Results 9,481-9,500 of 9,648 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: My Department works with the protected disclosures national advisory group, a forum of disclosure managers from Departments, public bodies and prescribed persons to share best practice and identify any challenges that are emerging from the existing legislative framework. I will ask them to review what the Deputy has stated and feedback from others in the context of what he has said regarding...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I assure the Deputy that this is my genuine intention. A legislative framework must protect whistleblowers and those who make a protected disclosure. I will ask the advisory group, which consists of a number of members across different Departments, to review what the Deputy has said and indeed if there are any reforms-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy is completely ignoring what is after happening over the last number of years. Childcare investment has quadrupled from €260 million in 2015 to €1.37 billion in 2025. This is significant State investment in childcare, along with the affordability supports that underpin it. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is ambitious to continue to do more to support parents with the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy dismissed them in how she described them. They provide a really important part of supports for childcare across communities in this country. They also need to be supported in how we manage the budget process.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Collins. The Government and the Minister, Deputy Calleary, are committed to continuing support for the islands. This is reflected in his submission to me as part of the national development plan but also in advance of budget 2026. I do not have specific detail relating to the individual allocations for the different islands the Deputy referred to but I will ask the Minister...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: Since 2015, the population has been growing significantly and we have had a clear policy intent to support increased provision of public services in health, education and disability services. Part of the work we are doing as part of the medium-term expenditure framework is assessing what the appropriate number is in for the medium term in the context of the pay and numbers strategy, and what...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. A number of road safety interventions have been made and are being made to the N81. Funding of €400,000 has been provided for realignment of the section near Stratford-on-Slaney and technical advisers have also been appointed to develop this scheme through a planning application. Funding has also been allocated to provide for traffic calming measures on the N81...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. I will start by acknowledging the bravery of so many victims of domestic and gender-based violence in speaking out. These voices are a stark reminder that although improvements have been made, we need to keep the momentum going to achieve our objective of zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This topic was...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. I am not sure whether he was here during Leaders' Questions when I responded to many of the Deputies who raised this issue. What has been stated up to this point is that the one-off temporary measures taken in the past 12 months are not continuing in the context of budget 2026. However, there will be a real focus on affordability of public services in education,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: This issue obviously involves specific, individual circumstances which relate to the Ministers for foreign affairs and justice. I can ask the Ministers to respond to the Deputy as appropriate.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Many others have raised it and as I have said to others, this is a matter for budget 2026. We will engage with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, in that context. All measures and priorities are reflected in the budgetary discussions that the Government will undertake in advance of budget 2026. The same applies to the issue the Deputy has raised, as it...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. As she knows, this issue is regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority in the context of the EU legislative framework that exists for drones. I know the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is working on finalising the draft policy framework and expects it to be published this summer. There was previous consultation on the framework and extensive has been work...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. I know and understand some of what is being said around Letterkenny and surgical capacity for the north-west region. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has been engaging with the Deputy and other representatives of the north west in the context of the surgical demand that is there. She is engaging in that process in good faith. Over the coming period, we...

Appointment of An Leas-Ombudsman Póilíneachta: Motion (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I move: That Dáil Éireann, noting that the Government on the 24th June, 2025, nominated Brian Doherty for appointment by the President as An Leas-Ombudsman Póilíneachta, recommends, pursuant to section 171(3)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 that Brian Doherty be appointed by the President as An Leas-Ombudsman Póilíneachta.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for her question. I first want to echo what she said about Brother Crowley. Ireland has lost a wonderful person, someone who brought incredible care, humility and service to support the most vulnerable in our country. We thank him for his tireless work. May he rest in peace. I offer condolences to all of his family. In response to the Deputy's question, I acknowledge...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: What I have said very clearly is that the outlook will be informed by what we agree as part of budget 2026. This is the hypocrisy of Sinn Féin when it comes to third level fees. In the North, the then Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, was not at the time ruling out hikes in student fees.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: She then said that she had to work within the context of the financial position. It is the same for this Government when it comes to budget 2026.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: When it comes to all policy-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: All decisions we will make for next year will be made in the budget.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: They will be done and concluded in the budget process. That is the same as has happened in previous years. That is the context. That will inform the outlook for 2026.