Results 4,581-4,600 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: This is a very serious situation. There are many Sudanese citizens, for instance, doctors, in Ireland who are very concerned about what is happening there. I welcome the EU statement yesterday in relation to the African Union and the establishment of a civilian-led authority, and that Ireland has supported the EU statement. What will the EU do to ensure that takes place and what...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (18 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 58. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the response of Ireland to the enactment of Title III and IV of the US Helms-Burton Act by the US President, Donald Trump, in May 2019 which aims to internationally strengthen the application of the blockade and economic sanctions against Cuba; his views on whether the enactment of Title III and IV will affect the progression of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (18 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 586. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) will be prioritised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24873/19]

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I welcome this week's news, as confirmed by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on Monday, that Great Glen Resources has withdrawn its application for a prospecting licence in County Donegal. The mining of barytes, base metals, gold and silver in the Glenfin area would have had a negative impact on the environment, the landscape and the health of the local...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The real situation is different from what the Minister has said. Legislation is extremely weak with regard to consulting local communities that are affected by mining developments. Current legislation regulating mining practices in Ireland does not sufficiently provide for proper consultation with communities from the outset. All the local community in Glenfin saw was a notice in local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (13 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the decision based on advice of officials of Kilkenny County Council by a majority vote to ban the presence of the media and members of the public from SPC meetings in standing orders; his plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the matter; if the Local Government Act 2014 will be amended to ensure that...

Home Help Service Provision: Statements (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: One useful thing to come out of this debate is the revelation of the disparity in the level of home help pay and the number of home help hours across the country. Some Members referred to 39 hours of paid home help in certain areas and indicated that the HSE is paying for travel, etc. In County Donegal, a home help is lucky to get 12 hours. Why is that the case? Should there be a...

Home Help Service Provision: Statements (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I will certainly take the matter up with John Hayes, with whom we have a meeting next week. We will try to discover what is the problem. I was unaware that 39 hours are available in certain areas. The disparity needs to be addressed. Does the Minister of State agree that freeing up beds in general hospitals by allocating home help will not save any money because those beds will be...

Home Help Service Provision: Statements (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: My point is that it would cost extra. Money would not be saved; it would cost more. It might cost €10,000 to keep a person in a bed, but a cost of €15,000 would be incurred by freeing up that bed. That is the reality. Acute hospitals are full of people who cannot get the home help hours necessary to allow them to move home.

Home Help Service Provision: Statements (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Fine Gael must be living in a parallel universe when the Taoiseach says that additional funding has been provided in the budget for home help hours, while cuts have been announced in the form of a suspension of all approvals to home help applications. The HSE has suspended home help hours and new applications, despite there being more than 6,000 people on the waiting list for home care...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I reiterate the comments of my colleagues, Deputies O'Sullivan and Wallace, on the Special Criminal Court and the continuation of the provisions of the Offences against the State Act, which has been around since 1940. We have this charade every year of renewing these provisions and the Government brings little information to the House in doing so. I know a document has been laid before the...

Defence Forces: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I wish to echo your congratulations, a Cheann Comhairle, to Deputy Wallace at a formal level on his success. We have him for a short couple of weeks now until he moves on to other pastures.

Defence Forces: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The motion is worthwhile. There is definitely a crisis with pay, wages and conditions within the Defence Forces. This applies to all aspects of the Defence Forces, including the Army, Naval Service and the Air Corps. The problem is across the board. This is a retrograde step and something that needs to be addressed. We had a discussion earlier today. One thing struck me as I listened...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rockall Island Ownership (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I share Deputy Gallagher's concern that no Minister with responsibility for this area is here to deal with this issue. This issue is highly topical and the Ministers should have made themselves available to the Dáil and should have known that this would come up. The issue of Rockall has been contentious for many years. The Government has said that it is surprised it is coming up but...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rockall Island Ownership (12 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: It is vitally important that we assert our rights. This Government and former Governments have been guilty of letting this issue slide, letting it sit and doing nothing about it because we have both been members of the European Union and it therefore did not matter. Now it has come into sharp focus again because of the likelihood of the UK withdrawing from the European Union, which is...

National Development Plan: Motion [Private Members] (11 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Not only has County Donegal been left out of national infrastructure projects but it is also becoming very clear that persistent cost overruns on specific projects provided with funding under the national development plan will have a negative financial impact on smaller projects across the country, particularly in County Donegal. For County Donegal, the concerns about the national...

Northern Ireland: Statements (11 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on Northern Ireland and its structures. This debate arises from the attempt in the past week or two to get the institutions back up and running and the discussions held in Belfast with the various parties to try to do so. Ultimately, the institutions must be got going again, and the Irish Government will have to be very strong in arguing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 39. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the justification for allocating €20 million in funding for homeowners affected by MICA in County Donegal as part of the MICA redress scheme; his views on whether €20 million is sufficient to address the outstanding structural issues facing homeowners due to MICA; if further funding will be allocated to ensure...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I am seeking clarification as to how the Government came up with the figure of €20 million for the mica redress scheme and whether the figure is sufficient to address the housing needs of all those affected. Was this tokenistic, given that it was announced during local elections? Anyone can tell the Government that €20 million is insufficient. An estimated 4,600 homes, most...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (11 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Minister of State for his response. The scheme has been announced but its terms and conditions have not yet been finalised. When can people expect the actual work to be carried out on their houses? That will be significant because the houses are deteriorating further as time drags on so it will end up costing more. When will actual work start? It seems as if there are still...