Results 11,141-11,154 of 11,154 for speaker:Anne Rabbitte

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Child Poverty: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank Mr. Egan and his team for being here this morning. He has clearly set out the plan and the Minister's approach. Addressing child poverty over the term of the programme for Government is one of the Minister's number one issues. Mr. Egan has clearly set out what happened in the last budget. I am interested in hearing about the extension of the back to work family dividend to...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Child Poverty: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: That is something I was not aware of. I thank Mr. Hession for that. It is really welcome to see the extension of the back to school footwear allowance to the years covered by the ECCE pre-school programme. How many children is that going to support? When does it commence?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Child Poverty: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: May I query that number? Is Mr. Hession sure about that 35,000? There are about 99,000 children on the ECCE programme but 35,000 children will qualify for this back to school allowance. Is that the correct figure?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Oct 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Leader for being here today. I am going to raise an issue relating to an event that both he and I attended recently in Galway at Croí House. We met with Dr. Niamh Hannon and members of the Croí House about the future of cardiovascular health in Ireland. It was a very informative session that we attended. Among those present were some as young as 22 years of age who...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025: Second Stage (22 Oct 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: - "Seanad Éireann resolves that the Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025 be read a second time on this day 12 months, to allow for the issue of travel supports for victims of domestic and gender-based violence be tabled for consideration by the Government." I welcome the opportunity...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank everyone for being here. I was struck by all the contributions, but particularly by Ms Connolly's in respect of the delay in a child accessing the opportunity of the youth diversion programme because of the court systems. From Ms Connolly's point of view, how would the extension of the age have a positive impact on a young person?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: Yes, exactly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: When one hears the timelines presented in that fashion, one can totally understand why the age extension would be essential. It is because of the timelines. It is a system and a process to come out the other side, engage in restorative justice and give people the opportunity to have a second chance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: That second chance is the most important thing. It cannot happen if all the other milestones have to be achieved first. The last person who benefited is the offender who might need the opportunity for what we see in the wonderful work of the youth diversion programme. I thank them for that. I do not know who can answer me on Oberstown. I have a keen interest in Oberstown. I absolutely...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: That would be very helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: This is addressed more so to the Department or anybody who wishes to answer it. When one piece of legislation is addressed, it sometimes has an unintended consequence that another piece of legislation does not keep up with it and actually it ends up with a gap. It is wonderful that we are addressing quite a number of the issues and we have taken some good points to address them. However,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: The reason I asked the question related to what Ms Brady said earlier about 33% of those in Oberstown being from the Traveller community. The issue of secure-care beds is one for Tusla to address.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I think that is a fantastic suggestion. Chair, can I have another bit of leniency?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: General Scheme of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024: Discussion (4 Nov 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: Where I was going with the final train of thought is that it goes back to the point Ms Connolly made about going through the court system yet again. When the actors can leave the pitch and say it has nothing to do with them anymore, that creates the imbalance of the required wrap-around support Dr. Forde referred to. If all actors do not stay on the pitch until we get to the end of the...