Results 2,001-2,020 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (24 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 407. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the reported threats from a person (details supplied) in Belgium to influence and subvert their trial on terrorism charges. [37772/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. A number of new conditions were introduced to the CE Scheme in July 2017 to further support progression to employment,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their Communities whilst upskilling themselves for employment opportunities. The Scheme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment. Where a sponsor wishes to apply for funding for a new...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 939. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to resourcing of and responses to treatment for long Covid-19 or patients suffering from significant sequelae subsequent to an initial recovery from Covid-19 in other jurisdictions; his plans in regard to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38782/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy (24 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 940. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign (details supplied) which seeks to highlight ongoing structural delays in the delivery of assessments for occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and other supports for children with additional needs; his plans to reduce waiting times in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38783/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farmers Markets (24 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 960. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the recent closure of a market (details supplied); if he has engaged with the licensing body on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37863/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund was intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering...

Rural and Community Development: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this issue. The impact of Covid-19 has been extreme and immediate, especially among the most vulnerable in society.

Rural and Community Development: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I am sharing time. My Fine Gael colleague is not here at the moment. Those are the people who the Department supports. Charities, social enterprises, community organisations and the volunteers who assist with these supports are an integral part of the fight against the pandemic. A key priority for me now and into the future will be the continued implementation of the community and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 89. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the detainment of a group of 12 activists aged between 16 and 30 years of age from Hong Kong by the People’s Republic of China; if he has raised this issue with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37318/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. In general, the period of participation on CE is for one year.  However, CE participants who are working...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 198. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to prioritising nursing and care home visitors for rapid Covid-19 testing when it becomes available in order to allow persons spend time with their loved ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37317/20]

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I may address the LEADER issue after my initial statement. I appreciate the opportunity to present this request for a technical Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Rural and Community Development. It will facilitate the allocation of additional funding of €10 million for the Covid-19 stability fund, increasing the total value of that fund to €45 million. It will also...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: We had committed funding to promote the operation of the local community development committees, LCDC, and there were some savings there. The other area of savings was from rural supports which, frankly, I am not as familiar with. There was; €570,000 from subhead A4 - rural supports; and €200,000 from the LCDC supports. We are looking at other areas as well to hopefully bring...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: In terms of the Covid stability fund, there are no plans at present but we will be actively monitoring the situation on a weekly basis. Obviously, it depends on Covid and the restrictions that we are required to adhere to. At present, there are no plans but we will be actively monitoring it. The position in the case of the community resilience fund is similar. I suppose, with the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I cannot comment directly because it is not my area of line management. I would be surprised if they were not because they are key partners across the board. In terms of various programmes that the Department funds, they are one of our key partners. I cannot give the Deputy that answer directly. It would be the direct responsibility of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: On Deputy Ó Cuív's first question on the size of the Dormant Accounts Fund, the total value at the end of October 2020 was €312 million. Of this, €101 million is in the reserve fund set aside for repayments to account holders. The remaining €211 million is in the investment and disbursement fund.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Potentially. The fund is risk averse. All I can state, I suppose, is the amount that has been spent this year and last year under the action plans is in the region of €40 million. To flag it with the Deputy, I am looking into this as well as previous Ministers have. It is certainly something that I am examining in terms of the capacity to use it.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I know exactly where the Deputy is coming from because this matter is of interest to me as well. He asked a bunch of questions and I am unsure whether I will be able to answer all of them, but I take his core point. I have started internal discussions about this matter in the Department. The Deputy's suggestion of speaking to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which now holds...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Point taken. Regarding how the money is spent, that information has been published for public scrutiny in the action plans. The 2021 plan was published last week. People can examine how the money is being spent. The majority of it is going to the community and voluntary sector. I will keep an eye out for it being used to fill holes that should instead be financed through voted...