Results 10,801-10,820 of 10,941 for speaker:Niamh Smyth

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Export Controls (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I wish Deputy Connolly well in her campaign in the weeks ahead. She is a brave lady. As the national competent authority for export controls, my responsibilities centre around the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. These controls are administered by the Department in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Export Controls (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I do not have exact details on the reasons the application was refused. I will look for clarity on that and furnish the Deputy with the details. There is extensive engagement between my officials and exporters should any questions or concerns arise regarding any application for any destination, including Israel. If, after engagement, there are any outstanding concerns that the goods being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Export Controls (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I reiterate that I will ask the Department, insofar as it can, to furnish the Deputy with much greater detail on the refusal I indicated and the reasons for it. My officials seek real-time geopolitical observations from the Department of foreign affairs in respect of all applications, and those views inform the final decision to grant or deny a licence. The assessment process is rigorous....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Childcare Services (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputy Wall for raising this important issue. He has raised the issue specifically around Kilcullen in County Kildare. Truthfully, however, the issue he has raised is more widespread than that. It is not so specific to Kilcullen, but I appreciate he is advocating for the parents in that local area who are left without childcare as an opportunity to allow them to go to work and to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Childcare Services (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputy Wall for raising what is a pressing matter for his area and people in Kilcullen. As he said, it has a population of 4,000, but 110 families are affected and 153 children are without a place. Kilcullen has a growing population. When a population is growing, we want to keep that population because of the impact on enterprise, including small and medium businesses, around the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Irish Language (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. No more than was the case in his area, busloads of people left Cavan-Monaghan at the weekend to support all things Irish language. It is heartening to hear. The Deputy is right. There is a groundswell of support for the Irish language and for seeing it adequately and properly funded as our national tongue. A day of protest, as the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Irish Language (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: As I said, I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this. It is really important that we discuss the funding and vision for our national tongue here in our Parliament. Up to now, it has really been a groundswell of support. Some counties are doing fantastic while others do not have the same opportunities. For example, in County Monaghan, for example, there are four national schools and one...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputies Butterly and O’Rourke for raising this important issue. I think all our offices have been flooded which tells its own story of the concerns and fear out there among SNAs, parents, schools and everyone involved. We need to defuse that but more importantly we need to give the information so that people are clear about what the guidelines will mean. I apologise on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputies Butterly and O'Rourke again. No more than them, I have had many meetings with principals. Prior to the guidelines being printed over the summer or the beginning of the school year, the allocation of SNAs was a source of concern and upheaval for schools. Principals were ringing around trying to make sure they had everybody in place. I take on board what Deputies O'Rourke...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Artificial Intelligence (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I congratulate the Deputy on the work he is doing in the artificial intelligence committee. I listened in to most of this week's meeting. As the Deputy has said, the young people who spoke were very articulate and great advocates for the young person's perspective on artificial intelligence and the impact it will have. I thank the Deputy and the committee for the work they are doing. They...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Artificial Intelligence (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I think the Deputy knows my work rate and work pace. I certainly intend to be a driving force to ensure this happens. As he has said, three big things have to happen as quickly as possible in the lifetime of this Government. The first is the establishment of the AI office. The second is the establishment of the AI observatory, which is critically important to predict the impacts AI will...

Industrial Relations (Boycott of Joint Labour Committees) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputy Lawlor for moving his Bill. I do appreciate the concern he has around this issue, and it is laudable. I stand before Members to debate a Private Members’ Bill that proposes to amend provisions governing the operation and constitution of joint labour committees. This Bill seeks to address situations where employers or workers fail to engage in consultation with the...

Industrial Relations (Boycott of Joint Labour Committees) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank colleagues for raising this. I know they are here on a Thursday evening to raise this matter because they feel passionately about it, and they have raised it in a very articulate and passionate way. Unfortunately, the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, cannot be here this evening. I have taken copious notes on the issues that all three Deputies have raised in case clarity is needed...

Industrial Relations (Boycott of Joint Labour Committees) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (25 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I would not agree.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (24 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 13. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if a proposed bus stop could be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50550/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she examine the case for extra accommodation raised in correspondence (details supplied); if she will provide an update on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50707/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Industrial Disputes (24 Sep 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 180. To ask the Minister for Health to review a link and details within same and provide an update on this impending dispute (details supplied); the steps her Department is taking to resolve this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50654/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 395. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will address concerns raised regarding the service and pricing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41016/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 643. To ask the Minister for Finance the current status of the process to review and change the entry criteria for the primary medical certificate scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41419/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Reviews (29 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 639. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will review correspondence (details supplied) to establish if anything can be done to resolve the issue raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41394/25]