Results 3,181-3,200 of 15,298 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate the frustration. I have had many people come to me, particularly about the long delays and the implications for them personally, but also in terms of the overall market. The best way we can address this is by moving towards a digitalised system. We are not there yet. Work is under way through my Department, working with the Courts Service and with significant investment...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Like him, I appreciate the frustration that families and, in particular, parents feel at not being able to access services in a timely way. We all see that in our constituencies when these queries are raised with us. This is an area that has received significant investment in recent years, with more than €200 million allocated every year...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: We are committed to improving services overall. On top of the €200 million budget for public oral health, there has been additional funding of €15 million for the Smile agus Sláinte policy and €17 million in one-off funding to improve waiting lists for orthodontic services. There was €10 million in 2023 to support a decrease in the number of patients waiting...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy and Cara, and many young people like her, that we are acting. I think that is clear from the fact that €780 million has been provided in additional funding for those with special and additional needs over the past four years of this specific Government. I can assure the Deputy that additional funding has been allocated to make sure those waiting lists are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: What I can say is that this is a Government that supports workers and also supports enterprise because without the businesses to create these jobs, where would we be? This Government understands that in order to create wealth and jobs for young people and everybody else we need to make sure our businesses are supported as well. We have supported workers by increasing sick pay. We have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I do not think we can be any clearer that without employers we do not have employees. I outlined the supports we are putting in place for employers. It is important we support them. It is also important that we support employees too. That is why we have introduced sick pay and remote working for those who can engage in it. That is why we have introduced domestic violence leave,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am not sure the Government can be any clearer in its approach here. The only way this can be resolved is by parties coming around the table together. The Government cannot force either party to come around the table. What it can do is stress, outline and highlight very clearly the negative implications that this will have for individuals and business throughout this country and also for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I wish Deputy Cairns well and congratulate her and her partner on their news. I thank her for raising this issue. It is the objective of all of us, including Cara, is to make sure that every young person and child can fulfil his or her full potential. That means no matter who you are, no matter where you have come from, no matter what your family situation is or what school you attend or...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. She is right. We are not the only ones who are discussing this matter. There are people the length and breadth of the country around their kitchen tables, as well as businesses and people abroad who are looking to come home over the summer, who are extremely concerned and worried about the potential strikes. Families have saved all year round for...

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: A report yesterday and several other reports have indicated that one in four women in this country is a victim of domestic violence. Therefore, the suggestion that women are at risk from other people coming into this country is pretty hard to take or listen to. There are challenges no matter where you are and no matter who you are, particularly for women. Senators need to reflect on the...

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: We also must acknowledge that we need a system for those who seek international protection that has a structure that is firm and fair to those who genuinely need protection and help. We want to provide that help. We cannot provide it to everybody. Globally, there are millions of people on the move. We want to play our part and we will play our part but we must have a structure and a plan....

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: That is what Sinn Féin is suggesting.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: It will only opt in-----

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: -----to Eurodac and to a returns mechanism.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: With the returns mechanism, we need to make sure that if a person already has asylum in another member state, that member state takes responsibility and we can adequately return the person, which we cannot do at the moment. Dublin III does not work. We know it does not work. We need to improve the system. If we do not opt into this, Dublin III will not exist and we will have no mechanism...

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am not trying to be patronising. What I am saying is we have a solution here and I have yet to hear from the floor if there are other ways in which people have presented them. I have yet to hear on the floor today or last night solutions as to how we deal with this. We have seen other countries that have decided not to go with Europe and decided to go it alone. That has not reduced the...

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: Denmark is not comparable because we have opted in in different ways. We voted for this. On this idea around our sovereignty, we voted for the Lisbon treaty. We said very clearly that we would pool our sovereignty when it comes to issues around security and migration.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: That is what people voted for and that is exactly what we are discussing now.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: On our sovereignty, and it keeps being raised that we are handing away our sovereignty and we need to have a referendum, people very clearly voted when we voted for the Lisbon treaty that, when it comes to migration and security issues, we would have the option to opt in. This is not being forced on us. We have the option to opt in. That is what was voted for. The only measure we have to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (19 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together. The coroners service comprises of a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. All coronial districts, with the exception of Dublin, are the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority. Coroners are independent office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death...