Results 1,681-1,700 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Written Answers — European Year of Volunteering: European Year of Volunteering (9 Mar 2010)

John Curran: Each EU Member State is required to designate a national co-ordinating body which will be responsible for organising its participation in the European Year of Volunteering 2011. The Irish nominee is Volunteering Ireland, a representative body whose member organisations include the GAA, the ICA, the FAI, St Vincent de Paul, Tidy Towns Association and the National Youth Council of Ireland....

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (9 Mar 2010)

John Curran: There are two issues of public concern raised in the Deputy's Question. However, given the difficulty in responding adequately to the matters raised by him within the constraints of a 'details supplied' Question, I am arranging to have the relevant information forwarded directly to him. If the Deputy would prefer to re-submit the Question in a less restricted format, I will, of course, be...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (9 Mar 2010)

John Curran: As the Deputy is aware, the aim of the new Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities, while enabling groups to objectively demonstrate the positive impacts they are securing for local communities. It is intended that the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Mar 2010)

John Curran: There are 14 Local Drugs Task Forces funded by my Department. The funding allocated to each Task Force since 2007 is outlined in the table below. Local Drugs Task Force Area Funding allocated 2007 Funding allocated 2008 Funding allocated 2009 Funding allocated 2010 €m €m €m €m Ballyfermot 1.52 1.83 1.57 1.53 Ballymun 1.13 1.43 1.26 1.24 Blanchardstown 1.12 1.39 1.29 1.18 Bray...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: From the establishment of my Department in 2002 up to 2009, in the region of €197m has been made available for drugs initiatives which, in the main, have been delivered through Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces. This figure excludes expenditure under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, responsibility for which transferred to the Department of Education & Science with effect...

Written Answers — Community Support for Older People: Community Support for Older People (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: Almost €4.4m has been paid to 104 community and voluntary organisations operating the Scheme of Community Support for Older People in the Dublin area since January 2004. Information on the level of grants paid to each of these groups is available on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie. For the convenience of the Deputy, I am arranging to have the relevant details forwarded to her directly.

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (Resumed) (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: ): I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. I thank all Members who have spoken on the matter today and on 3 February and I acknowledge the work of the Seanad in pursuing this important and immediate issue and for adopting a broadly unanimous stance. Without going through the debate in great detail, I divided the contributions into two clear halves, namely, those who demonstrated...

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (Resumed) (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: Senator Glynn referred to products sent in the post. There are two distinctions. I am not dealing with medicinal products, but products sold as plant food and so on which are obviously not intended for human consumption will be added to the controlled list and made illegal. I met Customs officials to ensure they would be able to intercept these products in the postal system and take...

Seanad: Pension Provisions (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The national pensions framework which was launched on 3 March sets out the Government's intention for a radical and wide-scale reform of the pensions system. The framework contains a new approach to pensions policy which will allow Ireland to meet the challenges of an ageing society and a reducing workforce....

Seanad: Pension Provisions (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I acknowledge the points raised by the Senator and will relay them to the Minister. If one tries to moderate or vary a scheme in any way, a concern and caution is that anomalies can be created, but I take the Senator's point. He appreciated the point about welfare payments and so forth. While the broad framework of the scheme has been published, an implementation group will go through the...

Seanad: Export Trade (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey. There are currently no container vessels trading directly between Irish ports and the United States. Therefore, there are no direct costs for any ports in Ireland as a consequence of this legislation. The United States legislation, Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, unilaterally...

Seanad: Export Trade (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: The Senator said he was disappointed that no containers were trading directly between Ireland and the United States. We would all like to see development of our trade in that regard. It is expected there will be a two-year extension to the 2012 deadline which will allow an opportunity to address the issue, in particular given the fact that 100% scanning is not being achieved in areas where...

Seanad: Health Services (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Senator for raising the issue and welcome the opportunity to update the House on Government policy on community services in general. The Government is committed to supporting people to live in dignity and independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not...

Seanad: Health Services (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I accept the Senator's point regarding the reply, in particular, the allusion by the Minister to industrial action. I will try to elicit further information on the Senator's behalf. The Seanad adjourned at 2.25 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 23 March 2010.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (23 Mar 2010)

John Curran: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by officials in my Department. I will arrange to forward the relevant information directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I have voiced my concerns in regard to the activities of headshops and substances represented as "legal highs" sold in these outlets on numerous occasions since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. I am arranging to forward a statement of the current position with regard to headshops directly to the Deputy.

European Union Council Decisions: Motions (24 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed...

European Union Council Decisions: Motions (24 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed...

European Union Council Decisions: Motions (24 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option of discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed...

European Union Council Decisions: Motions (24 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed...