Results 581-600 of 4,707 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, line 20, to delete “paragraph (b)” and substitute “paragraphs (b) and (c)”.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, lines 21 and 22, to delete “shall not be” and substitute “shall be not”. These amendments are very straightforward. They are technical amendments, some deleting or adding a word or clarifying some small typographical mistakes, including cross-references. They are aimed at tidying up the Bill and are not policy-driven.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: On Deputy Stanton's point, it is the policy position of this Department that we agree with the points the Deputy has made. We are in discussion with the Department of Justice to try to move towards that. We received quite a number of correspondence and it relates to the points made by Deputy Creed on the entitlements of family members. There will be engagement going on between my...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The uplift only goes to new work permits and renewals. Anyone who has renewed or has a new work permit will experience the uplift.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I will try to address the points raised and speak specifically to the amendments in the names of Deputies O'Reilly and Nash. We are discussing seasonal employment permits. The first thing to point out is that Ireland is an outlier internationally in not having them at this stage. We are one of few European Union countries, if not the only one, without them. We believe introducing them is...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I will come back in later.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “ “approved seasonal employer” has the meaning assigned to it by section 10(5); “approved seasonal employer certificate” has the meaning assigned to it by section 10(6); “seasonally recurrent employment” means an employment that relates to a certain time of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services. In the case of adjudication hearings scheduled from 1 January 2023 to 31...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (31 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Schemes closed to applications on 15th December 2023. The scheme was available to businesses with up to 20 employees, (whole-time equivalents), community, voluntary and sporting bodies that through no fault of their own cannot secure flood insurance. Under the emergency business flooding schemes the Government made provision to provide up to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The services provided at injury units provide a safe and convenient delivery of the right care in the right place at the right time and make an immediate positive impact on patients' experience. I once had my ear stitched back on at the side of the pitch in Oak Park. I would have definitely much preferred to have gone to an injury unit. However, that was not today or yesterday. The HSE is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Deputy Buckley very much for sharing that story in the Chamber. In our constituencies we come across families who face these challenges and it is absolutely heartbreaking for the entire family, entire community but, first and foremost, for the patient at the centre of it. I know the Deputy will continue to make the case for that individual, as he has been doing as a local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I absolutely agree with the Deputy. That is why the Department of Education has made it quite clear that I relay that the critical step is receiving the data, processing it and then going back to the schools with the data. There are two months where you are dealing with quite a number of duplications. Half of the people in my area apply to far more than one, two, three or four schools for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. At the discretion of the Chair, I thank her for the warm welcome to Carlow last Friday. It was wonderful to be there. As a segue, I met former Deputy Charlie O'Connor yesterday and I told him that the Deputy had assumed the mantle of Jennifer "Carlowman" O'Connor. He was happy to see that his moniker lives on. The National Emergency Medicine...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Before I give the Deputy the straight reply on behalf of the Minister for Education, both the Deputy and I are in neighbouring constituencies. We do not represent areas that are too different from each other. I am in my 15th year as an elected representative and every year, school places have become an issue and this will continue. Despite seeing ten new schools opening in my constituency...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Senator Martin for bringing this important issue to the floor of the Seanad and, indeed, for his detailed overview of the situation as it faces Mercy Convent Primary School in Naas, County Kildare. As the Senator has already alluded to, I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, who is unfortunately detained in other wider Government business. She...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I fully understand the frustration, disappointment and abject anger that many in the school community feel at this stage. I have laid out where the rough timelines will lead us. One thing I will suggest to the Senator, and I myself will make a deputation to the Minister, is that it is perhaps time for a meeting organised by the Senator with the school community and the Minister directly. A...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Promotion (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Senator Lombard for raising this very pressing and timely issue. I have been provided with a fairly detailed response from the Department of Education which I may not get through in four minutes but a copy will be furnished to the Senator. The Department of Education works together with the Department of Health and other agencies to support students in the area of health. The aim...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Promotion (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: In conclusion, there is an awful lot of work being done in this space. If we reflect on the work that has been done over the last couple of days by the British Government in terms of disposable vapes then that gives an idea of a roadmap where we can move along both from a public health point of view and an education point of view. It is key that the work undertaken by Caoimhín and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme.Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the roads Acts 1993 to 2015 and in line with the national development plan, the planning, design, improvement...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: As I mentioned at the outset, the allocations for 2024 are expected to be announced in the near future. The Senator is right that we have been very fortunate to have a record tax take in recent years, both in terms of income tax and corporate tax. However, the investment being put into infrastructure, society and preparation for the future is very clear, as is the ability to put money away...