Results 841-860 of 6,255 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I will also say that it was a useful and positive intervention in the budget. I acknowledge that. Some members of this committee recommended it and it will make a significant difference. One final point occurred to me there, and this is a slightly unusual one. I do not totally understand the logic of it myself. I refer to the Christmas and the spring bonus for the illness benefit. It...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I wish to clarify a point. The Town Centre First policy is a joint policy between the Department of Rural and Community and Development and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I want to understand which funding is provided by the Minister's Department and which is provided by the Department of housing.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (7 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that the 220 and 220X bus service in Ballincollig, Cork is experiencing significant delays, with buses only turning up every 90 minutes regularly on what is supposed to be a 15 minute interval service at peak times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5175/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: School Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the application process will open for the Safe Routes to Schools Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4698/24]

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: May I finish my point briefly?

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: To respond to Deputy Murphy, we do not agree with the 90-day provision. I have pointed out the issue with incentives and the challenges they could create. Another consideration is that people in places like the east coast, Cork and so on will not be able to find accommodation and could end up on the streets. It is wrong that this might happen to people who are fleeing their home country...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 14 and 15.

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I did not get an answer to my question as to what in my amendments constrains future action. We might consider this issue further in the Seanad. I just do not accept it is the case. Sometimes, bald statements are made but I am not sure there is anything to substantiate this one. As I outlined, there are currently three tiers of provision. First is the direct provision system that has been...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have a couple of things. I want to respond to Deputy Murphy first with regard to amendment No. 3. It is about bringing it in line with what is in the temporary protection directive but really, the intention is to put people arriving under the temporary protection directive on the same footing as those who are fleeing conflict and oppression. In other jurisdictions, it would obviously be...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I know the Deputy was not. I just wanted to put that on record. Regarding the 90 days, and the point that the Government is going to do that anyway, that is not something with which we agree. As I said, there are two big problems with it. There is an incentive there when we compare what people will receive inside State-provided accommodation with what they will receive outside it. It...

Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I move amendment No. 1: In page 9, line 10, after “2015” to insert the following: “and who has arrived after the commencement date in section 1(4) of the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024”. I have a few general questions and observations regarding the legislation which I may ask about later. The first three amendments...

Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank People Before Profit-Solidarity and all of those who worked with them to bring forward this Bill. It is a reasonable proposition and worthy of discussion. I welcome the fact that we can have a discussion on it. Sinn Féin will not oppose this Bill. We think it should proceed to Committee Stage and we have long called for an increased emphasis on harm reduction in this area....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is all very good news. I am sure lots of organisations will be anxiously awaiting the outcome of that process. What the Minister said is very positive but it is slightly different from the information I sought. Perhaps what she said answered other Deputies' questions. When resources are limited, it makes sense to prioritise shovel-ready projects. For organisations that are not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 74. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the community centres investment fund; and if there is any scope to extend the scheme in the future. [4041/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: This is something I raised again recently. I know Deputies are continually raising it. The previous funding scheme was welcome but many community organisations perhaps did not have things lined up in time or were not in a position to make the application, between land, funding and other issues. I regularly receive questions about when there will be another call and what it will look like.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Offshore Islands (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: From speaking to some people who live with the reality of life on the islands there are a couple of difficulties as things stand that need to be taken into account with this review, which needs to be very rigorous. First, maximum pricing and precisely what that means must be considered. The Department talks about maximum pricing and provides these tariffs. In practice that is very often...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Offshore Islands (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: To give another example, some of the lists that have been given can be a bit arbitrary. Apparently, it costs €18 per tonne of gravel but €10 per tonne bag of sand even though they are precisely the same weight. There is a difference in price even though it involves the same mechanism and that surprises people. One of the key findings on the future of the islands relates to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Library Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Our libraries do a great deal of work and much of it is unheralded. People think of books and so on but it is often the place where people who do not have access to printers have their forms printed out. People have access to e-books and audio books, which is crucial thing. They are unsung heroes of the public service in many ways. There are a number of locations across the State where...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Library Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: While the capital funding that is available is welcome, if the number of projects that are needed come in for a certain amount of funding, they will not get anywhere near what they require because of the level of need that is there. That is particularly in areas where there is no provision whatsoever, in those four or five communities around the State where there is no provision whatsoever...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Offshore Islands (30 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 70. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to discuss the provision of subsidies for the transportation of freight to the offshore islands, the maximum cost of same and the oversight mechanisms that exist. [4304/24]