Results 12,021-12,040 of 14,886 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Seanad: Consumer Rights Bill 2022: Committee Stage (19 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I assure the Senator that we are not sitting back and waiting. We are very actively involved in the process at EU level. It would be silly for us to proceed on our own and isolate ourselves from this process by bringing in legislation. I do not think it will take that long. Things are certainly moving a lot quicker in this space, Commission-wise, than even I was aware of before taking up...

Seanad: Consumer Rights Bill 2022: Committee Stage (19 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile agus a chomhghleacaithe, an Teachta Ó Snodaigh agus Eoghan Finn in oifig an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, as na leasuithe seo. Táimid ann chun leasuithe a dhéanamh sa Bhille seo agus bhí sin soiléir sa Dáil, nuair atá na rialacha in ann é a dhéanamh. Aontaím go mór le spiorad na...

Seanad: Consumer Rights Bill 2022: Committee Stage (19 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: Táimid ag iarraidh dul chuig an áit chéanna. Aontaím leis sin. Tá meas agam ar an Seanadóir ach ní aontaím gurb é an Bille seo an fheithicil chun é seo a dhéanamh. Táim sásta chun cruinniú a eagrú chun go mbeidh tuiscint ag foireann an tSeanadóra ar na fadhbanna atá ann. Tá siad bunaithe ar...

Seanad: Consumer Rights Bill 2022: Committee Stage (19 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Senator for submitting the amendment. I absolutely understand his wish for older people, in particular, not to be disadvantaged when concluding contracts because of a lack of mobility or technical proficiency. This does not apply only to older people. The Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018 prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of age or...

Seanad: Consumer Rights Bill 2022: Committee Stage (19 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: The proposed amendment to section 130 relates to the renewal of subscription contracts. The purpose of the amendment is to make it an unfair term in a consumer contract to charge consumers who are renewing their subscription a higher fee than consumers who are new subscribers. This ties in with the previous amendments. These issues were raised during the Dáil debates. Along with...

Seanad: Consumer Rights Bill 2022: Committee Stage (19 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I thank both the Acting Chairperson, Senator Murphy, and Senator Horkan for chairing the debate. Even though I know Senator Horkan is from the leafy suburbs of south Dublin, he sounded like a man well-practised in auctioneering the way he went through the sections. This is very important legislation and we are anxious to get it completed. Certainly, in relation to the amendments proposed...

Public Transport: Motion [Private Members] (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: On behalf of the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, I thank all the Deputies for their contributions to this debate on accessible, affordable and reliable public transport. In both the motion itself and the contributions I have heard from individual Deputies during the debate, we can see the range of challenges and opportunities but also the progress that has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am replying to this Topical Issue debate on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion who could not be here this evening. It provides an opportunity to outline the current position regarding the recent changes to the assessment of need process and on the roles and responsibilities of the National...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: Again, I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue but I would draw his attention to the fact, and he would know this, the Education Act 1998 requires schools to identify and support the education needs of all of their students and to use school resources to provide for those education needs. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, has set out guidance and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Freedom of Speech (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy. I convey the apologies of my colleague, the Minster for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who regrets she cannot be here for this matter owing to another commitment. She recognises that SLAPP proceedings are a significant potential threat to freedom of expression and to public participation, both in Ireland and internationally, particularly in respect of investigative journalism...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Freedom of Speech (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy for that final comment. As we prepare to reform our defamation laws, further remedies are available to journalists and activists who are subject to harassment when carrying out their work. For example, harassment within the meaning of section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison. Any assault...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from the council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. I know from the Deputy's contribution there was an intense rainfall event in County Tipperary over...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I appreciate the Deputy's concerns. I am aware that the Deputy raised the issue about the damage to property with the Taoiseach earlier today. The Deputy says he is not denying climate change but he also cannot deny the severity and the strength of weather events has completely changed over the past number of years. They have become much more frequent and much more severe. It is not a case...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I thank Deputy McHugh for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. As Deputy McHugh confirmed, it relates to young adults travelling from the South to the North of Ireland using the Leap card scheme. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families of the bereaved and injured, indeed, with the entire community of Creeslough and with all of our public representative colleagues. In the spirit that was engendered in the entire country in that terrible week, I will absolutely ensure contact is made with the Deputy tomorrow to discuss this.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh Ghníomhach, agus buíochas libh as ucht fáilte a chur romham chuig an Teach seo. I thank the Senator on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, for the opportunity to address this issue. As the Senator has acknowledged, I do a lot of work with West on Track and we are very much aware of South East on Track and indeed the work of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Senator for his comments and his ongoing interest in this important issue and the ongoing interest of many Members of this House in rail expansion. I know that Senator Cassells, in particular, is passionate about the Navan rail line. The Minister wishes to assure Senator Byrne that the potential of rail connectivity from Rosslare to Waterford is being...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (25 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Senator for outlining Donal's story. The Senator might send me on the details so we can pursue it. It definitely sounds like it would be worth pursuing. I have a general response on the general query. The Department of Social Protection provides a wide range of employment-related supports, for all jobseekers, including people with a disability. The back to work enterprise...

Seanad: Consumer Rights Bill: Report and Final Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Dara Calleary: Cuirim fáilte roimh na leasuithe. Táimid ag iarraidh dul ar an turas céanna agus an dearcadh céanna a bhaint amach ach níl mé in ann na leasuithe seo a ghlacadh mar gheall ar na cúiseanna a luaigh mé an tseachtain seo caite agus a leag mé amach i mo litir oifigiúil a sheol mé chuig an Seanadóir. Níl an bunús dlí...