Results 8,041-8,060 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Government Commitments on Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak today on Government commitments on offshore renewable energy referenced in the Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind. After reading the policy statement, I have to say I am less than impressed. The statement lacks any real detail and its commitments are vague and unclear. The first line states, "In response to the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: We are already there.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I welcome the recent announcement that SIPTU and Fórsa members employed in the community sector organisations funded by the Department of Social Protection have voted to accept the pay rise recommended recently by the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. I am even happier to see that the Government has committed to engaging in a mechanism for the workers to negotiate future pay rises....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: We have had an ongoing crisis for a long time in this country and it is one that has underpinned all other crises, that of inequality. Ireland is renowned for its wealth inequality and new data for 2022 show Ireland maintaining its status as the most unequal country in the EU by market income. The most recent EUROSTAT data show that Ireland's top 20% have about 15.5 times the income of the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Yes, except that the welfare package in the last budget did not meet people's needs. That is the reality of the situation. The Taoiseach can cherry-pick what he wants out of the various measures across the country or across the world, but if we are doing so well on all those measures, why are we doing so badly and why are there more than 12,000 people homeless in this country? The reality...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Eating disorder support services have reported a huge increase in demand post pandemic. At the end of last year, Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, reported that over a 12-month period, there had been a 55% increase in those attending its services and a 125% increase in those attending family support services. With eating disorders, early intervention is key in...

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I thank An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and I can understand her losing her way. It sounded like Fianna Fáil was on both sides of the House speaking about this. I thank the Social Democrats for tabling such an important motion. I fully support this motion that calls on the Government to increase dramatically the delivery of genuinely affordable-to-purchase homes and to ensure that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 13. To ask the Minister for Health when a substantive reply will issue to correspondence on 23 August 2022 and 17 May 2023 from this Deputy in relation to the provision of GP services by Cuban doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26675/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Pringle: This question relates to correspondence I sent to the Minister on 23 August 2022 and again on 17 May 2023 to which I received no response. In order to try to get a response I put it down as a question here today.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Yesterday.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Pringle: This is what I am talking about. The action as outlined in the correspondence yesterday could be done on a national basis by the Department of Health or the HSE actually talking to the Cuban ambassador and the Cuban authorities about the provision of doctors throughout the whole health service and for the hospital service as well. They are available but it requires the Minister actually to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Pringle: Doctors from Cuba have been working in Portugal, Spain and Sweden, all within the EU, all recognised and all providing cover for the health services in those countries. What is so different about Ireland that this cannot happen? In County Fermanagh, in Enniskillen’s South West Acute Hospital, the health trust recently met with the Cuban embassy based in England and is now putting in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Pringle: It would be better if they would link in with the Cuban Embassy.

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this Bill. This is important legislation and I support its introduction. The rise in the involvement of young people in crime is concerning. Some 400 drug offences were committed by children and adolescents aged ten to 17 in 2016 and that number rose to approximately 1,000 in 2020. It is clear that legislation is needed to address this issue...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (23 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 78. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has considered the benefits to the State coffers of a smoothed approach to the automatic enrolment pension system being proposed by Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22110/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (23 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 90. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is satisfied that the automatic enrolment pension system being proposed by Government can stay below the 0.5% maintenance costs proposed in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22107/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (23 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 298. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will publish the KOSI report which her Department funded Donegal Education Centre to commission; the amount the report cost; if the recommendations of this report are now in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24536/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (23 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 484. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is aware that the automatic enrolment pension system being proposed by the Government could be provided at a lower cost to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22109/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (23 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 836. To ask the Minister for Health if ophthalmic care can be established in Letterkenny University Hospital to cater for patients in North and West Donegal who currently have to travel by car to Sligo University hospital for treatment and routine appointments, which is up to two hours’ drive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24818/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (23 May 2023)

Thomas Pringle: 837. To ask the Minister for Health the current status with getting a GP to take over the practice in Lettermacaward Health Centre, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24819/23]