Results 801-820 of 34,832 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Presidential Elections (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to hold a referendum during the lifetime of this Government on the question of extending the Presidential election franchise to Irish citizens abroad. In line with that commitment, the Government restored the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Elections) Bill to the Dáil Order Paper in July 2020. The date for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: Action Aid Ireland is a highly valued partner for the Government's international development programme. It is one of the ten key NGO partners which receive funding from the innovative new five-year funding scheme, Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership for a Better World, which is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Under this scheme, the Department has provided...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: International climate finance and climate diplomacy are priorities for the Government, and for Ireland's foreign policy. The Department of Foreign Affairs engages in climate diplomacy in close collaboration with other Government Departments, at the United Nations and the International Financial Institutions and through the European Union. The scale up of Ireland’s international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Environmental Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Government recognises that protection of the ocean is a key issue for Ireland and for the international community. The ocean plays a vital role in stabilising our climate, and is itself burdened by the impact of climate change, plastic pollution and over-fishing placed. The Department of Foreign Affairs provides support to a number of partners that aim to protect the global marine...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: For 2023, the Government has provided a gross allocation of over €1.233 billion for Official Development Assistance (ODA). This is the ninth consecutive year in which Ireland’s allocation for ODA has increased, and the second consecutive year in which the allocation has been over €1 billion. Each year the Department of Foreign Affairs reports to the OECD Development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ireland is a steadfast supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It plays a crucial role in providing essential services to 5.7 million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Through its work, UNRWA continues to act as a force for stability in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sustainable Development Goals (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: Irelands international development programme is explicitly focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Ireland provides Official Development Assistance to support the most vulnerable people in more than 130 countries. To this end, we form partnerships with governments, international and multilateral organisations, local civil society groups and international non-governmental...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sustainable Development Goals (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ireland played a significant role in the development and adoption of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. We have prioritised the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nationally and internationally. The provide the overall framework for the Government's international development policy, A Better World. In September, world leaders will meet at the SDG Summit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (15 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 157 together. The Government's policy for international development, A Better World, provides the framework for our whole-of-government development cooperation programme. Rooted in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the policy focuses our efforts on four priorities of gender equality, reducing humanitarian need, climate action and...

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

Seán Fleming: Ireland strongly condemns the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. We support international efforts to reduce their influence and assist populations affected by their actions. The UN engages in a number of activities challenging Al-Shabaab both directly and indirectly. This includes support through the UN Security Council-mandated African Union Transition Mission in Somalia...

National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I am speaking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, who was at a committee earlier and asked me to stand in for him. In his contribution to the debate, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, detailed the Government's proposal for a timed amendment of 12 months for the Bill to allow for the conclusion of an in-depth examination of the national minimum wage's sub-minima...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mining Industry (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Senator, who is from Navan for raising this bombshell this morning. The thoughts and first concern for everyone not only at local level but also Government level is the impact on staff, their families and local community and businesses in County Meath. Having 650 people laid off, even on a temporary basis, is shocking news. The employment situation in the country has generally...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mining Industry (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Commencement matter put in by Senator Cassels a day or two ago was to discuss the future of exploration mining in Ireland with particular focus on Boliden Tara Mines DAC. That was referred to our colleague, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, before last night's announcement. Essentially, the script we were working on yesterday was from the point...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mining Industry (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: What makes it more perplexing is that last November, Boliden Tara Mines DAC applied for the renewal of prospecting licence 4502 at Tara Mines which expired on 29 December 2022. A permanent prospecting licence to prospect for specified materials in a defined geographic area has since been issued very recently. That will indicate the long-term plans for the area. It is not a licence to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I thank Senator Lynn Boylan for raising this topic. The EPA is responsible for compiling the inventories of greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland and for reporting data to the relevant European and international institutions. As such, Ireland's legal...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I understand the point the Senator is making relates to the wealth of the people who are contributing to emissions rather than how the tax take is distributed. In fairness, every local authority is doing retrofitting schemes for its tenants - well, they should be and most of the ones I know are doing it. If a local authority is not doing it, that needs to be tackled and the chief executive...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Anne Rabbitte. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue for discussion in the House. I have listened very carefully to the cases she has raised. These ultimately are the type of issues that must be raised in the national Parliament but if everything was working as plan,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and her Department are aware of the challenges being faced around the delivery of additional capacity in the areas of respite and residential care services. The review of the disability social care demand and capacity requirements to 2032 was published in 2021. An action plan for disability services has been prepared to progress action on the findings...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Climate Change Policy (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this matter, which is very clear to everyone who looks at it objectively. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The challenge posed by rising sea levels is clear. The Deputy asked me to confirm whether the Government believes it. Yes, we do. It is clear for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Climate Change Policy (14 Jun 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for his further remarks. The managing coastal change report has now been finalised. I am not sure what was said on the previous occasion. It will be submitted to the Government very shortly. The report is finalised and is not still being worked on. I mention that particularly. It is clear that tackling coastal change management in response to climate change will be...