Results 3,201-3,220 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Young People and Access to Further and Higher Education: Motion [Private Members] (11 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute briefly to the motion on access to higher and further education. I commend Solidarity-People Before Profit on bringing it forward. It is a wide-ranging and detailed motion and to cover all of it would probably take an hour. That is as it should be. I want to talk about a couple of issues in my contribution. I would like to...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I acknowledge the Minister's comments. What she outlined in regard to the review of legislation needs to happen, but it will not happen today, tomorrow, next week, next month or even in six months. It might happen in a year's time. That is the reality. The legislation before us is very important and, if enacted properly and in full, will have a very significant impact on how people get...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I move amendment No. 2: In page 18, after line 37, to insert the following: “Review of operation of Act 19. The Minister shall, not later than three years after the commencement of this Act, carry out a review of the operation of this Act.”. This amendment is self explanatory. We had a discussion about it on Committee Stage. It states: "The Minister shall, not...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: Arkle Resources has an exploration licence for lead deposits in Inishowen. It has continued to work during the level 5 restrictions. Does the Tánaiste believe that is appropriate? The licence is up for renewal on 10 April. Will he instruct the Department not to renew that licence given that it has continued to work? It is also affecting a special area of conservation, namely, the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: 41. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes that will have high-speed broadband in County Donegal by the end of 2021 and the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12764/21]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: Will the Minister confirm how many homes in Donegal will have high-speed broadband by the end of this year and the end of next year? Donegal is one of four counties where the roll-out of the national broadband network of fibre broadband is not yet in progress. Working from home and home schooling have highlighted the importance of Internet connection for rural communities. People are very...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: Those figures are shocking. The Minister said some 3,500 premises have been surveyed in County Donegal and with a bit of luck they will all be connected. This is out of 32,300 premises. That is shocking. This means there is very little happening in Donegal with the national broadband plan. The county that is probably in most need of development and most need of work on that cannot do...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I am sorry to say that this is not the case. This question does not even cover Eir and how people do not get broadband even in the areas that are supposed to be covered by Eir. They do not get a response from Eir when dealing with it. I could spend the next hour on questions about Eir and its lack of response to people. The reality is that once again Donegal has been put on the hind tit...

Adoption (Information) Bill 2021: First Stage (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I move: That leave by granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for improved information access for adopted persons in relation to their birth, for that purpose to amend the Adoption Act 2010 so as to provide for access by adult adopted persons to their entry in the index maintained by an tArd-Chláraitheoir of connections between entries in the Adopted Children Register...

Adoption (Information) Bill 2021: First Stage (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I am delighted to introduce the Adoption (Information) Bill 2021 in conjunction with my colleague, Deputy Connolly. I note the Private Members’ Bill of Deputy Funchion of Sinn Féin, which was debated earlier. I know the Government accepted it but this Bill needs to go in as well to keep the pressure on and make sure it is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. I note also...

Adoption (Information) Bill 2021: First Stage (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: With announcements in recent weeks about Ulster Bank withdrawing from Ireland and Bank of Ireland closing branches, there is an opportunity for the thriving credit union and post office networks. In Donegal, Ulster Bank is closing five branches and Bank of Ireland is pulling out of another five towns. I have talked to a number of local credit unions across Donegal and they are seeing an...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Taoiseach for his response. I know he is involved in and supportive of the credit unions. However, it is about getting the balance right. I do not believe we have ever got the balance right. It has all been geared towards the banks. Even in his response, the Taoiseach talked about building up the post offices but it is building them up to provide bank services for Bank of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: 80. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the outcomes of the Shared Island Dialogue on The Environment and Climate - Addressing Shared Challenges of February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12763/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: 302. To ask the Minister for Finance if there are circumstances under which VAT can be charged on medical tests used to diagnose and for treatment of cancer; the specific circumstances under which VAT can be charged on such tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13383/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: 573. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available for those forced to take time off work due to illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12667/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: 574. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if self-employment earnings for 2020 will be taken into account when assessing the rate of Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12668/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Registration of Deaths (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: 604. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a death registered before the enactment of the amended section 37 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 can have the qualified informant to the registration of a death, cohabitant, added to a death certificate as this does not alter the facts of the death in any way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13015/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: 658. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the pandemic unemployment payment will be taken into consideration as income when assessing HEAR applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12484/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (10 Mar 2021)

Thomas Pringle: 733. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the speech and language and occupational therapists in a school (details supplied); if the school will lose the services in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13384/21]