Results 741-760 of 5,534 for speaker:Maureen O'Sullivan

Centenary of 1918 General Election: Statements (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I want to begin with a quotation from Wolfe Tone from 1791, when he declared the national demand was, "To break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils". It is rather ironic in light of Brexit. Breaking that connection meant different things to different people: repeal of the Union, some form of home rule or a republic. Of course, after 1916, there...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Ireland's development aid programme has a considerable reputation. That programme does invaluable work because it makes a difference, it is poverty focused, it is about community empowerment, it is directed at the most marginalised and it has been untied. With the new White Paper coming, how committed is the Government to policy coherence, particularly when we are seeing examples of policy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I acknowledge the consultation process that took place. Surely the strategy for development aid should be to get to a point where it is no longer needed. For aid to have a sell-by date, the developing world needs to have the capacity to lift itself out of poverty. That means that as well as giving the aid, we should also support them in their capacity to collect taxes from the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 12. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress to date in addressing the perceived poor pay and conditions in the early childcare sector; her views on whether in view of uncertainties and conditions of employment there is a lack of incentive for many to pursue careers in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52430/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: The question regards the perceived poor pay and conditions in the childcare sector and the uncertainties and conditions of employment which are creating a lack of incentive for many to pursue careers in that sector or encouraging current staff to move from it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister. We have previously discussed these issues and the Minister outlined the steps regarding services being encouraged to use the additional funding to support the pay and conditions of workers. The reality is that there are difficulties in sourcing staff. A turnover rate of 25% is quite high. We know how vital the staff are. I acknowledge the improvement in staff...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: The childcare barometer of public attitudes to early years care and education published in 2018 indicates that 75% of respondents agreed that those working in the early childcare profession are as important as educators of children aged over five. Some 56% of respondents thought them professionals. However, staff feel undervalued and they do not perceive that working in the sector is a good...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Reunification (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 21. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her role in the family reunification process; and if her attention has been drawn to the stress and anxiety caused to certain children due to time delays and inefficiency of the process. [52429/18]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Guidelines (13 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 40. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the protections and protocols in place to avoid a repetition of the traumatic removal of a child from the breast-feeding mother in a maternity hospital in view of a recent High Court decision (details supplied). [52427/18]

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (12 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I hope he is not using my time now. Migration is to be discussed at the Council under the heading of implementation of the comprehensive approach to migration. Does that comprehensive approach include the increasing securitisation agenda when it comes to migration? It is undermining and certainly threatening the EU aid budget. There is a fear of considerable funding going to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (12 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 146. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of appointments provided daily through the immigration appointment booking system; if his attention has been drawn to complaints from users that are having difficulty getting appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52406/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (11 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 466. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if problems are anticipated in sustaining tourism growth in 2019 in view of the potential effects of Brexit; the steps he is taking to ensure the continued success of the tourism industry here despite threats to the British market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52112/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (11 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 467. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date with the BusConnects scheme in Dublin; when the service will be fully operational; and if his attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by the elderly and mobility challenged groups concerning the change from certain direct routes to indirect routes. [52113/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hare Coursing (6 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: If there were a free vote on banning live hare coursing, there would be a different attitude. After my Bill was sadly defeated, members of the parties that voted against it told me they would have voted in favour of it if there had been a free vote. Unauthorised photography is forbidden at coursing meetings so people who attempt to video the meetings do so with great difficulty....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hare Coursing (6 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 12. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the inherent cruelty involved in live hare coursing; and his views on whether Ireland’s reputation is being damaged by allowing this blood sport to continue in the face of international bans on the activity. [51049/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hare Coursing (6 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: My question is on live hare coursing. What are the Minister's views on the inherent cruelty in this activity? Is our reputation being damaged by allowing this blood sport to continue in the face of international bans on live hare coursing.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hare Coursing (6 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I am tired of being told about the wonderful legislation. While it is wonderful in theory, there are many examples in which it does not work. I need only mention puppy farms, the fox incident about which the Minister knows well as it took place in Cork, badger issues, live hare coursing and fur farming. Hurling, camogie, basketball, rugby and soccer are sports. There is no glossing over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Regulation of Hunting (6 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 53. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with an association (details supplied) to ensure there will not be a repeat of the incident that happened in Macroom in which a hunt entered a residential area endangering public safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51047/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (5 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 58. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting lists and the options for those wanting to detox from benzodiazepines and similar substances. [50827/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services (5 Dec 2018)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 124. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); and if he will consider the concerns raised by the not-for-profit sector that carries out vital work for persons with disabilities. [50828/18]