnership for Peace under the auspices of NATO; the way in which this could reconcile with our position of neutrality and a focus on Ireland's involvement in peacekeeping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53010/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Partnership for Peace (17 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: We have discussed this matter before. There are very real and valid concerns, however, regarding the erosion of our neutrality. Any alignment with NATO intensifies those concerns further. Issues arose in respect of Shannon. Any NATO-led initiative raises alarm bells. The restructured model and potential change in ethos under the more centralised programme is concerning....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Dec 2019)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 72. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 7 November 2019, if the question of arms being purchased and sold to countries that violate international law and deny human rights has been raised at EU level; his views on whether the EU should reconsider its policy on competitive tenders with an emphasis on human rights; and if he will consider a...