Results 2,201-2,220 of 4,305 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizenship Applications (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I accept and recognise the costs involved in this regard. The initial fee of €175 is not onerous and is not too much to expect people to pay but most of us will accept that the €950 fee is quite a high charge to place on people, particularly people who have lived and worked in Ireland, in some cases for decades. Many of these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizenship Applications (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: I understand that they are being kept under constant review but I am asking for a particular emphasis to be put on people who have lived and worked here for a considerable time and for this to be reflected in the fee they must pay. That is basically what I am asking for. It is not too much to expect that people who have worked and paid taxes here for ten or 15 years or more would have this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she plans to implement the Parole Act 2019 and establish a parole board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32010/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: What are the Minister's plans for implementing the Parole Act 2019 and when does she intend to establish the parole board on a statutory footing?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate that work is being done on this but it is quite ironic that the Minister's answer is almost identical to the answer her predecessor gave more than one year ago on the work that had to be done, that the board had to be set up, that a chief executive had to be put in place, there were technical issues to be dealt with, funding had to be put in place and so on. At the same time,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate that. I expect it would be advanced as quickly as possible. As I said earlier, it is a very serious matter for many people. We really need to get this done and completed. I hope it will be in place before the spring or summer is out and that the anxiety and worry of the many people who have been victims of serious crime will be laid at ease.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizenship Applications (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: 2. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to amend the rules in relation to applying for Irish citizenship, primarily the cost for those persons that have been living and contributing to society here for more than ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32014/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizenship Applications (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: With regard to people who apply for Irish citizenship, we are aware there are record numbers trying to do this at the moment. Brexit has had an impact on this and is probably the biggest single factor in more people wanting to apply for Irish citizenship. Many of these are people who moved to Ireland from England, Scotland or other parts of the UK and they are now seeking to get Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: 15. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated breakdown of costs within the €8 million allocated to the Stardust inquest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32012/20]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Information and Communications Technology (22 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: 18. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of costs of the €70 million in the Garda ICT budget for 2020 and 2021; the total projected cost of upgrading the Garda ICT; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32011/20]

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: As I was coming up the steps earlier, it struck me that I was going into the place that most people probably consider to be the most powerful place in the country to talk about the most powerless people who have been in Ireland for a long time. I was thinking of the documentary that was done many years ago about Christine Buckley and what happened at the orphanage in Goldenbridge. I was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment (21 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: 151. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of lone parents that will benefit from the removal of the income threshold to OPFA; the estimated costings for the removal of the income threshold for OPFA; the estimated cost to increase the income disregard on OPFA and JST by €10; and the way in which new applicants for OPFA and those currently on OPFA...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (20 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: 791. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has a system in place to commence providing beef market price transparency data and information from January 2021 onwards; the way in which such a system operates; the various headings under which data will be provided; the timeframe this information will be submitted to the Commission; and if he will make a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: The Tánaiste is aware of the situation with the Be On Call for Ireland programme through which an awful lot of people volunteered to go back to work and assist. It is something that everybody thought was a wonderful idea but, unfortunately, the experience of many people called up has been very negative. A healthcare professional in my constituency signed a contract for a number of...

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: I absolutely understand and appreciate, as all of us do, that this budget comes at a time of crisis in the country. It comes at a time when governments, not just in Ireland but in most countries in Europe and around the world, must become an income provider of last resort. That is absolutely appropriate and it needs to happen. The European Central Bank is providing the funds for this to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: 31. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide guidelines for schools, parents and children in which the parents of a schoolgoing child are considered high risk in terms of Covid-19 and by sending their children to school they are putting their own health at risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30085/20]

Brexit and Business: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: I represent the Border constituency of Sligo-Leitrim, including south Donegal and north Roscommon. Business in that area is always somewhat hampered by the Border. In every area across Europe, it is recognised that a border corridor is a disadvantage and problem. Particular disadvantages exist when the border in question is totally unnatural, as is the case in Ireland. Much of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Fund (7 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: I noted the Minister of State indicated the Department was working closely with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to face up to these financial challenges. I understand the pressure that always has to be put on to try get the money in place for the local authorities. However, the reality for many people, as well as the workers and executives in the local authorities, is that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Fund (7 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: As the Minister of State will be aware, my constituency is a very rural one. In recent years, even Sligo County Council has been unable to help people out and pay housing grants that are normally supplied in most councils because it has no discretionary fund in place. Leitrim County Council is in a similar position and is under serious pressure, as are all rural local authorities. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Oct 2020)

Martin Kenny: The Judicial Council Bill 2019 was passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas. One of the major parts of the Bill was to establish a judicial conduct committee and that has been set up. In its most recent report of 29 September the drafting of guidelines on ethics and conduct were only in place and the drafting of procedures for making complaints about the Judiciary was only being put in...