Results 281-300 of 10,502 for speaker:Niamh Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Artificial Intelligence (20 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: A Refresh of Ireland's National AI Strategy was published in November 2024. This refresh takes account of the significant developments in AI technology and regulation since the original Strategy was published in 2021. The National AI Strategy sets out a whole of government approach to putting the necessary enablers in place, including a supportive innovation ecosystem, a secure data and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: The Digital Transition Fund was established as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan with the objective of boosting the use of digital technologies in enterprises. The Grow Digital Portal was developed under the Digital Transition Fund and launched in July 2024. This Portal provides businesses with a toolkit to help identify the opportunities that digitalisation...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (20 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: The information available to my Department relates to the number of companies incorporated with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). My Department does not have data in relation to the premises used by such companies including the rateable valuation, or otherwise, of such premises. I have been informed by the CRO that there were 23,652 new company incorporations in 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Artificial Intelligence (20 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: A Refresh of Ireland's National AI Strategy was published in November 2024. This refresh takes account of the significant developments in AI technology and regulation since the original Strategy was published in 2021. The National AI Strategy sets out a whole of government approach to putting the necessary enablers in place, including a supportive innovation ecosystem, a secure data and...

Maximising Artificial Intelligence: Statements (19 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank everybody who took part in a very frank, honest and open debate. I really appreciate it. Everybody has pointed to aspects of its potential and the opportunity in democracy, healthcare, education and down to the everyday. You do not need to be a tech expert to get the benefit when we think about public transport, as Deputy Gould said. Deputy Conway-Walsh has been here for all the...

Maximising Artificial Intelligence: Statements (19 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: Okay. The Government has had the AI advisory council in situ since 2024. I thank everybody for their contributions. They were very thought-out and passionate. I am on all sides because AI can be groundbreaking and has huge potential for the country. There is nobody in this Chamber who is uncaring or inconsiderate where climate and global effects are concerned. We will do it in a green...

Maximising Artificial Intelligence: Statements (19 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I am sure it can. My apologies.

Maximising Artificial Intelligence: Statements (19 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I am pleased to take the floor of the House today as Ireland’s first Minister of State who has artificial intelligence, AI, in their title. We are living in a time of great change, unpredictability and opportunity. I am determined that my mandate as Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will deliver and maximise the benefits of AI for our businesses,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Corporate Governance (19 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) Directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 5 July 2024 and entered into force on 26 July 2024. The Directive provides for a two-year transposition period, until 26 July 2026, in order to provide Member States with sufficient time to transpose the Directive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is no movement on apprentices (details supplied) waiting on their next phase of training. [6575/25]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rights of Way (19 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 264. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has considered introducing financial incentives for landowners to maintain rights of way and mass paths, similar to Scotland’s CLÁR program; if any funding initiatives exist or are planned to support the preservation of these historic routes; if the digitisation of maps by Ordnance Survey Ireland (now under Tailte...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank both gentlemen again for raising this important topic. The Government remains committed to providing continued investment in the health workforce, including public health nurses. I take on board the suggestions relating to capacity, recruitment and the Dublin allowance. There is also that piece about how we maybe have lots of staff who are willing to be in the HSE and public health...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I appreciate the Deputy raising this matter. She referred to Galway County Council specifically.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I commit to the Deputy that I will contact the Minister for housing and his Department tomorrow to get the Deputy a clear answer on whether it is suspended.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Staff (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank both Deputies for raising this issue. I am from Cavan-Monaghan and do not live in the Dublin area, but I have heard much discussion in the media in recent days about the concerns of parents, particularly parents who are expecting their first child and who do not have access to a public health nurse to make those all-important milestone checks. The Government remains committed to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputy Connolly. It was lovely to hear her using our native tongue when asking her question. Unfortunately, I am not as fluent or líofa as she is to be able to respond.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: The Deputy's question is a very serious one and it is on the issue that this Government will be judged on. I have some statistics from the Department, but on the Deputy's specific question, I am not aware of the tenant in situ scheme being suspended. I will share with the Deputy the information I have with me. If it does not have specific details relating to her question, I will bring it...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I beg the Deputy's pardon. I will take a note of that. These options include securing the continuation of the tenancy with the landlord, securing alternative accommodation through the HAP place finder, allocating another rental accommodation scheme property or allocating a social housing tenancy, including voids, untenanted properties and properties available with an AHB. There were 1,500...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 264. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will review the qualifying criteria for the primary medical certificate, particularly in relation to stroke patients, who may have significant mobility limitations but do not meet the existing narrow criteria; if consideration will be given to amending the eligibility requirements to better reflect the challenges faced by individuals who have lost...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regulatory Bodies (18 Feb 2025)

Niamh Smyth: To ensure the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) is adequately supported to effectively carry out its statutory functions, the budget allocations for 2024 and 2025 have been provided as in table below: Year CEA Budget Allocation €'000 2024 €11,101 2025 €11,518