Results 2,221-2,240 of 7,553 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (20 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Yes. I apologise, Leas Cheann-Comhairle, if I did not indicate properly.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (20 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We obviously need an infrastructure to be able to make a determination with regard to the threats that we face. Again, we are talking about hybrid and cyberthreats, and we are talking right down to what was mentioned earlier with regard to the plague that is organised drug crime in the State. We are also dealing with the fact that we have a genocidal slaughter in Gaza and the escalation...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Legislative Programme (20 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 46. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [6306/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (20 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 69. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the work to operationalise the recommendations in the review of the reasonable accommodation fund and the disability awareness support scheme, and the plans to launch a reformed scheme this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7230/24]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is it. We could all name parents and multiple schools - I am afraid to ring any more of them - who think they will be detrimentally affected by the hours that they require to provide the supports for children with special educational needs. I know engagement has started with some of the officials in the Department, and I welcome that. However, on the basis of what the INTO and others...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This is straightforward. We have had an over and back. Like Deputy Ó Ríordáin, I brought it up with the Taoiseach and the Minister of State. As I told her recently, I happened to meet representatives of Scoil Mhuire na nGael in this House and they said they initially thought they may lose two teaching positions and they will definitely lose one. Fiona Mhic Chonchoille of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I raise the issue of adding County Louth to the defective blocks scheme. I spoke to the Minister about this previously.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Unfortunately, I am aware of a number of properties where the owners found cracks and had the work done, but then had reports done which showed, unfortunately, that the problem is pyrite. I will not name the townland other than to say it is in mid-Louth. Obviously we have given this information to Louth County Council. One of the properties was previously a council house that was bought...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Funding (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This is very good news. I suppose we only need to get the date and the terms of reference and make sure people have enough time. I have spoken to the Minister of State previously regarding the League of Ireland. It is flying on some level, but sustainability is all about stadium. Obviously, I am talking particularly about Dundalk FC at this point in time. It is a matter of making sure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Munster who is dealing with a constituency matter. The Minister previously expressed a preference for direct Exchequer funding to replace the television licence. Will she provide an update on any correspondence, communications or meetings she has had with Government colleagues in this regard and will she make a statement on the matter? The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The Minister stated that a decision will be taken in the summer on how we will fund RTÉ and others. We all realise the spectacular work that was done, especially during the Covid-19 period, by some of our local radio stations and other local media. It is a matter of ensuring we have public sector media in this age of disinformation. It goes without saying, given what has come into the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The decision will be taken before the summer, but we are awaiting the two expert reports. Does the Minister have any notion of the timeline for that? Does it mean that no conversations or communications are taking place at Government level about a decision? Many of us believe there is enough information in the public domain to make the decision. I welcome the Minister's statement that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 16. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will outline the marketing strategy employed by Tourism Ireland to promote Brigid 1500 abroad; whether it was deemed to be successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6366/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Could the Minister outline the marketing strategy employed by Tourism Ireland to promote Brigid 1500 abroad, whether it was deemed to be successful, and will she make a statement on the matter? If I talk of my home town of Dundalk and obviously Faughart, we had an excellent festival of lights that was run by Dundalk Bids, Louth County Council and many others. It and other events that I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We can all see the successes that there were when I talk about Brigid 1500, whether it was in County Kildare or whether I am talking about County Louth and, as I said, Dundalk and Faughart. Tourism Ireland needs to play a far bigger role with regard to more joined-up thinking. None of us wants to get into a spat, and we have seen that from time to time. People in the general north Louth...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: It is obviously disappointing that there was not greater involvement with regard to this content and the festival that was to be operated in Dundalk and north County Louth. Into the future, I would request that the Minister would take a hands-on approach to ensure engagement with Tourism Ireland. Other elected representatives from the area and I will follow through on this. We need to make...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 46. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update following the recent holding of Stakeholders Forum for Section 481; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6365/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 114. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many affordable houses will be made available in 2024 in Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6364/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (15 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 116. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the review completed by his Department on local authority adaptation grants; how long it is expected to be under consideration by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; when he expects it to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (14 Feb 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Lá stairiúil a bhí ann, an 3 Feabhra, nuair a toghadh Michelle O’Neill ina Céad-Aire. We have all overused the term “historic” before but I think we need to look at what happened when Michelle O'Neill became First Minister. I congratulate her on that. She is the first nationalist First Minister in the North. It has been a long journey from Basil...