Results 781-800 of 34,832 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (22 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains and administers a voluntary roster of suitably skilled and vetted individuals who are available to participate at short notice in election observation missions, organised by the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The current Election Observation Roster was established for a period of five years,...

Legal Proceedings: Motion (21 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to section 4(2)(f)(iv) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Acts 2003 to 2021, hereby authorises the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to instruct solicitors and junior counsel and senior counsel, in a manner that safeguards public funds, in relation to the defence of legal proceedings initiated against Deputy James Lawless by Kim...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Budgets (21 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: International climate finance is a priority for the Government and for Ireland’s foreign policy. Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs led on a cross-governmental process to formulate the Government's International Climate Finance Roadmap, which was published in July 2022. The Roadmap sets out how Ireland will deliver on the target of providing at least €225...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: A total of 65 fixed penalty payment notices were issued in 2022 and 146 prosecutions were taken at the District Court. In 2022, the NTA initiated 54 prosecutions of individuals operating an entirely unlicensed SPSV service without either an SPSV driver licence or a vehicle licence. This was in addition to its prosecution of persons operating on expired SPSV licences. I am informed that,to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter regarding the ongoing challenges to the taxi industry posed by illegal operators, which I will answer on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The regulation of the SPSV industry, including enforcement and compliance in the SPSV sector, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the NTA, under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the N17 national primary route in line with Government policy as set out in the national planning framework and Project Ireland 2040. As he will be aware, I am answering today on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who unfortunately cannot be here in person. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue on behalf of his constituents in Sligo. There have been many accidents and fatalities on the road. One factor that is not taken into account sufficiently in these areas is the number of lives saved by improved roads infrastructure. We often talk about the cost benefit of roads, but we cannot put a price on people's lives. People are fatally...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the House. According to the Women's Aid impact report, which was launched earlier today, 12 women died violently in 2022. These 12 beautiful lives were stolen and 12 families were forced to suffer immeasurable grief. I can assure the Deputy that the Government is utterly focused on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We all understand, and I think the figures show, but I am subject to correction on this, that in 90% of the cases where women suffer domestic violence, the perpetrators are known to them. We must start on this basis. It is not a random issue. We must take it that something of a more insidious nature is happening behind the scenes before it...

Education Costs: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: On behalf of the Government, I welcome the opportunity to respond to what has been a very insightful and informative debate on the important issue of the cost of education. The Government is acutely aware that many Irish families feel additional financial pressure each year when they are preparing to send their children back to school or college. It is important that the Government...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Protected Disclosures (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I am taking this on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. I recognise how incredibly difficult it is for the families who lost loved ones during the pandemic, which presented one of the greatest and most wide-ranging public health challenges internationally in recent history. I extend my sympathy to the Delany family - Senator Clonan mentioned that Bernadette and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Protected Disclosures (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I understand what the Senator is saying. I will definitely raise this matter with the Minister for Health in order to follow on the issues that have been raised. It is probably no good to say it in the context of the case in question, but a big lesson has been learned here. Before a report is commissioned and the terms of reference agreed and commenced, it is important that the person who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank Senator Gallagher for raising the matter of the public pay and pensions legislation with regard to the community pharmacy sector and its future. I am speaking today on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. The Minister recognises the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care. Community pharmacy is often one of the most accessible...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pharmacy Services (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Senator again for those further remarks. We look forward to progress being made at the discussions which are happening today. I mentioned in passing earlier that regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure were made under the FEMPI legislation and that legislation expired at the end of 2019, thank God. Under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 these regulations...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank Senator McGreehan for raising the issue of the waiting lists for therapists and assessments for children and staff vacancies in both north and south Louth as part of the children's disability network team. As the Senator is aware, I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I am grateful to the Senator for raising it. First, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Irish Red Cross Society (IRCS) was established in 1939 under the Red Cross Act 1938 (subsequently amended). It is an independent charitable body with full power to manage and administer its own affairs. Its legal objectives are to furnish aid to the sick and wounded, and to provide relief to those in need. The Society has a dual mandate to act nationally and overseas and forms part of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Government is committed to the target agreed at the UN to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income in Official Development Assistance (ODA), as set out in A Better World, Ireland's International Development Policy, and in the Programme for Government. For 2023, the Government has provided a gross allocation to ODA of over €1.233 billion. This is the ninth consecutive year in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ireland has a strong history of providing humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable communities across the globe. According to global rankings, Ireland is a top twenty humanitarian donor. We respond to large scale humanitarian crises and emergencies, such as the devastating earthquakes which struck Turkiye and Syria in February, and we seek to maintain attention on less prominent and often...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (20 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: Under the rules for accounting for Official Development Assistance (ODA), managed by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), support for refugees within donor countries is included in ODA in accordance with clear criteria. Costs counted are for refugees' first 12 months only. They include all direct expenses for food, shelter,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025 is the cornerstone of our approach to diaspora engagement, setting out the Government’s vision for engaging with Irish diaspora communities all over the world. The third Global Irish Civic Forum took place in Dublin Castle last April and the agenda was built around the five pillars of the Strategy - Our People, Values, Prosperity, Culture...