Results 101-120 of 11,970 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: As of 31 May 2025, the latest dates for which figures are available, there are five Juvenile Liaison Officers in Clare/Tipperary Division, each at the rank of Garda.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (15 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: Reform of the firearms licensing system has been under consideration for a number of years. I can confirm that the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration holds meetings with individual firearms organisations and engages with various firearms stakeholders to discuss these reforms. Earlier this year, the Department organised a series of engagements with firearms stakeholders and...

Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation (Transfer of Functions) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions today, the points they have raised and Deputy Smith for bringing this important topic to the House. As set out in my earlier remarks, the Government fully recognises the importance of having an open and transparent noise regulation system. The development of Dublin Airport in a sustainable manner that considers the impact on local...

Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation (Transfer of Functions) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to speak to the House about the important issue of aircraft noise and the aviation sector more generally. I am confident we can all agree, even though it is so often stated, that, as an island nation, aviation plays a crucial role in our economy and society. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Government’s position on Second Stage of this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Costs (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, recently announced €35 million in funding to support digital learning in schools. A total of €35 million in grant funding for information and communications technology has issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. Through the ICT grant and the minor works grant...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Costs (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: The Government recognises that back-to-school costs each September can place real financial pressure on families. The Department of Education and Youth is keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents in regard to these costs. To help address this, schools are expected to follow guidance from the Department, which includes using school uniform items that are generic and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: To recap, the project brief was for a large-scale capital project, namely the construction of a 16-classroom primary school consisting of a four-storey, 13-classroom block with ancillary rooms facing Dominick Street, a five-storey block with administration, services, library and resource rooms on the corner of Dominick Place and Dominick Street, an elevated first floor bridge block containing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Media Sector (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: As I set out, the national counter disinformation strategy explores the challenge of disinformation in Ireland, its harmful effects on society and its complexity as a policy issue. It is important to state that it is not the role of our Government or, indeed, any regulator to decide on individual instances of disinformation. As mentioned, one of the fundamental aims of the strategy is to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position regarding the major building project for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire in Parnell Square. The Minister and the Department of Education and Youth are fully committed to delivering a new school building for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire as quickly as possible....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Thalidomide Victims Compensation (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: As previously referenced, in July 2024 an enhanced package for health and social care supports for thalidomide survivors was announced. That included prioritised and simplified access to local health and social care professionals, access to therapies, both clinical and holistic, independent living supports to include housing adaptations, car adaptations and home supports, annual health...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Media Sector (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: As we know, the problem of disinformation is not a new one. What is new is how easily mistruths can be produced, how sophisticated and convincing they are, and how it can be amplified and circulated at astonishing speed. According to the Digital News Report 2025 published just last month, 68% of people said that they are concerned about what is real and what is fake online. This is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: To be clear, the Deputy has told me that he has already written to the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and the Minister, Deputy Foley, with regard to this. Arising from today, I will speak to the relevant officials within our Department, and I will ensure that the correspondence and communication the Deputy has sent to the Department via the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan's office, is acted...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: That is fine.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Thalidomide Victims Compensation (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank Deputy Ward for raising this important issue. I also wish to extend the apologies of the Minister for State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Naughton, for being unable to attend today. She is currently on a delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina on behalf of the Government to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. The Minister of State has also...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practices in areas of alternative care. The Child Care Act 1991 is the statutory framework for child welfare and...

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: I acknowledge the very fine work of my colleague the Minister in this area and, indeed, the work that has been done across government and beyond to implement the zero-tolerance strategy. The fight against domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is one we all need to engage fully with. As we have heard from the Minister, affecting substantial change in this area is possible. We can,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Promotion (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: I thank the Senator for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, and outline the progress being made by the Government in this area. The promotion of physical activity for health is a priority under the Healthy Ireland framework, Ireland’s national strategy for improving the health and well-being of the population. This was evidenced by...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Promotion (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: As the Senator mentioned older adults, I will outline what my colleague, the Minister for Health, has been doing to make physical activity opportunities available to this group. Physical activity for older adults is promoted by Age and Opportunity, a national development organisation working to enable the best possible quality of life for this population group. This organisation is a key...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (10 Jul 2025)

Niall Collins: The Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Naughton, thanks the Senator for raising this important issue, and I am responding on her behalf. The HSE provides specialist disability services, including day services and rehabilitative training, to people with disabilities who require such services. While day service funding does not include transport, some transport...