Results 4,241-4,260 of 5,894 for speaker:James Lawless

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs (12 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I thank the Minister for the update. I will focus on two issues he touched on in both his update and in the briefing material provided from the EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings. There was a significant discussion in the Council on Russian activities and influence. In the main, it seemed to be around the geographical sphere of influence on the borders in eastern Europe and into Ukraine,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs (12 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I asked about our level of preparedness and defence and the fact that those transatlantic cables emanate from our western shores across to the US. An extremely significant volume of data would transfer from Ireland to the US which contains a good deal of EU data also. There is 40% or more of the EU's data within Irish data centres so there are very significant volumes of data here, which is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (12 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: My thanks to our guests from the shared island unit. I wish them every success in their project. It is a great opportunity for this committee to work with them and it is an exciting time to be a part of the new initiative. I had a quick review of the Taoiseach's speech. I was logged in to the Dublin Castle event some weeks ago. The discussion that followed with the stakeholders was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I thank the Minister and for his engagement on the previous day also. He is very on the ball on this issue and his geography is spot-on today so there are no issues in that regard. Rather than repeat what was said in the debate last week I will focus on a different aspect today. The national broadband plan is under way, which is great, and we want it to happen as quickly and effectively as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I welcome the Minister's interest in considering other possible options. A parallel path could be mapped out. The NBP is providing broadband to as much of the country as it can, particularly in those rural areas, but there is nothing stopping us from facilitating others in that regard. I welcome the Minister's commitment to accommodate competition in that space because I believe that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: 105. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address the broadband deficit in the areas of east County Kildare particularly Eadestown, Rathmore and Kilteel in view of an increasing population density, a high concentration of persons working and studying from home and little progress to date on rolling out fibre infrastructure to the area; and if he...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I understand that we covered some of this issue during Topical Issue matters last week. Can the Minister comment again on the predicament of rural east Kildare with regard to broadband provision?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Landfill Sites (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: 103. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if additional funding is being made available through the landfill remediation programme at the landfill site at Kerdiffstown, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35102/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Landfill Sites (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: My question inquires about the progress of the remediation of the Kerdiffstown landfill and, in particular, what additional finances may be forthcoming in relation to same.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Landfill Sites (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I thank the Minister for that positive answer and acknowledge that €23.5 million is quite a significant sum. I know that is not all for Kerdiffstown but is for general landfill remediation. The €3.4 million and extra €2 million that the Minister has committed to this year amounts to a total of €5.4 million, if I have that right. It is worth taking a moment to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Landfill Sites (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: Do I not have a few minutes longer? How long do I have?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Landfill Sites (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I will not come in again to ask a supplementary question. I will leave my contribution at this. The battle over the landfill was a long one. It is a good news story that we are out the far side of it. I will briefly mention the Kerdiffstown residents' group, the cleaner Naas group and other groups. I will also mention Kildare County Council and the people under the stewardship of Joe...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: 54. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the engagement he has had with pharmaceutical and healthcare companies in the context of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35052/20]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: 298. To ask the Minister for Finance if tailored Covid-19 support packages have been put in place to compensate on-course bookmakers that maintain stands at race tracks known as seniorities (details supplied); the eligibility of such bookmakers for existing support packages in view of the fact they have been unable to trade since the advent of the pandemic due to the ban on attendance of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: 488. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility of on-course bookmakers for existing support packages in view of the fact they have been unable to trade since the advent of the pandemic due to the ban on attendance of racegoers at tracks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34540/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Gambling Sector (10 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: 783. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tailored Covid-19 support packages have been put in place to compensate on-course bookmakers that maintain stands at race tracks known as seniorities which are a form of premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34540/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (5 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: 46. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures she is taking to support broadband connection points and digital hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34091/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (5 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: 344. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on the provision of additional digital services through the library network as Ireland continues to live with Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27376/20]

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020: Motion (4 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I am happy to speak on and support this Bill, which extends the sunset clause in respect of enforcement powers. It is important that these powers exist and that An Garda Síochána, other law enforcement authorities and the emergency services have the options they may require. The concept of a sunset clause struck me in the early days of the pandemic when the Health (Preservation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (4 Nov 2020)

James Lawless: I know the Minister is a person of integrity and he will get his head down on the matter, but his response is somewhat generic, albeit with some references to Kildare at the end. I do not expect him to know every townland in Kildare but to include places such as Kilcock and Donaghcumper in the provision for east Kildare will be news to anyone in the county, and a bit of a shock. It...