Results 5,861-5,880 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: When Mr. Rushe went through the figures on dairy and cattle numbers, he then compared them with the rise in figures for vehicles by 75% in the same period and Dublin Airport passengers by 155%. What is the point of that comparison? If we are dealing with the agricultural sector, we have to look at it in its own right, because it stands out as being responsible for a huge amount of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: Only a certain sector gains from this policy. It is not the "we" all farmers. I ask the witnesses to comment on that discrepancy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank all of our guests for attending and for their submissions. I want to ask a number of questions, first of all, of the Department of Transport. Would the officials agree that the public service obligation, PSO, levy in this country compares poorly to those in other European states? It is a key mechanism for reducing fares and moving towards more frequent and cheaper public transport,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: The question relates to how the PSO levy will be improved and whether the Department of Transport sees that as key to being able to deliver future sustainable public transport that, in itself, is the key to getting cars off the road.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: For how many years has it been policy under the national food strategy not to grow the national herd? As the national herd increased in the five years from 2015 to 2020 by something like 20%, when did it become policy not to encourage growth of the national herd, or even to curtail or stop such growth? When did that happen? Where was that in the strategy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: Could we get those exact figures because those figures would counter what the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has reported recently?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: One of my questions is on housing and retrofitting. One of my staff reminded me that the SEAI told us at an information session in late 2018 or probably 2019, she was not sure of the date, but the date she was sure of was that by July 2019, there would be no stipulation on the one home, one visit for retrofitting. In other words, if your attic was insulated 15 or 20 years previously, one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: It is a quick question on transport. Can the 500,000 active travel increases that will happen before or around 2030 be broken down? Of those, what percentage is public transport, cycling and walking, respectively? I thank the Chairman for putting up with me.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom ár bhfeall a chur in iúl mar gheall ar dhúnmharú Ashling Murphy agus gealltanas a thabhairt go gcuirfear deireadh le foréigean in aghaidh na mban agus na gcailíní sa tír seo. Déanaim comhbhrón le clann agus cairde Ashling Murphy. The shock waves throughout this country in the aftermath of yet another violent...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: I will respond to the last issue first. The fundamental thing the Bill we introduced four years ago would have done was remove the barrier of ethos in the delivery of the curriculum. The Government is going to have to address that because 92% of our national schools are run according to a Catholic ethos and it is up to the schools to refuse to implement objective sex education if it flies...

Violence Against Women: Statements (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: I understand that this debate is about violence against women in Ireland, but we must acknowledge it is a worldwide experience. UN statistics show that one in three women worldwide experiences some sort of sexual or physical violence. In line with the statistics here, it is mostly by an intimate partner. Fewer than 40% of women who experience violence seek help of any sort and 42% of women...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Heritage Sites (20 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 76. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role her Department can play in ensuring that a vital aspect of Dublin city's culture is preserved, restored and utilised for the benefit of the city and tourism in saving the Iveagh Market, Francis Street, from being totally destroyed due to neglect and legal interventions between Dublin City Council and persons (details...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Access (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 631. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will take immediate steps to send urgent food aid to Afghanistan as eight million people currently face starvation; if he will, in view of the urgency of the situation, inform the Houses of the Oireachtas of the steps he will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63335/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (20 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 285. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans for the State to provide comprehensive therapy and counselling services given the growing demand during and post-Covid-19 especially for persons who cannot afford to access therapy privately; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons on State payments are having to spend up to €100 per week on such services (details...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 832. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that leaving certificate students at a school (details supplied) have been without a physics and chemistry teacher since mid-October 2021 as a result of maternity leave and inability to fill the position; her views on the negative impact this continues to have on students expected to sit this subject...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 1080. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether the redress scheme proposed for the mother and baby homes survivors and victims is adequate and robust given that it is based on an admitted flawed report as its reference point in view of the recent High Court settlement; if he will now consider a full review of the redress scheme; and if...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 1083. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the instructions given to childcare providers in relation to dealing with restrictions, procedures and reporting concerning Covid-19 cases in their workplaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63490/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 1084. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is mandatory for all childcare providers to register with Tusla in advance of opening their doors for business; if it is mandatory for Tusla to carry out a health and safety inspection of the premises in advance of opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63491/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 1446. To ask the Minister for Health if, in view of the new omicron variant of Covid-19, those who have recovered from infection with the delta variant will now be vulnerable to reinfection and as such be eligible for immediate vaccination, including booster, without having to wait six months as is currently the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63285/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (19 Jan 2022)

Bríd Smith: 1455. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the retraction of initial Covid-19 vaccination advice to pharmacists to vaccinate persons over the age of 16 years; his views on whether pharmacists who have worked tirelessly to play a vital role in expediting the administration of boosters are now faced with having to spend time explaining the u-turn to patients instead of vaccinating...