Results 3,261-3,280 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I do not have an exact timeline for that.

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

Helen McEntee: First, I commend the work of An Garda Síochána. I particularly wish to thank the work of community gardaí. They provide vital support within communities. We saw how important their work is throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in particular in visiting people and looking after those who are more vulnerable. I refer to the day-to-day work they do in supporting organisations,...

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

Helen McEntee: The Government, through the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and her Department has established Coimisiún na Meán. This is something which Deputy Bruton started himself in the Department to look at the harmful element of social media. While we all know how great social media can be, particularly in the context of our own work in engaging with younger people, the harms are clear...

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

Helen McEntee: I agree that we need more gardaí. I want more gardaí. The Deputy wants more gardaí. I commend the work of the gardaí we have. Many of the actions I am taking in the Department are to make sure we can attract and retain more gardaí: increasing the retirement age, increasing the age at which people can join, increasing the allowance they have in college and making...

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

Helen McEntee: I appreciate that this has gone on longer than anybody would like. We are on track to have this done by autumn. The report will be published in time. The reason we had to move it back to officials within the Department is because of the changes that had to take place. The independent person who had been appointed was not finishing it. There was then a tender set out to look at other...

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

Helen McEntee: I think we can all see this in our constituencies, particularly over the summer months. I refer to the challenges and the parents who get on to us because of a lack of space or because of their inability to get their children on the school buses. The Deputy is right that changes are being proposed to take away some of the distance requirements and other measures. I will have to come back...

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

Helen McEntee: I think we would all like to see our men's and women's teams do well, but there could not be any suggestion that this Government does not support sporting organisations. Hundreds of millions of euro have been invested in sporting organisations the length and breadth of the country, including soccer clubs or football clubs overall. As regards investing specifically in individual...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, it is the Commissioner who is responsible for delegating the resources that he or potentially she has at his or her disposal. The Commissioner has been clear in saying that additional resources have been allocated within the Dublin region, specifically regarding the Luas, train stations and areas where there have been problems. Additional gardaí have been...

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

Helen McEntee: First, this is a plan that has been drawn up by the community. The whole basis for the community partnerships is that it is not just focused on gardaí when it comes to safety, but the people in the community who know the community and understand the needs of the community come together with the local authority, with the Garda, with education, with the HSE and with supports more broadly...

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

Helen McEntee: Everybody has been offered the opportunity to engage with this. It is very important that the community are empowered through the partnerships to identify what they need. Many of these actions have been implemented, many have been supported with funding and many are seed projects that will then lead on to something more substantial. However, it is very important that as the initial three...

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

Helen McEntee: I too read the report from Cherry Orchard, which was harrowing. The report yesterday from Women's Aid shows how much of an epidemic this is. It should be something that we all treat as an emergency. What is very welcome from the figures yesterday is that more women are coming forward and they feel they can come forward. Because of the discussions we have had in this House and the emphasis...

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...