Results 4,221-4,240 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Immigration Policy (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: They are all welcome. On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, who sends his apologies, I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I welcome the opportunity to address the position on the spouses and partners of returning Irish emigrants and their access to the labour market. Broadly speaking, spouses and civil partners and de facto partners of Irish nationals...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Immigration Policy (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and for his ongoing work in respect of the diaspora. The Minister and his officials in the Department are very aware of the challenges which many returning Irish emigrants face and are actively addressing the removal of the barriers the Senator has described, where possible. It is expect that the revised arrangement will make a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wildlife Control (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: On behalf of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Madigan, I thank the Senator for the opportunity to discuss this important issue. Before I begin, the Minister has asked me to address the fire on Torc Mountain in the Killarney National Park over the weekend. I would like to put on official record our thanks to the Kerry fire and rescue service, the staff of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wildlife Control (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I will bring the points made by the Senator to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Madigan. Deer management is a complex and multifaceted process. There is a significant challenge in attempting to balance the demands of agriculture, forestry and conservation with the need to ensure the deer population, occupying the same land resources, are managed at sustainable levels and in a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staff (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, who sends his regrets, I thank the Senator for raising this matter and for her sincere interest in this very important subject. Inclusive education is a fundamental principle of our education and training system. This principle is put into practice in the policies of the Department and the Teaching Council. That is clearly articulated,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staff (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I will ask officials from the Department of Education and Skills to convey to the Senator the information she has requested. A range of in-service professional development supports has been provided to teachers by the Department since March 2017. The NCSE support service has a remit to develop schools' capacity to include students with special educational needs and to promote a continuum of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Pensions Reform (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this important matter and for his continued interest in the area. Since late September 2018, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners who were born on or after 1 September 1946 and who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Pensions Reform (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: As stated in the reply, the Minister said it would take a number of months. Some 34,000 people have been written to and he is anxious that they would respond, if they have not done so already. Where a pensioner is awarded an increase, it will be backdated to 30 March 2018 or the person's 66th birthday, if later than that, and arrears will be paid, which is important. Following the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: My Department is responsible for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services to persons entering the state and seeking international protection. A key responsibility is providing opportunities to residents to meet their recreational, social and integration needs during their stay in the accommodation centres. A recommendation of the McMahon Report is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: The Department of Justice and Equality, through the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), has always facilitated and encouraged the registration of and voting by protection applicants in local elections.  Residents are informed with regard to their eligibility to vote in particular elections and on arrangements for registering as voters. The Office for the Promotion of Migrant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Traveller-Roma Integration Strategy (2 Apr 2019)

David Stanton: As the Deputy is aware, the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) was published in June 2017.  I chair the quarterly meetings of the NTRIS Steering Group which has been tasked with the implementation of the actions contained in the strategy. Since this launch, the NTRIS Steering Group has met seven times.  The next meeting is scheduled for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (27 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: Health services for protection applicants residing in RIA accommodation are mainstreamed. As such, protection applicants are linked with primary care, are entitled to a medical card while residing in RIA accommodation and have a waiver of prescription charges. Applicants access health services through the same referral pathways as Irish citizens including referral to disability services. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Services for People with Disabilities (27 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: Applicants for international protection are offered accommodation by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. If an applicant chooses to accept this offer they will, in normal circumstances, be first brought to the Balseskin Reception Centre, Dublin. Here, they will be offered a health assessment by the on-site HSE team which comprises a nurse, nurse specialist, area...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (26 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: The Deputy will be aware that as part of Budget 2019, the Government announced the introduction of a new social insurance based paid parental benefit scheme. This new scheme will support parents during the first year of the child's life by providing two weeks of paid leave to both parents, and will allow parents more flexibility in achieving and managing a work life balance. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Legislation (26 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: The Deputy will be aware that the Gambling Control Bill 2018 is a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Deputies Jim O’Callaghan, Jack Chambers and Anne Rabbitte. I am, therefore, not in a position to comment on the status of this Bill. The Government did not oppose this Bill, which entirely replicated the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill approved by the Government in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (26 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. Dublin Metropolitan Region North Project Garda District Years in Operation from 2009 In operation till North Fingal (Balbriggan) Balbriggan 2016 Present BYB Ballymun 2009 Present Donnycarney Santry 2016 Present Jets Coolock 2009 Present Keep Coolock 2009 Present North Bay Balbriggan 2016 Present Woodale...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Election Management System (26 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: The Department of Justice and Equality, through the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), has always facilitated and encouraged the registration of and voting by protection applicants in local elections. Residents are informed with regard to their eligibility to vote in particular elections and on arrangements for registering as voters. The Office for the Promotion of Migrant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (26 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are stringent controls under Irish legislation on the issue of firearm certificates by An Garda Síochána and the conditions under which firearms can be held. There are severe penalties in place for firearm offences under the Firearms Acts. Every application for a firearm certificate is considered on its individual merits and an application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (26 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are stringent controls under Irish legislation on the issue of firearm certificates by An Garda Síochána and the conditions under which firearms can be held. There are also severe penalties in place for firearms offences under the Firearms Acts. While there is nothing in law that specifically limits the number of firearms a person can own, a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (26 Mar 2019)

David Stanton: I can advise the Deputy that there are stringent controls under Irish legislation on the issue of firearm certificates by An Garda Síochána and the conditions under which firearms can be held. An Garda Síochána advise that each application for a firearms certificate is considered on its merits by the issuing officer in accordance with the relevant legislation. ...