Results 4,801-4,820 of 6,530 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Hear, hear.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I agree that the Government has responsibility. It is in power, and therefore it has the information and all the resources of government to be able to do what needs to be done. Our difficulty from time to time has not been regarding measures, but the lack of a coherent plan and clear messaging. These aspects must be improved. We all accept that this is an incredibly difficult situation....

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: As has been stated by Deputy Ó Broin and others, we will not oppose the Bill, but we do not believe it will cut the mustard and deal with the situation of hard-pressed renters. The rent pressure zones failed, as will this legislation. It is almost as if it is legislation for a situation that is not as dysfunctional as the one with which we are dealing. RPZs failed to deliver on 4%;...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I appreciate that. I accept the added difficulties with the pilots the Department was looking to put in place in the context of the wider issue we have that an insufficient number of people are working in this sector. I know that a lot of things are being considered. We have to look at pay scales and any incentivisation we can provide. We know of the difficulties of people, some of whom...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Obviously, we need to look at the issue of the rates of pay. Again, I accept the difficulties in providing a timeline, but we need that task force to have its inaugural meeting. I accept that considerable work has probably been done, but we need the task force to put the priorities that are required in place and on the agenda, to be enacted by the Government as quickly as possible. We are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That would be brilliant.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: They are family-friendly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 112. To ask the Minister for Health the details of engagements regarding the need to increase the number of staff delivering home supports; the steps that can be taken to remedy the shortage of staff in the home support sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53104/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I have had a number of engagements, both public and private, with the Minister of State on this issue. All of us in this House understand the difficulties that exist regarding families who are looking for home care packages that will ensure their family members can stay at home as opposed to needing to go into long-term nursing care. We need to deliver that, while accepting there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Youth Services (3 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I agree with all that has been said. Whether it is through the Minister’s Department or whatever, we need an audit of buildings that are lying idle in order to determine which of them can be used better. We need also to build in the wider question of those youth supports and an audit of those projects and services that operate and where the gaps are. I have said previously to the...

Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We will be supporting this legislation, although we will be tabling a number of amendments. There has already been much discussion this morning on the need for a greater level of interaction between the Government and the Opposition, whether in dealing with legislation and proposals or the conditions prevailing at the time. It is about all the information being known. In fairness, there...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (2 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 12. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider giving updated guidelines to driving test centres operated by the Road Safety Authority in order that instructors can use bathroom facilities at the centres once they are able to prove their vaccination status and adhere to Covid-19 guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59545/21]

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for making themselves available. I wish to deal with the issue of the guidance for mask wearing for children in third class and above. It is fair to say that the guidance was released at the eleventh hour. There was only 12 hours' notice. Kids were expected to be in school the next morning. I think there has been a difficulty with the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I thank the Minister for her answer, which I accept. I welcome the talk of flexibility. As I said, it is to be hoped we will meet with solution-oriented good sense on all sides. I will move straight to my second question. We all hope that this is short term. There is an issue faced by hearing-impaired children who rely partly on lip reading. If the pandemic is to go on for a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I thank the Minister. Clarity of message-----

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I welcome the interaction with the Minister. I would like the language into the future to focus on flexibility and co-operation, as mentioned by the Minister. I hope the slowness that existed in relation to antigen testing, ventilation and the use of HEPA filters will change. That needs to happen. I wish to follow on from the points made by Deputy O'Sullivan on school bus transport. I...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Go raibh maith agat. We just need a greater level of flexibility. I do not think the criteria is sufficient yet.