Results 2,421-2,440 of 26,014 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Retained Fire Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes, absolutely. This report forms the basis for discussions. SIPTU was involved in formulating it. It makes the issues crystal clear.

Retained Fire Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is simple. We have to find a way out of this dispute with the retained firefighters. We cannot continue to have disputes. It is not good for retained firefighters or for dealing with issues on the ground when there are fires. What is being put forward is that the Government is asking SIPTU to make use of the normal industrial relations machinery, which is the WRC, to re-engage and talk...

Retained Fire Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is correct. The report lays out exactly in its 13 recommendations what we need to do by working with Departments, retained firefighters through SIPTU, the employers through the LGMA and with the Government to find a mechanism to deal with this. There is a national pay agreement that applies across the entire public sector. Negotiations on a new agreement are about to commence. The...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Collins. I am aware of the point the Deputy is raising and note his genuine concern. It is a matter the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is very aware of and is one I will take back to him. I think the Deputy wants to highlight the matter again. It is something which is under constant review in the Department and I will take the matter up with the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Stanton has raised this important matter and he is very committed on it. Certainly, our Department is actively looking at the submission that was received from Cork County Council. I have asked my officials to look specifically at it on a case-by-case basis and that work is currently under way. I hope we would be able to come to a conclusion on that to provide additional resources...

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is not correct.

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Apologies.

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: There is the Croí Cónaithe scheme.

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Give me the details of that lady-----

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — through the implementation of the Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland (September 2021) and the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022), the Government is actively supporting and promoting home ownership and affordable housing to reverse the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mayoral Election (31 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: My Department is engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in relation to the drafting of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill, which is well advanced. Finalisation of this complex Bill has been identified as a priority and my Department is working towards the publication of the Bill in the coming weeks. It is hoped that the Bill would then be able to progress through...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: This matter was also raised yesterday, and I gave a commitment in respect of it. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, is taking an interest in it. We all accept that retained firefighters do phenomenal work across the country. We want to ensure that a resolution is found. I will raise the matter again with the Minister, Deputy Darragh...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy. I was not here when he raised the issue with the Tánaiste last week. However, the Tánaiste did give a commitment that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, would follow up with the RTB. I give a commitment to engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and his officials to see what exactly is the up-to-date position. The Deputy raised a number of key points. We want...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The answer is "Yes, it does", and we will get the Deputy a written response. It is pretty straightforward. If the ground floor of a building is used for retail or as a shop and if the overhead has been vacant for more than two years, the overhead will qualify for Croí Cónaithe. It will not qualify for the higher grant of €50,000, given it will not qualify as derelict...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy raises a very important point. We want all local authorities to build under the affordable housing programme using the local authority affordable housing fund. We will encourage all local authorities, including that in Mayo, to put applications to the Department and we are very receptive of that. The original assessment was based on whether a second-hand house for sale within a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Lombard for raising this important matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, the Department of Education will spend in excess of €2 billion, or over 25% of its budget, on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Once again, I thank Senator Lombard for bringing up this important matter. For parents and everybody else, our children's education is probably the most critical thing in their lives. By way of overall summary, the schools get ICT funding and broadband funding. They are supposed to cater for the needs of the children in their school. There may be situations where it is not possible to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Welfare (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Boylan for affording me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, on this matter. I acknowledge the effort and commitment of the animal welfare organisations involved in the care, welfare and re-homing of horses, which often operate in challenging and stressful circumstances. With regard to equine welfare, the Department of Agriculture, Food and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Welfare (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Boylan for raising this issue. She has pointed out in a cogent way the issue with section 38. I will follow up on section 38A and I will ask the Department again to follow up with the local authorities on this. There may be a specific reason for it. I find that in the main those working in this area in local authorities do their job in a very deliberate and compassionate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tourism Industry (24 May 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Senator has raised a very good point. I will take this debate on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin. The Senator has been in contact with the Minister, and obviously both the Minister and her officials will keep a very close eye on this debate. The role of the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte...