Results 901-920 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Workers Recruitment (19 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 3. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she will take to address the situation whereby social work teams are considerably understaffed resulting in lengthy delays for children in need of their services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38725/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Workers Recruitment (19 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Minister for her reply. If the moratorium does not apply to social work posts, why are there so many vacancies and why are vacancies created by maternity leave not being filled? The reason is probably that local health managers are deciding not to recruit in order to keep budgets down. I am aware that physiotherapists are also exempt from the moratorium but local management in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Workers Recruitment (19 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: The difficulty with the retention of social workers probably equates to the workload they have and the fact that the teams are so badly understaffed. Last year when the children's referendum was passed, the Minister stated that it was the start of a process and that we would show through our actions in the coming years how committed we were to the change that had taken place. We must deal...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (19 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 40. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce legislation to ban violence against children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38726/13]

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion [Private Members] (24 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the education sector. I congratulate Sinn Féin on tabling the motion. It was interesting to hear the Minister's contribution earlier in which he quoted statistics from the OECD as a justification for the spending on education and said we are meeting the OECD average. He criticised the Sinn Féin figures, saying they are from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Funding (24 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 90. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that there is provision for State matching funding for EU rural development funds available in 2014 to maximise the funding available to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39513/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 92. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is going to couple any payments under the recently concluded new Common Agricultural Policy; the options or schemes he is considering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39512/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Subsidiary Protection Administration (25 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 31. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider introducing legislation for a single procedure for the assessment of subsidiary protection that is separate to the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill in order to improve this process without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39857/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (25 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 75. To ask the Minister for Finance the impact on the fiscal deficit if Government expenditure in 2014 was maintained at 2013 levels, with only increases or reductions based on carryover effects from budget 2013, and with a growth in GDP of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39966/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Emigration Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 115. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there is any assistance available for persons wishing to emigrate but do not have the financial means to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39965/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (25 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 143. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the schemes available to assist former offenders to access the labour force or training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39865/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (25 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 144. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána has access to drones for surveillance and intelligence gathering here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39866/13]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (25 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 173. To ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces have purchased or intend to purchase any drone aircraft for surveillance purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39967/13]

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: Yes, I believe so. I will be taking no more than ten minutes anyway. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate today on the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013. When one considers that more than 8,500 people were incarcerated last year for non-payment of fines, the general purpose of this Bill must be welcomed because a situation in which so many people end up in jail for...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 58. To ask the Minister for Health the direct involvement he has had with the IMO to resolve the dispute with the non-consultant hospital doctors over the implementation of the European working time directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40061/13]

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: Question No. 58, does not relate to working conditions or the conditions of non-consultant hospital doctors, their career paths or anything else in that line so I wonder why it was grouped with these questions. My question relates to the Minister's involvement in the dispute since the IMO balloted for industrial action. Much has been made in this House by the Minister about his taking back...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Oversight (26 Sep 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 54. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to provide for increased public beds in community hospitals in order to prepare for the doubling of the over 65 population here over the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40062/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulation Review Report Implementation (1 Oct 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that existing taxi and hackney licence holders can apply to provide the rural hackney service; if he will ensure that new licences will only be considered in the event of a failure to get enough applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41231/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulation Review Report Implementation (1 Oct 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I raised this issue during Second Stage of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 before the summer recess. The Minister of State should ask the NTA to give serious consideration to this issue because a large number of taxi and hackney drivers are operating in rural areas, but they are struggling to make a living in the current climate. Introducing another licensing brand in the sector will make it...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Welfare Services (1 Oct 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I join Deputy Dara Calleary in thanking the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this issue to be raised. As of yesterday, clinics have been closed in County Donegal. Some 12 clinics have been closed and clients are being asked to make their way to larger towns to avail of community welfare services. This does not recognise the geography of rural Ireland and counties and the difficulties many...