Results 5,621-5,640 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: 1530. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a review of the community ophthalmic services medical treatment scheme; if he will request this process be expedited in light of ongoing concerns related to reimbursement from medical professionals in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17092/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: 1814. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 550 of 28 March 2023, his views on whether there is sufficient engagement between his Department and professional bodies and third level institutions to ensure that consistency and fairness is applied to the conversion of professional and academic qualifications held by Ukrainian refugees to their Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I welcome Mr. McGarry. From the outset, I want to clarify one thing. Is it correct to say that he is chairperson-designate but this is his second term?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is that another five-year term?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I apologise if Mr. McGarry has clarified that already but I was not sure. He was appointed last December.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Mr. McGarry's term runs until December 2023.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Absolutely, and Mr. McGarry is very welcome. I have met with representatives from the Shannon Foynes area as well because my experience is in rail and rail networks and I have obviously worked with my colleague in Limerick, Deputy Brian Leddin, who was instrumental in that key piece of strategic infrastructure, the extension of the rail line back to Foynes. I look at this on a more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is great to hear Mr. McGarry talk about the advancements in the past two to three years. Obviously, we have had this vision for a long time and it is great to be in a position to be able actually to action that and to hear independent observers like him acknowledge that it is important to us. We then have to move on to that next step and look at it at that higher level. We have that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Yes, it is critically important that people have a vision for the next 20 to 30 years. We need next generation thinking at this stage. In general around the Limerick area, is there a sense that there is massive potential here and that there is a spotlight on Limerick now? We are all realising the potential that everybody knew the Limerick and Shannon Foynes area had. Is there a sense of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Absolutely. That is my experience of dealing with people from the area as well. It is important for the area that the rail line being built will accommodate passengers as well as freight when it reopens. This would open up opportunities all the way down to Adare. We will also be pushing for complementary benefits from the port as well to make sure that is done. When we are refurbishing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am not sure of the need to double-track the line in order to realise that potential. It depends on the frequency of trains of course but trains can pass each other at stations along the way. The new station announced for Moyross will also be beneficial. I will leave it at that. I thank Mr. McGarry and wish him the best of luck for the remainder of his term.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (20 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: 388. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the roll-out of GP cards to include people on or below the median income as committed to under Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18799/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Good afternoon everybody, and welcome. We are joined by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility for heritage and electoral reform, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister. I will move to members. We have a full house so I will try to keep the discussion to seven-minute slots, after which we will have time for a second round. I will go first to the Fianna Fáil slot and Senator Fitzpatrick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Let the Minister answer because there is a lot of interest in this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank everybody.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: There are people looking in here. They are interested in what is happening in housing and what is not happening in housing. This back-and-forth bickering is not really helpful for anybody.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I understand the drama, the same as many others, but I take the committee a lot more seriously than drama and entertainment. If people ask a question-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: The Deputy has a responsibility to ask a question and then receive the answer. That is just common courtesy to guests and witnesses.