Results 3,301-3,320 of 4,344 for speaker:Seán Canney

Seanad: Community and Rural Support Schemes: Statements (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank speakers for their contributions. I came here to listen as well and I will take up Senator Ruane's offer to go into the community in parts of Dublin. It is important to see everything at first hand. As a local activist myself, I know the feelings behind a lot of what has been said this evening. We know what austerity caused. I agree with Senator Paul Daly that it is not all about...

Seanad: Community and Rural Support Schemes: Statements (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, is overseeing an interdepartmental review of the CE scheme. I believe that if a person aged 55 or over is on a scheme, he or she should be left on it because of his or her chances of getting employment. We should target jobs for younger people. I am a great believer in the rural social scheme and I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: As a former member of the committee, I thank the Chair and members for the invitation to discuss the smart community initiative. The Internet and digital technologies are transforming the way people live and work. However, figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, show that one in seven people have never used the Internet. Such individuals cite a lack of skills and the belief that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: The Senator is correct that no Department should work in a silo. The Tubbercurry smart community is an example of where a number of groups and agencies have come together. When I was there, Sligo IT was very active as well, and, therefore, education comes into it. Returning to what has been said about Grow Remote, I have been informed by the IDA that foreign direct investors want to know...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: Deputy Martin Kenny spoke about fibre running along poles not being live. I had a meeting this morning with the telecommunications industry. They have a clear understanding of what I want them to do. As stated in the Dáil by the Minister, Deputy Bruton, and me, if the Deputy raises that specific issue with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, we will have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: That is not true.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: On Senator Hopkins's point about Ballinasloe, one of the things that happens is that we put a lot of energy into getting something ready and then it seems to flatline. Sometimes, this is because it takes a while to get it moving or to get the trajectory right. The most important thing is that we now have a broadband officer in every local authority. We will be looking to these officers to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: If Ms Keogh does not mind, I shall answer a few questions. Deputy Ó Cuív mentioned IDA Ireland. The issue has moved way beyond what he talked about in that the foreign direct companies are telling IDA Ireland that they want to see where people can work remotely. We are moving away from having 500 or 1,000 jobs in a big building. We are back to where the FDIs are asking whether...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: That is the way it is. The FDIs are in that space where we have to provide resources, map what we are doing and identify what we have. We must say that people can work remotely in Tuam or Glenamaddy, for example. Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned broadband officers. I agree with him to a certain extent that up to now one had to ring them to discover where one was in terms of the broadband...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: The Deputy said that he does not believe there is space in his local libraries. I urge him not to rule anything out and visit Tubbercurry to see what was done there. If somebody just wants to use the library that the Deputy mentioned on a Saturday or Sunday then they can or they will able to do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: No. If people want to get into the libraries we are digitising the libraries, putting money into creating digital facilities within libraries and also getting people open access to the libraries. That is just part of the overall approach. Deputy Kenny asked how many desks are needed. In Headford, it took two weeks to create ten spaces upstairs in a sports club in Moyvilla. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: It is great to hear such positivity from the young people in the room. I compliment Ms Keogh and Mr. Ellingstad on their belief and positive enthusiasm. It is an example to us all.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries Ireland (5 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 533 together. The Eel Support Scheme is being administered by inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Correspondence issued from IFI in the first instance to applicants whose applications were deemed not to meet the criteria for the Support scheme. This was to facilitate possible appeals to the decision of IFI as regards eligibility or other matters. I will be...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Scheme to Support National Organisations (5 Feb 2019)

Seán Canney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 588 and 589 together. The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector (SSNO) is a key element of my Department's support for the role of the sector in contributing to the development of strong and vibrant civil society and in improving outcomes for those most disadvantaged. The scheme provides multi-annual funding...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (30 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: The Digital Innovation Programme was launched in 2018 with the aim of supporting digital development in Local Authority areas for the benefit of communities. Applications are required to meet certain criteria that include the project being Local Authority-led and providing evidence that the project will take an innovative approach and provide a public benefit. Collaborative projects and...

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: Apologies, it does require a money message.

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: I am sure. I cannot emphasis strongly enough how disastrous this Bill would be for this country. Its effects will only be negative and wide reaching. For the consumers it seeks to protect, they will simply see a mortgage market which has limited funds to lend, increased mortgage interest rates and the possibility of an increase in repossessions. For the financial system, it will add...

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: On behalf of the Government, I also offer my sympathy to those affected by that tragedy. The Government is opposing this Bill because it does nothing to strengthen consumer protection while it would cause severe damage to the mortgage market with potentially major impacts on financial stability and ultimately on the economy. The apparent logic behind Deputy Pearse Doherty's Bill is that...

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: -----of our banking system over time. The Government is working to ensure that our banks are able to invest in households and businesses and provide the credit and lending that is needed, all the while ensuring that the most appropriate and effective framework of consumer protection is in place. This Bill does not in any way support or complement these key priorities. Aside from...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Mobile Telephony Services (29 Jan 2019)

Seán Canney: In 2017, officials from my Department, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and a small number of Local Authorities met to examine the potential for mapping mobile phone black spots in Ireland. On foot of these meetings, an invitation was issued in late 2017 to all Local Authorities to provide data on 5-6 prioritised local black spots. Some Local...