Results 1-20 of 126 for speaker:Dee Ryan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tobacco Control Measures (22 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: Cuirim fáilte ar ais roimh an Aire Stáit. Gabhaim buíochas leis as teacht isteach sa Teach seo chun mo cheist a fhreagairt. I would like to raise an issue that was brought to my attention by the proprietor of my local grocery story in the village in County Limerick that I am from. This person is the third generation of their family to run the local grocery store in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tobacco Control Measures (22 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I acknowledge all of the actions the Minister of State listed that Government is taking to drive down the sale of cigarettes but I question whether this measure will achieve that aim. From discussing the issue with other retailers, it seems to me this will be successful in driving the sale of cigarettes and vapes underground and further into the black market, which is thriving in this...

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

Dee Ryan: I raise the issue of policing in Limerick city centre. Just this morning, I spoke to a number of prominent retailers who had a meeting last night with our chief superintendent, Derek Smart, on this issue.We have seen a growth in instances of antisocial behaviour, which we believe is putting people off coming into the city centre and supporting local businesses, and a huge increase in the...

Seanad: Higher Education: Statements (21 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Gabhaim buíochas leis as teacht chun an Tí seo le labhairt agus éisteacht lenár dtuairimí inniu. Fianna Fáil welcomes these statements and this opportunity to contribute to the discussion on further and higher education, research, innovation and science. As the Minister rightly asserted, for us in Fianna Fáil, this area...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and the State: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I thank the witnesses very much for their presentations this morning. It has been very interesting. I am at a beginner level on all of this so they will have to bear with me with regard to my questions. To summarise for my own benefit, broadly speaking, could I categorise the commission's concerns as relating to three streams, the first being the use of AI to amplify bias and human rights...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and the State: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I would like to learn a little bit more about the annual polling that was referenced. In the submission Mr. Herrick talked about the 73% of people who are concerned about the societal impacts of AI, and the mere 22% who believe that we are regulating technology companies effectively right now. Another result highlighted was the 68% who expressed concern about the use of AI by the Government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and the State: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I have a couple of minutes, does Ms Keatinge have anything else to highlight for us this morning that she would like us to take away and reflecting on?

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: The Taoiseach is welcome to the Seanad today. I take this opportunity to acknowledge and welcome the opening this week of the 96-bed block at UHL in Limerick. As the Taoiseach knows, we have come through a dark time in the mid-west, with additional stress and worry being placed on the families of sick loved ones due to the overcrowding we have experienced at UHL. Since the Taoiseach took...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I thank the witnesses very much for joining us and for their presentations and opening statements. I have some questions that may seem elementary, but I am trying to get my head around the ecosystem and trying to understand all of the different stakeholders who have to feed into achieving the common goal we all have of driving up the number of apprenticeships and their adoption, from both a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I used to work with Skillnet. Is it similar to any course development in that there must be demand from the sector? A substantial number of interested parties must make an approach. Does the process differ for the body providing the academic side versus what it would be doing for a full-time course or micro-credential?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: What I am getting at is whether there is a blockage or a difference in what the academic side has to do. I appreciate the response. I thank Ms Boland for everything that she has explained so clearly, but is there a difference for the academic side of it in terms of the application?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I apologise; I am just keeping an eye on the clock and I have only a few seconds left. It was said that the validation is time-limited. Is the time limit different from that provided for a full-time course?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I thank the witnesses for all their patience with us today. I have a follow-up question on how we crack the nut when it comes to SMEs. Recognising that SMEs are the largest cohort of employers in the country, we want to engage with more of them in the context of upskilling their teams and bringing more people on board in the context of this apprenticeship model. I am not certain if it was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: The AMTCE is very specialised and intensive, particularly in terms of the capital that goes into the equipment used for training purposes. It might be a useful model for other sectors in developing apprenticeships targeted at SMEs. Are Mr. Smith and Ms Boland aware of the development of any apprenticeships? The organisation I was involved with worked closely with industry and education...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I send my condolences to Senator Teresa Costello on the passing of her dad. I also offer my condolences to Independent councillor in Kerry, Niall O'Callaghan, and his family on the passing of his brother Paudie at the weekend. I rise on an issue that was raised with me by my local shopkeeper. George Lee, a third generation family grocer, holds the corner shop in my village of...

Seanad: Budget 2026 (Enterprise, Tourism and Employment): Statements (14 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: The Minister is very welcome. I take this opportunity to welcome this very important budget for our country as we move forward into uncharted economic waters. We did say that we were going to place an emphasis on infrastructure, housing and child poverty. In this budget, which we hope is the first of five, we have done precisely that. In the context of his Department, I congratulate the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Dee Ryan: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. It was very interesting and they have given us a lot to contemplate. There is a lot of common sense being spoken and strong, informed, evidence-based suggestions that we will be able to take into our deliberations in the work we do in the coming months. What is really striking for me is that we have a common goal of addressing the skills needs...