Results 421-440 of 6,479 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: All right. We will chase that one up. I apologise that I missed a considerable amount of the early part of the meeting because I was in the Dáil Chamber. As I was leaving I believe Deputy Howlin was dealing with the escalating situation in the Middle East, which obviously had to take up a huge part of the conversation. If there is any repetition, that is okay. The Minister of State...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I appreciate the leeway the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has given me.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: On some level, there is general agreement on this legislation and the fact it fixes the legal issue. There is scope, however, for considerable sentences being issued where the Bill applies to an offender. We are not opposing the passage of the Bill at this point in time. There is, however, a considerable amount of work which needs to be done, particularly in that field that relates to...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This Bill will amend the Criminal Justice Act 1990 to disapply both the mandatory life sentence for murder and the minimum custodial period for capital murder for those who were under 18 at the time of the offence. We support legal certainty, which is absolutely necessary as regards sentencing, especially in cases involving the circumstances such as the case which led to this, where a...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I understand that, but you know yourself, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle - you do not always have an opportunity-----

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I accept that, but we are looking at a case where we could have convictions overturned and a huge amount of work that has been done-----

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Well, I think these are questions that relate to the Minister and I would like her to take the opportunity at a later stage to answer them and to tell us when she became aware and what can be done.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Okay. As I said, we are in support of this. We see it as an absolute necessity from the point of view of ensuring certainty in sentencing. As I said previously, however, when we are talking about the coercion of children into criminal activity, we know that we do not have the tools that are necessary in dealing with this scenario at this point in time. The Government has spoken about a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Welfare Services (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 20. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the performance of processing ‘hubs’ for community welfare and other services; whether her Department has any plans for creating similar hubs for other social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37674/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Supreme Court Rulings (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 37. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current stage of legislation that will allow for the enactment of the recent Supreme Court decision to allow a cohabitant to claim a widow’s pension in certain circumstances; when she expects it to be in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37673/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (24 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school in County Louth (details supplied) will be granted DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37578/24]

Disability and Special Needs Provision: Motion [Private Members] (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I have just been sent an email from Scoil Bhríde Shelagh, which is in north Louth. It states its main worry is that while it has had an additional school accommodation application submitted to the planning and building unit of the Department of Education since October 2023, this was put on hold after the sanctioning of its two autism classes because the Department had pulled the...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: As has been said by a number of my colleagues, we welcome that this legislation is going through the Houses. We have, however, particular issues. We all know there are deficiencies, whether we are talking about the community or residential settings. We all accept that there is a need for regulation of CAMHS. The big worry is the timeline for this. My colleagues have outlined our...

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: There is a considerable amount in this Bill with which we will all agree. A lot of us will look for balance and something that works from a point of view of people have a right to maintain their good name, ensuring that we allow for freedom of speech and do not inhibit responsible journalism. We know that is an absolutely necessary part of the democratic process. An awful lot of this is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the outcome of the review carried out into the housing adaptation grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36968/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Can we get an update on the housing adaptation grant and the review that was carried out? We have been waiting for this for a long time and Deputies have been contacted by families that include older people and those with disabilities who have huge mobility issues-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: It is a matter of a timeline and we all know the issue. Even when people get the grant - in Louth County Council it is upwards of €30,000 - it might not cover what it takes to keep somebody in their home and do the works that are necessary. I am dealing with a daughter who is very worried about her mother. It is not only the backlog and how long Louth County Council will take, it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyberbullying Issues (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We all welcome the creation of Coimisiún na Meán and the necessity of an online safety code. We all want the Digital Services and Digital Marketing Acts in operation. We know that not only individual states like ourselves have to take action; we also need to see the European Commission take action. Let us be clear. Whether we are talking about X, Meta or TikTok, as Deputy...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe. They have been straightforward in talking about the decriminalisation of the drug user. However, none of this makes any difference without a proper framework and resources in place. We all know that the resources do not exist, regardless of whether that is politicians anecdotally saying it in relation to issues we are dealing with. We are trying...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Sep 2024)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: You have already said it. What is a framework that works and that we can put in play now? I do not expect the witnesses to deal with the fact that there is a wider issue that involves nearly every service and Department. We are not looking at this in any way shape or form. We are not in any way serious about dealing with drugs.