Results 821-840 of 2,081 for speaker:Richard O'Donoghue

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (3 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: 72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that public transport remains a major issue in rural communities given that rural dwellers are not adequately serviced by the existing transport network (details supplied). [8935/22]

International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: I wish all women a happy International Women's Day, especially my wife, Kay, and my mother-in-law, Kathleen Toomey. I would not be here today to represent Limerick without them. I wish a happy International Women's Day to all the front-line women who looked after us during the pandemic. Today I will mention some women who rarely, if ever, get mentioned. These are the women of the haulage...

Assessment of Needs for Children with Special Education Requirements: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: Despite repeated calls from the Ombudsman for Children, children with special education requirements are not having a special assessment of needs done, which is their right under the UNCRC. There were 5,060 applications for assessments of need in 2018. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, acknowledged that there were 4,000 applicants in December 2021. None of the timelines are met for...

Flexible and Remote Work: Motion [Private Members] (9 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: In February 2022, 80,000 remote working jobs were advertised without location restrictions. People in rural areas without broadband are excluded from those jobs. They are being discriminated against. In 2019, did we think it was possible to achieve the situation we are in? We have been told in the past that many things could not happen yet when the pandemic happened, things changed,...

Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: I propose to share time with Deputies Michael Collins, Michael Healy-Rae and Danny Healy-Rae. Fuel prices need to be reduced by a minimum of 50 cent and be locked in for a minimum of six months. The 15 cent and 20 cent reductions do not go far enough. Business owners, including quarry and construction business owners, have been ringing me this evening to say they have been told by...

Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: Are members of the Government out of their tree?

Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: When the shelves go empty in this country, the Government will be remembered for what it did. Putin will be remembered for his disgraceful behaviour in Ukraine; Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party will be remembered for what they have done to production in this country, which is no longer a breadbasket for its people. We are no longer self-sufficient because of the regulations...

Financial Resolution: Excise (9 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: In the haulage sector diesel is up 100% in price. The cost of parts for trucks is up 40% while the cost of labour is up 20%. The cost of tyres is up 30% and the cost of upgrading a truck is up 20%. That is a total increase in cost of 220%. For agricultural contractors and farmers diesel is up 100%, feed is up 50%, fertiliser is up 200%, tyres are up 30% and the price of cutting an acre of...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: In October 2021, the Rural Independent Group brought to the attention of the Government and the Opposition the fact that Ireland had been given a toolbox by the EU to reduce the burden on people due to the high cost of energy. What did the Government do? It raised taxes instead of easing them for people in this country. I see Deputy Leddin is leaving the Chamber. He talked about Putin....

Rising Energy Costs: Motion [Private Members] (22 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion. At the same time, I would like to point out that last October when the price increase in fuel crisis was here, I asked Sinn Féin to help me and the Rural Independent Group to highlight the energy costs and fuel costs. It took Sinn Féin until March to finally realise that there was a crisis, although I could see it last...

Ban on Sex for Rent Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: I welcome the Bill brought forward by the Social Democrats. Sadly, sex for rent appears to be on the doorstep of both urban and rural communities throughout Ireland although, thankfully, it is not very widespread at the moment. I was shocked to read a story of such a case in Limerick, which I thank the Limerick Postfor exposing. This is probably the darkest side of homelessness, where...

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Second Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: I welcome any Bill that brings regulation to practices in Ireland for its citizens. I understand that the number of treatment cycles in 2020 was 9,878 and that no particular treatment procedures have been in place. As such, I welcome the clarity that the Bill will bring. I also understand that the Government is planning to put in place a model of care for infertility treatment. The Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fuel Prices (22 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: 723. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the poverty students are experiencing due to the increase in fuel cost given that many students drive to college due to the lack of bus services in rural areas and the lack of accommodation available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14690/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (22 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: 1010. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of specialists in Huntington’s disease services in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14689/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (22 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: 1011. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the waiting time persons in Limerick are experiencing for cataract operations in University Hospital Limerick forcing them to travel to the north of Ireland for this procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14691/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (24 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: 77. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Deputies can fast-track problem passports in certain circumstances (details supplied). [15468/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (24 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: I offer my condolences to our ambassador, Jim Kelly's wife and daughter, Orla and Ciara. I commend the Department of Foreign Affairs on the work it is doing in Ukraine. My question relates to fast-tracking problem passport applications. There are genuine circumstances in which non-standard applications are facing long delays, which are causing stress and anxiety.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (24 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: My office is dealing with a great many passport-related queries every week and is finding it more and more frustrating. I acknowledge that the online system works well for straightforward renewals. It is with the type of application I deal with that there are issues. The urgent passport number will only tell us what we already know. If you apply for a passport in an emergency, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (24 Mar 2022)

Richard O'Donoghue: Passport express is very misleading because it takes two months. Why market it as an express service? When additional information is required, why does an applicant need to go back to day one? The express system takes two months. If further clarification is needed, the applicant must go back to day one and has another two months to wait. The time runs on. It is supposed to be an express...