Results 101-120 of 184 for speaker:Peter Roche

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: Apologies for my late attendance, which was due to the health committee next door, which was fundamentally important as well. There is more good in this for the employee than there is for the employer is the way I see it. My initial concerns are for small and medium enterprises and those type of employers. Some of them are operating on very thin margins. Any additional financial burden on...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: This minute, I think about Joe Public; the person who is down there in rural Ireland and is beavering away this morning and everything is going grand. Here, we are fully aware of what is coming down the tracks and I am not saying it is bad but in terms of the general employer, how will this information about the scheme filter down to them and how will they be informed about its introduction...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: One body that I hear a lot from, as I am sure others do, is the Restaurants Association of Ireland. The restaurant sector is one that is really struggling. I can see an issue with regard to this scheme because restaurants are struggling as matters stand, and I feel that any additional burden on them could potentially mean closure and certainly job losses.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: I thank the panel for their opening statements. I can only speak for myself, but when it comes to rural development and making a case to this committee, the witnesses are pushing an open door. In my previous role as a councillor, I was chair of Galway Rural Development, and we were all the time preaching and shouting about the lack of funding. I will always reference this, for what it is...

Commission of Investigation (Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools) Order 2025: Motion (15 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: I thank the Minister and Minister of State for progressing the commission of investigation. It matters to me, as it matters to all previous speakers. This is a very solemn day, not because we are beginning something new but because we are acknowledging something that was hidden for many years. The commission is being established because survivors of childhood sexual abuse, both men and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Pension Parity and Working Conditions for School Secretaries and Caretakers: Fórsa (10 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: I thank the Cathaoirleach and thank the witnesses for their attendance. They are pushing an open door when I am sitting in from of them, I assure them of that. That comes from my experience and my involvement through Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board. I sat on a number of interviewing committees where the job descriptions for school secretaries and caretakers got more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Pension Parity and Working Conditions for School Secretaries and Caretakers: Fórsa (10 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: Okay. The witnesses are here and it is a very useful exercise and I thank them for coming. What is it they want from this committee? It is a very loaded question, but I am wondering about first steps.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Pension Parity and Working Conditions for School Secretaries and Caretakers: Fórsa (10 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: As my colleague, Deputy Currie, has said, we will be bringing this to the attention of the relevant Ministers. We did not need to be reminded before today that we would have to do that, but I thank the witnesses for their engagement thus far. They have thrown a light on an area that needed it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools (10 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: The witnesses are most welcome. Like others, I need to inform myself more about what is being advised and the changes being made. Aoife's letter is compelling. Sometimes, when change is advised or recommended, an element of fear comes into it. Regardless of what is being proposed, fundamentally, special children need special educational teaching, coaching and mentoring. It would be a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (10 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: 25. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to increase support for Irish diaspora organisations in countries where current funding levels are relatively low despite active community engagement; if targeted funding increases are being considered for such regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37629/25]

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: I acknowledge the extension of the last train from Galway to Dublin on Saturdays, which is now running at 8.50 p.m. as opposed to 7.25 p.m., which is a step in the right direction. It is important also to highlight the inconsistency in the service during the week. The last train departs at 10.25 p.m., yet on Saturdays, when demand for cultural and social events peaks, the cut-off is at the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: The issue I bring to the Taoiseach's attention relates to LEADER funding. I will throw the spotlight on how the allocations affect us in east Galway. Per head of population, Roscommon receives €97; Offaly, €76; Mayo, €64; Clare, €53; and poor east Galway, €37. I ask that consideration be given to rebalancing how LEADER funding is divvied out and that we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Legal and Policy Gaps in Adult Safeguarding: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: I thank both sets of witnesses for coming before the committee. Listening to both opening statements, I have to ask why this is continuing. Quite a number of years ago, we thought much of this was behind us. I am taken by the deficiencies mentioned in both statements. I sincerely thank the witnesses for being so graphic in how they have outlined those deficiencies. Both organisations are...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: I will be very brief and I am not going to ask any questions. The witnesses are pushing an open door coming here and asking this committee to take on board the contributions they have made and what it is they are seeking. It almost feels like Storm Éowyn is operating outside again. I hope it is not because when we are in a bunker like this, we do not know what is going on outside. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: 144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the increases in SUSI grants have kept pace with the cost-of-living increases in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37405/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: 163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the expansion of apprenticeships since the publication of the action plan on apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37404/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: I welcome the witnesses. I commend them on the outstanding contribution that they are making to society in support of all of those children we are talking about today in terms to access to education. Somebody mentioned the right to thrive. What the witnesses have done is compelling. It almost feels like a bit of burden to have to listen to the woes and deficits there are that should not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: It was mentioned that, once a need was established, be it for a building or whatever, the length of time it took to be met meant that the student had often finished with national school. Therein lies a crisis. I am more enlightened after today's contribution from the witnesses. It just proves the body of work that the Department has to do. It is as simple as that. There are deficits and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: I thank Ms Walsh and Mr. Kearney for being here and for their statement. I had an experience recently where a student had been identified as someone who would need a special needs resource in a school in east Galway. Internally, the school did exactly what we would expect it to do, which was to make an application for the resource, but it was refused. It should not have been, but it was,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Management of Hospital Waiting Lists and Insourcing and Outsourcing of Treatment: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Roche: First, Mr. Gloster and his staff are welcome. It has not been long from the establishment of the committees until we have found them before this committee. I welcome that. I am not going to, under any circumstances, add to their grief or put any undue pressure on them. My first contribution this morning is one of good news. I had a good reason to spend some time in hospital visiting a...