Results 281-300 of 1,929 for speaker:Barry Ward

Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (18 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: Senator Andrews, when I am talking you do not talk across me. I am chairing this meeting and we are going to proceed in an orderly way. I will come back to this issue if you want to but we will move now to Senator Lynch.

Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (18 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister. If I may, I will make a few comments. I do not necessarily expect the Minister to answer them all. First, on our diplomats in such places as Tehran, Tel Aviv and Ramallah, in my experience dealing with Department of Foreign Affairs staff anywhere, we are incredibly lucky to have talented, dedicated, consistently competent staff across the world. They make us proud...

Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (18 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: We are over time, so we do not have time for a second round. I am sorry about that. I am grateful for the Minister of State’s time.

Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (18 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: Definitely. We are more than two hours at it now, so I appreciate the Minister of State’s time. I also thank Ms Von Heynitz and Mr. Harrington for coming along and giving their time and expertise. It was very constructive. There are many issues. We might engage with them again before the end of the calendar year to follow up on issues. We will now go into private session.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Projects (18 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 11 June 2025; if a timeline can be provided for the estimated completion date of this project and when it will move to the next stage of the design process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32874/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (18 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the merits of amending the existing free schoolbook scheme for students in junior cycle years to include students in private schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33022/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (18 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 155. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to two letters dated 6 February 2025 and 3 June 2025 sent to her by a person (details supplied); the actions she will take to address the concerns raised in relation to the recruitment of radiographers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33005/25]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: European Union (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: As the Minister of State will know, on 23 June 2021 the Hungarian Parliament passed a law significantly curbing the rights of members of the LGBTQI+ community in Hungary. As it came into effect on 1 July 2021, next week that law will have been passed for four years. It is hugely problematic from the point of view of Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. It clearly curbs fundamental...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: European Union (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister of State. I recognise the truth of much of what he said, particularly in terms of Ireland's support for the rule of law toolbox. That is brings us to the root of this issue. I have raised the matter with the Tánaiste. I am aware of his strong stance on this and I respect that hugely. I am also aware that Ireland has a chequered history with dealing with the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 74. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding the gradual reduction of childcare costs as committed to in the programme for Government; the steps she has taken to progress this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32763/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: I am sure the Minister campaigned, as I did, on the issue of childcare during the election campaign. It has remained a live issue since. We are committed to reducing that cost gradually. It is a commitment in the programme for Government. Will the Minister update us on the progress on that policy?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister for the update. I appreciate the progress that is being made on the fee caps. Is there a timeline for when we can achieve that? I know the commitment is within the lifetime of the Government, but the sooner we can do this the better. As I am sure is the case for the Minister, parents contact me constantly to tell me they are being forced into making unpalatable...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: I acknowledge the progress that has been made and I do not want to belittle that progress. Fees of less than €200 per week are a significant step forward. I appreciate the budgetary commitment I hope we will see later this year in that regard to ensure we continue on that trajectory. I also acknowledge that it is a commitment over the lifetime of this Government, but I know the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: I note the 226 net increase, which is a significant figure and certainly to be praised. In the context of places like where I live in Dún Laoghaire, where the cost of property and rent is much higher, is the Department doing anything to specifically safeguard urban childcare environments where the living costs for people working in those centres might be higher? We know teachers are...

Finance (Local Property Tax and Other Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: Broadly speaking, LPT is a good thing. When it was introduced I welcomed the fact that it was part of a model to allow local authorities throughout the country to become self-financing and self-supporting. However, I have significant problems with the way it was put together and what the Bill does. In the first instance, local property tax was established to make local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Post Office Network (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 357. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the business case made by postmasters that argued that post offices should have been categorised as retail outlets for the purposes of the power up grant; if this can be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32182/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 370. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the merits of providing grants for public facing businesses, including restaurants & cafés, to provide baby changing facilities in both men’s and women’s bathrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32663/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 388. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by some school principals regarding proposed changes to the allocation of special schools (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure that these students are not negatively impacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31877/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 506. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the merits of providing low interest, Government-backed bridging loans for people seeking to move to home and are unable to do so due to the cost of finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32178/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Jun 2025)

Barry Ward: 507. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the supports available to families buying their second home due to the need for additional space but cannot do so due to the cost of finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32180/25]