Results 3,661-3,680 of 4,014 for speaker:Jennifer Whitmore

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (21 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: The Minister started by saying that our most fundamental duty today is to acknowledge the profound failures and mistreatment of Irish women and their children who were cruelly deprived of choice and agency, and, in many cases, coerced into unnecessary institutional settings. I absolutely agree. We and the Government need to acknowledge that. We need to acknowledge the bravery and dignity...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (21 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 52. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is engaging with banks regarding the issue that mortgage approvals are being delayed in which an applicant’s employer is in receipt of the EWSS despite the applicant’s wages remaining unaffected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31846/20]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 73. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide clarity regarding yoga studies and the current guidelines for this sector under level 3 Covid-19 restrictions and the way in which they can operate in the course of the current pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31808/20]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: English Language Training Organisations (21 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 216. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for issuing a circular (details supplied) instructing face-to-face learning in international language schools; if ELE industry specific risks were taken into consideration when issuing the circular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31809/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 227. To ask the Minister for Health if couples that do not cohabit and live across boundary lines can visit each other during level 3 Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31814/20]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I find it very interesting that a lot of the issues they have raised have been raised by other experts too, which goes to show the importance of significant pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. There are some obvious gaps in the legislation as it stands. I was going to raise many of the issues raised by Senator Boylan regarding nature-based...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: Could we cover the nature-based solutions? The witnesses did not have an opportunity to finish what they were saying earlier. To move it on a little, we have not been particularly good or strong in protecting our environment and biodiversity to date. We will now be relying on this to protect it. Is there also a need to strengthen these? If we cannot do it within the climate framework...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 29. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which he will address ongoing issues with the HIVE portal system for childcare providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31353/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: I ask the Minister to address the ongoing issues with the HIVE portal system for childcare providers. I have been contacted by very many providers who are having issues with this particular system, and if he would make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: As many parents will contest, when they find someone to look after their children, they want them to spend their time looking after their children and not dealing with administrative issues. Many people have come to me about problems with this system. One provider said she was discussing an issue where her bank details had been pulled, which made a particularly stressful period even more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank the Minister for that. If I get any more representations, I will certainly come to him. It was interesting that in the Crowe report this week the administrative issues and the requirements providers have to operate under were mentioned. The HIVE is just one example of that. I have spoken to providers who said that they spend a lot of time filling in documents and forms that then...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Years Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 26. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the early years sector did not receive an increase in funding in budget 2021 compared with 2020 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31350/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Years Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: The big surprise in the budget last week was that funding for the early years sector was not increased. Why did the sector not receive an increase in funding in budget 2021 compared with the 2020 figures? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Years Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: The Minister acknowledged the great effort of people in the childcare sector and thanked them for the groundwork they put in prior to the opening of the schools. With all due respect, I imagine that would feel to them a little like the applause the healthcare workers got. They wanted to see significant investment in their services, as did families and parents. I acknowledge that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Years Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: I acknowledge the work that is being done but it is like putting sticking plasters over a broken system that does not work for children, parents or childcare workers. As my colleague mentioned, the rates of turnover in the sector are incredibly high. There are issues with sick pay and the wages paid to staff. That is not a long-term system because it will not deliver for us, as a country...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Asylum Seekers (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 41. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will expand on the provision of funding for asylum seekers; the way in which this funding will address accommodation issues in the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31351/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 49. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will expand on the provision in budget 2021 to give an additional €5 million to youth services; if he will address existing funding anomalies in relation to existing funding streams to address funding inequalities in counties affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31354/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 57. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will expand on the provisions contained in budget 2021 that intend to reduce child poverty in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31352/20]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Reports (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 139. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has finalised the energy poverty report; when the report will be published and made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30990/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Food Safety Authority of Ireland (20 Oct 2020)

Jennifer Whitmore: 544. To ask the Minister for Health the status of funding for local authority vets to carry out inspections at local abattoirs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30987/20]