Results 8,561-8,580 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (28 Mar 2018)

Pat Breen: I thank the Senator for raising the matter. It is an issue with which we are all familiar in our constituencies. I have a similar problem in my constituency. Students who have applied to the local school in Ennis, which their father or mother attended, find that the school enrolment is full. It is an issue for everybody and we need to try to deal with it in a structured way. I again...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (28 Mar 2018)

Pat Breen: I hope the situation will work out for those students who have not yet found a place in Kilmacthomas. There is still time before September and I have seen it happen from time to time. As the Senator said, there is a history to this issue which I will convey to the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton. The board of management may have met senior officials in the Department, but, if not, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Farm Safety (29 Mar 2018)

Pat Breen: In view of the ongoing high rate of accidents and fatalities on Irish farms in May 2017 I convened a Roundtable Meeting of the main farming representative organisations along with officials from my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Health and Safety Authority. I co-chaired that meeting with my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (17 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: 1122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16255/18]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (17 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: 1134. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16734/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (17 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: 1447. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16079/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (17 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: 1480. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16692/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: I am taking this question in my capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for small business. My Department and other Government agencies operate a number of programmes and schemes to assist the start-up and expansion of small businesses. My priority as Minister of State is to drive the creation of high-quality and sustainable jobs around all the regions and counties of Ireland,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: Donegal has so much to offer in respect of small to medium enterprises. I visited Donegal myself on a number of occasions, both in a personal capacity on holiday and also visiting the local enterprise offices, LEOs. The LEO in Letterkenny is doing really good work. I say to Deputy Pringle that the branding of Donegal is really good internationally. It is recognised as the coolest place...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: I do not accept that at all. Tourism creates jobs and that is what we are talking about - micro-jobs, small jobs - and that is one element of it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: Only last week we had GTeic and the whole digital hub concept which we are developing in Donegal - a fantastic initiative. The future of work is changing and we have got to adapt to that change, particularly in respect of digital technology. The local enterprise offices are putting in place many initiatives. They created 100 jobs net last year. Some of those jobs are in the food sector,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: That is falling all the time and will continue to fall with the policies we are putting into place. The Deputy should work with the LEOs, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. I assure him that the Government will continue to ensure that the infrastructure is put into place in Donegal because Donegal deserves that.

Other Questions: Personal Injury Claims (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: On 27 June 2017 the Government gave approval to the drafting of the personal injuries board (amendment) Bill along the lines of the published general scheme. The purpose of the Bill is to amend existing legislation to strengthen the PIAB operationally to ensure greater compliance with the PIAB process and encourage more claims to be settled through the PIAB model. The board facilitates...

Data Protection Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: Is the Deputy sure? I thought he was on a different Bill.

Data Protection Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to what was a very interesting and engaging debate on this Bill. As all of the speakers rightly pointed out, this is a very complex Bill that will affect us all. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, and I welcome the broad range of views that have been expressed in both Houses of the Oireachtas. I assure all the Deputies who...

Data Protection Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice and Equality pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149 (1).

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: My priority as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation is to drive the creation of high-quality and sustainable jobs around all the regions and counties of Ireland. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play a critical role in supporting micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases in every part of the country. The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to micro-enterprises,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Insurance Costs (18 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: Despite intense competition, the trajectory of Ireland’s competitiveness performance is positive. Improved competitiveness is reflected in strong employment growth across sectors and regions. On the major cost headings, such as labour, property and tax, the National Competitiveness Council has reported in recent years that Ireland is a relatively cost competitive location in which to...

Extreme Weather (Miscellaneous Provisions Bill) 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: May we go home then?

Extreme Weather (Miscellaneous Provisions Bill) 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Apr 2018)

Pat Breen: I thank all the Sinn Féin Members for being here and all the other Members. As Deputy Cullinane said, it is a fine afternoon. Let me state from the outset that it is vital that the public is not put into life threatening or dangerous situations during extreme weather events. The fact that Met Éireann has a graded, colour coded weather warning system has considerable merit. It...