Results 81-100 of 257 for speaker:Keira Keogh

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: Perfect, thank you. With regard to the widening digital divide, especially when we look at the economic gap, I am thinking about houses in Ireland at present. Lots of people availed of a retrofitting grant. Is there any consideration for something like this for households? We are talk about schools and different sectors becoming more digital but when you look at people in their homes,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: That would be great. I am conscious we can all get the free ChatGPT on our phones but first you have to have a phone to get the free version and then the paid versions are much better. Naturally, this digital divide will come swift and fast. The Minister of State talked about literacy in schools and it is great this is in the strategy for 2027 and is on the way. Earlier, we spoke about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: Thank you.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: Planning regulations stipulate that new housing developments of up to 75 units must provide a childcare facility with up to 20 places. We are in a childcare crisis and this is simply not working in small, medium and large towns. In my own town of Westport, we recently saw separate developments of 50, 48 and 20 units, a total of 118 units, but no new childcare facility. There is a new...

Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions (3 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: Obligations are one thing but we definitely need sanctions and need them quickly. The deadline for these obligations to be in place is 21 July. The Minister will forgive me for my scepticism, but I do not see swift action following. We need to name these companies, shame these companies and have swift sanctions. At a national level, we need to be able to discuss these challenges openly....

Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions (3 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: Imagine you have a 12-year-old child and found out that child was watching or was exposed to pornography on a sitting room television while visiting a friend's house. The child would likely be permanently banned from visiting that friend's house and it is likely you would report the parent to Tusla. Yet, we are giving our children smartphones with open access to the Internet where they...

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank the Minister of State for being here. I will address the all-Ireland strategic rail review from the perspective of its profound significance to County Mayo. I am lucky to have a door-to-door service from Westport to Dublin, but if I want to go to Galway, which is the nearest city, I would have to go to Athlone and then back to Galway and if I want to go to Sligo, I have to drive or...

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: I welcome all our witnesses. I also wish to pass on my condolences to the Browne family on the passing of Jackie. The Minister of State is very welcome to the committee. It is fantastic that in this committee we have the first Minister of State for disability. It highlights the step change and the whole-of-Government focus that is on disability. We are going to be judged in this term...

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank the Minister of State. The urgency with that would be really appreciated. I know as a committee we have written to all of the committees asking them to engage with people with disabilities. When the Minister of State is in her meetings, that dignity aspect has to come through and every Department needs to be aware of how we treat people with disabilities. On a more positive...

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: With the last 30 seconds, I will also highlight in the same domain that therapy dogs make a huge difference too. There are huge waiting lists for them. There are sometimes lotteries to even get on the waiting list. Families are doing fundraisers to try to train dogs. I know the Minister of State will not have much time to answer, but from looking at her Estimates, we have to provide more...

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: I welcome Councillor Donna Sheridan from County Mayo, who is one of our local authority disability champions. Her interest is appreciated. Today, I am meeting Carol Brill, who is chair of Usher Syndrome Ireland, which is commonly known as deafblindness. This is a life-altering condition that has unique needs. It affects between 260 people to 350 people in Ireland. Going back to 2015,...

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: They specifically want recognition as a unique disability. That is also echoed within the UNCRPD. We maybe can work with them after I meet them today and follow up on that commitment. Tusla is not necessarily under the Minister of State's remit as regards to disability. However, it does have children in its special care beds who are struggling with different disabilities and are not...

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: I mentioned universal design last week. I feel like we have a long way to go. When I was setting up my own office, it is an afterthought or a special need if we want to put in an accessible toilet or other things. Where are we with the national disability strategy with changes to planning regulations or guidelines for universal design?

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: It is important. Last week, I had a group up from County Mayo. For the changing place toilet, one of the members had to wait to go to the National Gallery because there was an issue with ours. It is a top priority.

Review of Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004: Statements (1 Jul 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, for all they are doing to try to move the dial for disability matters and children with additional needs. Fifty-one recommendations have come out of the review of 2004 EPSEN Act. Two decades ago, the Act set out ambitiously to ensure equal access to an education system that would recognise the...

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Office of the Ombudsman for Children (26 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank Dr. Muldoon. It is proposed to publish the opening statement on the Oireachtas website. Is that agreed? Agreed. Before I call members, I remind them that they will be allocated seven minutes' speaking time. They will all be happy to see that our clock is back up and working. This allocation must include the response from the witnesses. If time permits at the end, I will allow a...

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Office of the Ombudsman for Children (26 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: Dr. Muldoon will do his best to reply in the time remaining.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Office of the Ombudsman for Children (26 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: Senator, please allow Dr. Muldoon to reply.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Office of the Ombudsman for Children (26 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I might give a second round of questions or people can finish questions.