Results 2,841-2,860 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 2. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to deal with the increased fees charged by private crèches and early childhood care providers in light of the fact that some providers (details supplied) increased fees by 20% recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28749/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: I want to pre-empt my question by acknowledging that childcare was one of the first industries to be severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic when services shut down on 12 March last year. Workers and parents were affected but there has also been an impact on the provision of care. My question is not getting at anyone; it is about the massive increase, by as much as 20%, in childcare fees...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: I accept all that. The problem is that despite the fact that it should not be happening, it is happening. That presents an immediate problem for parents. They have been saying to me that Covid has made it obvious that childcare needs to be a priority and that while inflation sits at 1.6%, childcare costs are being increased by 20% by the provider in question. Ireland has the second lowest...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: I want to repeat my question. Why is it that our system, which we accept, involves a patchwork of providers at this level of care and education? We should not accept a patchwork of providers, some public and some private - and without proper regulation - and a system whereby prices can be increased and workers can be paid and treated so badly in many cases. I accept they are not treated...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (27 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 50. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he plans to deal with the increase in the length of waiting lists for Tusla services over the past 12 months; the way he plans to increase investment and resources to deal with these lengthened waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28751/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 63. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will meet or intervene with HSE officials to discuss the situation of healthcare workers currently in direct provision who are being accommodated in alternative accommodation during the Covid-19 crisis and who are receiving contradictory information from the HSE in relation to the security of their current...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 73. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to deal with early childhood care providers who are opting out of the national childcare scheme and therefore leaving parents who are reliant on their services to foot the full costs of their services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28750/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Cybersecurity Policy (27 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 77. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the impact of the recent cyber-breach on Tusla services; if any data has been compromised; the budget for data security in the agency in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28752/21]

Public Service Pay Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: My colleagues and I are very disappointed that our amendment was rejected. I would like to say a few words on the Bill before it passes. We do not intend to oppose it but I would like to make some general points and ask a number of questions. I acknowledge that the Building Momentum deal has been accepted by a large majority of the workers and trade unions that were balloted on it. We...

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: I should start by noting that since the emergency of the pandemic began, the vast majority of people have followed public health guidelines and have got us to where we are today, or at least have helped in large measure towards that. When emergency legislation was passed in March 2020 in an urgent situation, there were huge unknowns about the virus. There were unknowns about the right...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: Will the Taoiseach follow up on that?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: Thank you.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: If the Taoiseach drives back and forth from here to Cork, he must frequently pass through Inchicore, which is in the constituency of Dublin South-Central. The constituency is a great area in which to live but also has one of the deepest socioeconomic disadvantages in the country. There has been a service, Hesed House, operating in Inchicore for people with mental health difficulties for 28...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 13. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee which addresses matters relating to equality will next meet. [26509/21]

Independent Beef Regulator: Motion [Private Members] (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: People Before Profit welcomes this timely motion tabled by the Rural Independent Group. One section of the motion in particular is most welcome, specifically, "that small farmers and factory workers are being exploited by some Irish beef processors; and that beef producers are routinely penalised by processors through the targeted operation of stealth and opaque price fixing practices". The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Unions (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 62. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for his proposed actions and policy on collective bargaining and the right to trade union recognition; if he will consider ensuring that future Government and public spending are not given to companies that refuse to grant union recognition to their employees; if he will meet with union representatives (details...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Advertising (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 67. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the spending by his Department on advertising with companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28549/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: 103. To ask the Minister for Finance if companies (details supplied) have availed of the temporary wage subsidy scheme and the employment wage subsidy scheme; if access to the scheme will be re-examined in view of the refusal to recognise the rights of its employees to have their union recognised by the companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28550/21]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (25 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: It is kind of hard to believe, in hearing the Minister of State's response, that the Government is not being shamed into admitting that these families - all 5,000 that are affected - deserve 100% coverage and redress for what has happened to them. They could not be compensated enough. An Oireachtas committee report has been mentioned and in 2017 that committee, in its mission statement,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pyrite Incidence (25 May 2021)

Bríd Smith: At the weekend thousands of angry people marched in counties Donegal and Mayo to demand justice over the use of mica and pyrite in the construction of their homes. Their demands are most reasonable and must be met. They are victims of light-touch self-regulation without oversight, recourse or penalties during the building regime which dominated this country during the Celtic tiger boom....