Results 61-80 of 387 for speaker:Joe Flaherty in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (30 Mar 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will address an anomaly where recently approved applications under the undocumented scheme are precluded from the SUSI grant support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15551/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (30 Mar 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the students from Scoil Mhuire National School in Newtown Forbes, who have a keen interest in further education. Will the Department help to address an anomaly whereby recently approved applications under the undocumented scheme are precluded from Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grants, and will the Minister make a statement on the matter, please?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (30 Mar 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister for his reply. I am reminded of the supermarket offer, "Buy one, get one free," as he is covering both of his Departments. It is timely for me and some of the other Deputies present. I welcome the Minister's update. It is the most promising update I have received to this point. This is a major issue. Many families that came here are, strictly speaking,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (30 Mar 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I appreciate that, if the student were naturalised, it would remedy the situation, but that is an expensive route for a family that is only after exiting undocumented status to take. Even when we try to do things right, there are sometimes unintended consequences. This is one of those situations. I welcome that the Minister will engage with both of his Departments on trying to find a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (30 Mar 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I am a most unlikely sub. Will the Minister provide an update on the work of the National Skills Council, including its proposed 2023 work plan, and make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Provision (30 Mar 2023)

Joe Flaherty: The OECD report will be timely and will inform what is a dynamic sector for us. The council brings education and training providers together with representatives from business to respond effectively to skill needs. Every Deputy will agree that the council is a forum that has effected significant change. This is an evolving scene, with the training needs of multiple industries changing...

Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Second Stage (28 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: As this is my first time speaking to the Minister of State in her new role, I congratulate her and wish her the best of luck. I welcome this Bill, which is the first significant legislation for the credit union sector in 12 years. It follows through on a commitment in the programme for Government to prioritise credit unions. I am reasonably happy that the Bill, in its current format,...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the Bill and commend the Minister of State on his work on it to date. It is a key plank in the programme for Government. For the public looking on, one key point that jumps out is that the Bill embeds a key principle from the commission's report. This is that preventing crime and harm and making our communities safe does not rest with An Garda Síochána and the...

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the Bill, which is long overdue. It underpins an organisation that has been at the heart of community events in Ireland since 1951. We are incredibly proud of the Civil Defence family in County Longford, where Emma Reid is the Civil Defence officer. Throughout Covid, we saw the value and dedication of Civil Defence volunteers. We are incredibly lucky to have 25 top-drawer...

Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Payments: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: At the outset I acknowledge the Minister's work and commitment to the health service. I know he is passionate about what he is trying to do and achieve. Sometimes it might feel as though he is almost a punch bag for everything that goes wrong with the delivery of the service. In that regard I have some sympathy for him. However, the reality is that when things go wrong or even if there...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: In recent parliamentary questions I highlighted a situation where recently approved recipients of stamp 4 status under the regularisation of the long-term undocumented persons scheme are being precluded from Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, on the basis that many are unable to prove that they have been in the country lawfully for three of the five preceding years. It is an anomaly in...

Forestry Strategy: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: No one needs to be convinced of the merits of trees. Experts tell us that, if we plant 18,000 ha per year between now and 2050, we will be carbon neutral without taking any other action. That is not an improbability. Back in 1994, we were planting 24,000 ha per year. Of that, 18,000 ha were in the private sector. Farmers and other members of the public were more than happy and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (24 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 75. To ask the Minister for Finance the proposals he will be bringing forward in relation to income tax over the medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2994/23]

Climate Action Plan 2023: Statements (18 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I rarely take issue with my colleague, Deputy Matthews, but I emphasise that the Government parties are as one on the climate action plan. I appreciate there are many Green Party fingerprints on the plan but we in this three-party Government are passionate about it and have enthusiastically supported it. I commend Deputy Matthews on acknowledging that there is a will and desire in rural...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (14 Dec 2022)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I would certainly like to think that the nursing home operators and providers acknowledge the supports they have received to date. I believe the nub of the issue is money. We must acknowledge that the numerous costs being absorbed by private nursing homes are not applicable to public facilities. These include, for example: capital costs;...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (14 Dec 2022)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his forbearance at the outset. I appreciate that we are here at an unusually late hour after a long day in a long week, but it behoves me to share my concerns with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about the funding of our nursing homes. Whether we agree with it or not, we are dependent on a network of privately owned nursing homes. My office - and...

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the planning legislation and long-overdue overhaul of An Bord Pleanála. The Bill will ensure the recruitment arrangements for the appointment of members of An Bord Pleanála are updated, streamlined and more appropriate to the complex environment in which they now operate. It is planned to introduce amendments to the Bill to enable expedited planning for the construction...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Industrial Development (13 Dec 2022)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State for that extensive response. It was great to have him in Longford recently. He saw first-hand the excellent work that is under way at Lir Analytical, where Michael Savage and the team are leading in the area of biosecurity in animal feed production and healthcare. The one deficiency that was pointed out related to a site for an advanced factory and also for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Industrial Development (13 Dec 2022)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State and welcome his commitment to work with Longford County Council. We have an excellent case study in Longford in a triangle on the Ballinalee Road between Abbott Ireland, Avery Dennison and Technimark. We have in the region of 2,500 jobs in IDA Ireland-assisted and supported companies. That is a real template for how regional development and job creation can be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Industrial Development (13 Dec 2022)

Joe Flaherty: 65. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new IDA Ireland- and Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs in Longford to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62102/22]