Results 4,821-4,840 of 6,541 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

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.

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 would like to revisit some of the comments made by the Minister of State. I ask him to go into more detail about the regional skills fora. Am I correct that a general review has been done on the skillsets that will be necessary in the future? There has been some commentary on the climate change targets and all of the rest. I mean that we have not reached the target that was set for...

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 appreciate that and I would also appreciate if I could get that information later. Clearing the backlog will be worthwhile. It must be ensured there is a consistent and constant review of the skillsets that are required. It is not always possible to forecast that but we accept that retrofitting and house building need to be nailed on to the apprenticeship programme. We must do whatever...

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 appreciate that.

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: That is very welcome.

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: As the Minister of State said, there are many moving parts. I assume he is the lead on co-ordination and the review of the skill sets that are needed. Beyond that, it is about ensuring the pathways are there, which involves discussions with third level institutions, employers, etc. My final question concerns an issue I have raised previously with the Minister of State and on which I have...

Workplace Ventilation (Covid-19) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We all hoped that we would not be in this space but, to use that terrible term, we are where we are. We cannot do anything about the past mistakes. I think it is fair enough to hold the Government accountable and say that opportunities were missed. There has been probably some fly commentary on ventilation. We all know at this stage what the European and the US centres for disease control...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Network (1 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 88. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the options for development of the proposed narrow water bridge between counties Louth and Down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59317/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (1 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 193. To ask the Minister for Health the expected timeframe the substantive review of the dental treatment services scheme will take place; the immediate issues of concern; the measures taken to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59313/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (1 Dec 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 194. To ask the Minister for Health the engagements he has had with an association (detail supplied) regarding the dental treatment services scheme; the content of these discussions, detailing any future planned engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59314/21]