Results 3,701-3,720 of 16,746 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: As of 29th January 2025, I have not yet appointed any Special Advisers to support me in my work at the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The CLÁR programme provides targeted investment for small scale infrastructural projects in defined rural areas. Since 2023, 9 projects have been approved funding of almost €357,000 in Carlow and 13 projects have been approved funding of over €516,000 in Kilkenny. These projects are listed below. 2023 Carlow Projects Old...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1407 and 1408 together. My Department employs one full time Service Officer. No cleaners are directly employed by the Department. There are four agencies under my Department’s remit; the Western Development Commission, Pobal, Water Safety Ireland and the Charities Regulator. These agencies are independent legal entities responsible for managing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Programme for Government commits to the support of rural communities including a commitment to increase funding under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). LIS supports improving non-public rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, almost €170 million has been provided by Government to local authorities for LIS and this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Transport (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Department of Rural and Community Development had one Minister of State assigned during the period in question. The details of the total value of annual mileage claimed by the Department's former Minister of State, Joe O'Brien, in 2023 and 2024 were as follows: Year Value of Mileage Claimed (€) 2023 €13,012.50 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: In my new role as Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, I am in the process of reviewing my staff requirements. Currently, my private office comprises one Parliamentary Assistant and two Secretarial Assistants. One of the Secretarial Assistants is in place to support me on my constituency work and the others are in place to support my work in the Oireachtas. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Poverty Data (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1412 and 1414 together. Pobal’s HP Deprivation Index is Ireland’s primary social gradient tool, used by many Government Departments, including my own, and state agencies for the identification of disadvantage, in order to target resources towards communities most in need. The Index is a robust and reliable tool, using data from...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Poverty Data (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Pobal HP Deprivation Index is Ireland’s primary social gradient tool, used by many Government Departments, including my own, and state agencies for the identification of disadvantage, in order to target resources towards communities most in need. The Index is a robust and reliable tool, using data from Ireland’s census to identify relative levels of affluence or...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is committed to staff development and promotes several programmes annually. Staff are encouraged to apply for opportunities in the EU through the National Experts in Professional Training (NEPT) programme and the Erasmus programme. These are usually offered as secondment positions rather than facilitated through career breaks or special leave. We look forward to playing a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Corporate Governance (22 Jan 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is committed to ensuring that the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) is appropriately resourced, both in terms of the human resources and financial supports required. Budget 2025 included a budget increase for the CEA which included an increase to its pay allocation for the hiring of additional specialist staff identified in the CEA’s assessment of its requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Financial Services (22 Jan 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department has no statutory powers to intervene on issues related to the governance of friendly societies. The Registrar of Friendly Societies is a statutory role and is administratively independent in the exercise of this function. Section 68 of the Friendly Societies Act 1896 sets out that disputes in a friendly society are decided in manner directed by the rules of the society....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Regulation (7 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition law in Ireland. The CCPC is independent in the performance of its statutory functions. Investigations and enforcement matters are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC and I as...

Seanad: Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: I am pleased to bring before the House the Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024, which will amend the Companies Act 2014. The Bill has completed its passage through the Dáil and I acknowledge the co-operative support of all Deputies across the House on Committee Stage. I note the constructive engagement, particularly on the provisions giving...

Seanad: Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóiri Crowe agus Ahearn as páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht thábhachtach seo. I thank the Senators for their remarks about the Bill and the work of the bodies. I assure the House the legislation not only provides safeguards for Members but provides the Minister of the day with the ability to draft regulation should changes be...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, set out to Deputy Cullinane on Committee Stage that the de-nicotinisation of tobacco products is only one of multiple endgame measures that will be considered as the next steps in the elimination of tobacco smoking in our country. It is well recognised that success in addressing public health problems such as tobacco consumption entails multiple...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: No.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Consumer Protection (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: I am not aware of any claims of unfair competition and market abuse by SOLAS in relation to the Safe Pass Programme. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with and enforcing competition law in Ireland. The CCPC is independent in the performance of its statutory functions as per section 9(5) of the Competition...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Services Sector (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: I want to go back to the remarks of Deputy Ó Snodaigh. Dynamic pricing is used in many sectors and we have to make sure that in dealing with the consequences of one model we do not damage the other sectors that use it responsibly and in the best interests of the consumer. That is why the CCPC process will be of use to us. There is also work underway at European Commission level, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Services Sector (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist thábhachtach seo a ardú. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is the independent statutory body that enforces competition and consumer protection law under the remit of our Department. It continues to promote and monitor compliance with competition and consumer protection laws across all sectors of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Services Sector (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: I absolutely agree with the Deputy's concerns regarding unfair pricing. This Government has already introduced legislation in this space, such as the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021, which prohibits the sale and advertising of tickets or ticket packages for prices exceeding the original sale price of those tickets for events taking place...