Results 101-120 of 2,732 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Niall Collins

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products (2 Feb 2023)

Niall Collins: We fully appreciate the severity of cystic fibrosis and acknowledge the fears and frustrations of the families affected by this situation. I also acknowledge the circumstances the Deputy's constituents, Ciarán and his family, whom the Deputy spoke about in his initial remarks, find themselves in. The Minister is working on resolving this issue as a matter of high priority. He has been...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2023)

Niall Collins: The Deputy has not apologised for it.

Teacher Shortages: Motion [Private Members] (7 Dec 2022)

Niall Collins: I am pleased to respond on behalf of the Government and in support of my colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, on the topic of teacher supply. Ensuring our children are taught by qualified teachers is a priority issue for the Department of Education and the Government. This morning we have heard about the various measures put in place by the Department and the education...

Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputies for their time and input on this matter. It is intended that the extension of the Act until 31 May 2023 will continue to provide clarity in respect of the provisions relating to outdoor dining for licence holders, patrons and the Garda. It is clear that there is ongoing demand for the provision of outdoor dining. In the meantime, as I outlined...

Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that the period of operation of sections 1 to 7 and 9 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (No. 14 of 2021) be extended for a further period of six months, beginning on the 1st day of December, 2022 and ending on the 31st day of May, 2023. I am here to introduce a resolution on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy...

Energy Regulations: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: Will the Deputy give a speech at the wedding?

Energy Regulations: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: All duck or no dinner.

Energy Regulations: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputies for raising these important matters and allowing us time to discuss them today. As noted previously, the Government is keenly aware of the growing pressures this places on families and businesses. Just like other European member states, Ireland is acutely feeling the effects of the current energy crisis. It is a matter of serious concern to Government that rising...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: With regard to the A5, the funding arrangements have been governed by the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and implementation plan, A Fresh Start. Under this agreement, the Government is committed to providing funding of £75 million towards the cost of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland has been concluded. The Government is committed to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Courts Service (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I again thank the Deputy for raising these issues in a genuine manner. It is obviously a concern to the Deputy and to any community if there is a fear of a loss of services. I am confident, given the initial reply supplied to me by the Department of Justice, that there is a clear intention to restore the existing level of service to Mallow once the refurbishment works have been carried out....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Courts Service (16 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I convey the apologies of my colleague, the Minster for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who regrets she cannot attend for this matter due to a prior commitment. On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important matter and for giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on the issues he raised. As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, operational...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Student Accommodation (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank the Deputy for his remarks and reassure him that this is a high priority issue for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, so much so, as I alluded to in my opening remarks, that we now have a section within the Department that is dedicated to working with our HEIs to advance the provision of the much-needed student accommodation. That will...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Student Accommodation (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank Deputy Richmond for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to UCD's decision. We are very aware of the difficulties faced by students trying to secure accommodation. It is an issue that we are actively pursuing and resolution is a high priority for the Department as a whole. In September 2021, the Government launched...

Science Week: Statements (15 Nov 2022)

Niall Collins: I welcome the Ceann Comhairle back. I thank everybody in the House for this debate. In his opening statement, the Minister, Deputy Harris, mentioned that one of the areas in which real progress has been made is the sourcing of science advice. This is one of many areas where progress has been made in the research and innovation field. Deputy Naughten showed a particular interest in this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Oct 2022)

Niall Collins: Local training initiatives, LTI, are, and will continue to be, an important element of the broad range of education and training supports provided by the further education and training, FET, system to local communities. They operate under the education and training boards, ETBs, and are community-based training programmes targeted at economically, socially, geographically and educationally...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Oct 2022)

Niall Collins: I agree with the Deputy's sentiments on LTIs. In 2022, a provision of €16.83 million was approved by SOLAS for LTIs, which is broadly in line with the €16.53 million approved for 2021. The 2023 allocation for LTIs will not be decided until the FET budget is finalised with SOLAS, having considered the funding applications that will be submitted by our 16 ETBs. The number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (18 Oct 2022)

Niall Collins: A review of the LTIs' operational guidelines is in progress. The working group is a subgroup of the directors of the FET forum, which is served by a complement of staff from the ETBs. This group will facilitate consultation and engagement with the national stakeholders to explore, clarify and resolve specific issues that may arise. All relevant stakeholders will be invited to engage with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Oct 2022)

Niall Collins: We will get the Deputy a written update on that. We discussed it in the House previously. The Deputy knows that a lot of additional resources apply to that and there has been hiring of staff to address it. It is an issue. We will get the Department to furnish the Deputy with an exact update. With regard to the national training fund, the Department is working closely with other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Oct 2022)

Niall Collins: I thank Deputy Leddin for his question. The Climate Action Plan 2021 is a detailed plan for taking decisive action to set us on a path to reach net zero emissions by no later than 2050. The plan contains key measures driving the creation of the new green jobs with new skills required to achieve climate action goals, including for renewable energy generation. The November 2021 Expert Group...