Results 81-100 of 2,837 for speaker:Marian Harkin

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (17 Jun 2025)

Marian Harkin: My Department is firmly committed to ensuring equitable access for all learners to Further Education and Training (FET), particularly for those from underrepresented backgrounds. The 2020–2024 FET Strategy placed ‘Fostering Inclusion’ as one of its three core pillars, identifying under-represented cohorts to receive additional support to engage in FET. This commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (11 Jun 2025)

Marian Harkin: My officials are looking into this matter for the Deputy and I will follow up with him directly.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of the Government. I heard what the Deputy said about County Kildare and the specifics of the age profile in the county. In fact, at one point, I was privileged to represent...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputy and I hear what he has said. He spoke about vision. What I can say is that the Government is committed to building an affordable, high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare system. Although the Deputy said it is not enough, the programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase State-owned early learning...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: Deputy Gogarty raised a number of issues in response, some of which I do not have any information on here. I know he appreciates that. One of the points he raises is the discretion of local authorities. For clarity, I will reiterate the discretionary exclusionary grounds that contracting authorities may choose to apply in cases of procurement. I am aware that I used the word "may", which...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank Deputy Gogarty for raising this matter and I am responding on behalf of the Minister. Public procurement is governed by EU and national rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers transparency and value for money outcomes, which the Deputy referred to. With respect to public works, the capital...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: With regard to the Deputy's question on the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, I will have to look for further information on that. I only have the information in front of me, which I have already presented to him. I will ask the Minister to follow up with the Deputy on that specific question. With regard to the dental workforce, the Deputy quoted some figures but I can only quote...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Further and Higher Education (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter regarding the availability of dental training places, which I will take on behalf of the Minister. This Government is firmly committed to ensuring our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Higher Education...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Appeals (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank Deputy McGrath. I am happy to respond on behalf of the Minister. The social welfare appeals office is an office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals officers are independent in their decision-making functions. The overall average processing time for all...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Appeals (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank Deputy McGrath. I listened with interest to the points he has made. I thank him for highlighting this issue. It is important the appeals process not only works quickly but with due regard to ensuring each case is properly considered. In the first instance, each appeal is referred back to the relevant claim area of the Department which reviews the appeal, including taking account...

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: It is a real argument-----

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: Shouting at me will not-----

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: If the Deputy wants to make his argument, he should make it on his own time.

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: What I have spoken about are not legal abstractions; they fundamentally undermine the effectiveness of this Bill. The Deputy and I know that if legislation means anything, it must be effective. Ireland's long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict remains an integral part of our foreign policy. Personally, I am pleased to say that from my very first days...

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: We are taking action, as already outlined-----

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: -----and we are progressing the occupied territories Bill. Just because we raise issues with the legislation here this evening-----

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: -----does not mean we do not care; we do. We are acting in every way we can.

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: We believe that this legislation, however well intentioned, will not achieve its objective. That is what matters. People have talked about fine words.

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: Fine words from any side of the House do not work. What works is legislation that is effective.

Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 May 2025)

Marian Harkin: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate this evening with compassion and empathy. That is shared by Deputies on all sides of this House. All of us are appalled and horrified by what is happening in Gaza. I address the Dáil, fully aware of the deep sensitivity surrounding the plight of the Palestinian people. I strongly and utterly condemn the continuing Israeli...