Results 61-80 of 81 for speaker:Dee Ryan

Seanad: Post Office Network: Statements (9 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: The Aire Stáit is very welcome to the Chamber for this important discussion. I rise to support the many statements that have been made by my colleagues across the Chamber and the very good points they have raised. I know the Minister of State comes from a rural constituency and, with his portfolio in the previous Government and his familiarity with agriculture and rural communities, he...

Seanad: Transport Policy: Statements (10 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: I welcome the Aire Stáit to the Chamber and thank him for coming in to listen to us today. I also thank the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for his opening remarks and for his intense listening when he was here in the Chamber. When I thought about today and what I would like to speak about, I had a multitude of projects that I could have chosen to focus on. I could have spoken about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment to this role. She will do critical work in the coming years for the business community and it is so relevant across all walks of life in Ireland. I offer her and her team my best for the work they will do in the coming years. I thank her for her very informative opening statement. I have questions on areas that may allow her to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: Absolutely. I know it is a key focus for the Minister of State in her term and a big piece of work she will do. She announced the regulation of AI Bill in February. A key part of that is the creation of the AI sandbox. Given the number of companies in the digital space and the tech space in Ireland, that will be very important for them in ensuring they have a safe space to do their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: The Minister of State will be au fait with the Mario Draghi report and that she has a focus on EU competitiveness for all of us, particularly for our SMEs. She stated that she has a particular focus on SME competitiveness. Does she see an opportunity for us next year when Ireland takes over the EU Presidency to be ready to outline and showcase the steps we are taking with AI?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: Will there be an opportunity during Ireland's EU Presidency to bring together the Minister of State's equivalents and counterparts from other member states?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: I rise to make my final contribution on my first term in the Seanad. During my time so far in Leinster House, I focused on highlighting the trolley crisis at University Hospital Limerick. I turn my attention to the other burning issue for us in Limerick which is the challenge of affordable housing. That term "affordable housing" is often misunderstood.When I say "affordable housing" in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: I am sorry to have been popping in and out, but we have some votes going on in the Seanad. I was listening to their opening statements in my office earlier, though, so I thank them for those contributions. I appreciate that. I apologise if I repeat some of the queries put to the witnesses in my absence. I am from Limerick where we have an array of very fine institutes that are a key...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: I will jump in there before Mr. Lemass goes on to answer my query on parking. That is just the reality. I have to raise it. I know we are supposed to, and of course we will, promote public transport and active travel as viable means but the reality is many students are commuting from long distances and from unusual locations and have to travel in cars. Therefore, to prevent the increased...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: That is a pity. I am aware that we have a number of planning permissions granted but not activated in and around the areas where TUS and UL are located, so I was wondering if the Department had engaged with any of those landowners. Would it be for the Department to engage or for the university to engage and bring it to the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: On skills and resources internally within the education institutes, what are Mr. Lemass’s thoughts initially on this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: This is my last question. Because the local authority has a role in approving these planning permissions, which we hope will be a smoother process now with the standardised designs, should there be a role for the local authorities in setting targets for them in respect of student accommodation, much in the same way we set social housing and affordable housing targets? Should we be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: Deputy Connolly asked the questions that were on my mind. I thank the witness for explaining the phase 2 business case evaluation. We hope to see as many as possible come forward. What is phase 3? How do we bring forward whatever comes through from phase 2? Are timelines in place for that next phase?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: Given that we hope with the new design guide some of that work can be shortcut, will timelines and targets be established within those projects?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: For the projects that do not come through on the first assessment, what support will be given to the universities to improve them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: I am from Limerick. We are very conscious that the TUs and their governance structures are new and as yet untested. My concern is that, naturally within the organs of the State, there would be a hesitancy about spending significant amounts of money with these unproven bodies. What are the HEA's thoughts on that? What is the sense in the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: Will they be given support in developing those building management offices, ensuring they are resourced adequately themselves?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jul 2025)

Dee Ryan: I may have misrepresented it myself - I have confidence in my local TU. I am familiar with its governance structures and capable people are involved. My worry is that there would be hesitancy in allowing them to proceed. I can understand, naturally, how the Department might have developed that feeling.