Results 12,061-12,080 of 15,766 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: That is what Sinn Féin is suggesting.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: It will only opt in-----

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: -----to Eurodac and to a returns mechanism.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: With the returns mechanism, we need to make sure that if a person already has asylum in another member state, that member state takes responsibility and we can adequately return the person, which we cannot do at the moment. Dublin III does not work. We know it does not work. We need to improve the system. If we do not opt into this, Dublin III will not exist and we will have no mechanism...

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am not trying to be patronising. What I am saying is we have a solution here and I have yet to hear from the floor if there are other ways in which people have presented them. I have yet to hear on the floor today or last night solutions as to how we deal with this. We have seen other countries that have decided not to go with Europe and decided to go it alone. That has not reduced the...

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: Denmark is not comparable because we have opted in in different ways. We voted for this. On this idea around our sovereignty, we voted for the Lisbon treaty. We said very clearly that we would pool our sovereignty when it comes to issues around security and migration.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: That is what people voted for and that is exactly what we are discussing now.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: On our sovereignty, and it keeps being raised that we are handing away our sovereignty and we need to have a referendum, people very clearly voted when we voted for the Lisbon treaty that, when it comes to migration and security issues, we would have the option to opt in. This is not being forced on us. We have the option to opt in. That is what was voted for. The only measure we have to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. She is right. We are not the only ones who are discussing this matter. There are people the length and breadth of the country around their kitchen tables, as well as businesses and people abroad who are looking to come home over the summer, who are extremely concerned and worried about the potential strikes. Families have saved all year round for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am not sure the Government can be any clearer in its approach here. The only way this can be resolved is by parties coming around the table together. The Government cannot force either party to come around the table. What it can do is stress, outline and highlight very clearly the negative implications that this will have for individuals and business throughout this country and also for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I wish Deputy Cairns well and congratulate her and her partner on their news. I thank her for raising this issue. It is the objective of all of us, including Cara, is to make sure that every young person and child can fulfil his or her full potential. That means no matter who you are, no matter where you have come from, no matter what your family situation is or what school you attend or...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy and Cara, and many young people like her, that we are acting. I think that is clear from the fact that €780 million has been provided in additional funding for those with special and additional needs over the past four years of this specific Government. I can assure the Deputy that additional funding has been allocated to make sure those waiting lists are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: What I can say is that this is a Government that supports workers and also supports enterprise because without the businesses to create these jobs, where would we be? This Government understands that in order to create wealth and jobs for young people and everybody else we need to make sure our businesses are supported as well. We have supported workers by increasing sick pay. We have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I do not think we can be any clearer that without employers we do not have employees. I outlined the supports we are putting in place for employers. It is important we support them. It is also important that we support employees too. That is why we have introduced sick pay and remote working for those who can engage in it. That is why we have introduced domestic violence leave,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Like him, I appreciate the frustration that families and, in particular, parents feel at not being able to access services in a timely way. We all see that in our constituencies when these queries are raised with us. This is an area that has received significant investment in recent years, with more than €200 million allocated every year...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: We are committed to improving services overall. On top of the €200 million budget for public oral health, there has been additional funding of €15 million for the Smile agus Sláinte policy and €17 million in one-off funding to improve waiting lists for orthodontic services. There was €10 million in 2023 to support a decrease in the number of patients waiting...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, it is the Commissioner who is responsible for delegating the resources that he or potentially she has at his or her disposal. The Commissioner has been clear in saying that additional resources have been allocated within the Dublin region, specifically regarding the Luas, train stations and areas where there have been problems. Additional gardaí have been...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: First, this is a plan that has been drawn up by the community. The whole basis for the community partnerships is that it is not just focused on gardaí when it comes to safety, but the people in the community who know the community and understand the needs of the community come together with the local authority, with the Garda, with education, with the HSE and with supports more broadly...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: Everybody has been offered the opportunity to engage with this. It is very important that the community are empowered through the partnerships to identify what they need. Many of these actions have been implemented, many have been supported with funding and many are seed projects that will then lead on to something more substantial. However, it is very important that as the initial three...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I too read the report from Cherry Orchard, which was harrowing. The report yesterday from Women's Aid shows how much of an epidemic this is. It should be something that we all treat as an emergency. What is very welcome from the figures yesterday is that more women are coming forward and they feel they can come forward. Because of the discussions we have had in this House and the emphasis...