Results 1,221-1,240 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Conflicts (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The conflict in Yemen, which is a civil war, has continued for too long, with devastating consequences for the people of Yemen. Ireland supports the call for an immediate ceasefire across Yemen and the negotiation of a sustainable peace agreement under the auspices of the UN. All parties must work towards an immediate de-escalataion. Ireland has consistently called on the parties concerned...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Aviation Industry (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senator Buttimer for his Commencement matter. On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, I welcome the opportunity to discuss this topic with Members of the House. It is well acknowledged that Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the aviation industry, not just in Ireland but globally. In 2020, the number of passengers handled in our main airports fell by a staggering...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Aviation Industry (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The latest EUROCONTROL figures show that aviation traffic across the pan-European network is averaging at just over 70% of the equivalent period in 2019. Ireland's traffic levels are reported as slightly higher than this average. Air traffic remains lower than EUROCONTROL's previously estimated recovery forecast, largely due to the emergence of the Omicron variant last year. This would...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising this issue, which I will answer on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I was pleased to see continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters, especially those that meet or exceed the minimum water quality requirements, in the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report published by the Environmental Protection Agency,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: As I already mentioned, officials are currently examining the most suitable options to provide for safe bathing water during the winter months and to improve dissemination of information on bathing water quality. We look forward to the recommendations of the expert group in the coming months. The Government is committed to substantial and sustained investment in our water infrastructure...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Car Test (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I am replying on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, who would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The operation of all roadworthiness testing in the State, including the National Car Testing Service, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, RSA. It is important to highlight that quarter 1 is always the busiest time of the year...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Car Test (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter. The backlog for the NCTS has undoubtedly been frustrating as the Covid-19 restrictions have eased and many people are now returning to their offices and workplaces. The Department of Transport is very aware of the challenges faced by the NCTS and the RSA as they work to manage the extremely...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. As the Deputy may be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Fórsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (23 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a range of supports which Men's and Women's Sheds can avail of depending on the works being completed. Since 2018,the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP)provided capital funding for community groups which included €0.5m that was ring-fenced for Men's Sheds and again in 2019, €0.5m was ring-fenced under the programme for both Men's & Women's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The rural social scheme, RSS, is an income support scheme for farmers and fishers who are in receipt of specified social welfare payments and are underemployed in their primary occupation.  The scheme offers participants the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, while providing services to local communities. To qualify for the RSS, a person must be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: There are 2,969 people on the RSS at present and 1,493 of them will not be impacted by the six-year rule. There are also 381 vacancies. It is not impacting capacity and there is spare capacity there, but I take the Deputy's point about the six-year rule, it has been raised with me. It is very much on our radar in terms of looking at it as part of the review. There were also changes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: On Tús, the numbers are in excess of pre-pandemic levels. The spaces are full and we have more to go because of the July stimulus package, but they have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Referrals to Tús and CE are quite healthy. CE has not recovered in the same way that Tús has. There is a bit of work to do there yet. On the rural social scheme, I would take the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 - 2025 is a whole of Government strategy that aims to reduce consistent poverty and improve social inclusion in Ireland.  The Roadmap contains seven high level goals with 22 specific targets, which will be delivered by 66 unique commitments.   Implementation of Roadmap commitments is underway with a number of commitments fully...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, these Community Employment (CE) drug rehabilitation schemes have a very significant social inclusion focus, are well embedded in our local communities nationally and are generally engaged in significant levels of local service support and delivery. The role of the service support worker is crucial in providing these services. I refer to your question...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 630, 631, 632 and 633 together. As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme. Agreement was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme. This claim creates some difficulties because the State is not the employer of the CE...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 990. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered the recommendations of the International Covid Blood Cancer Coalition impact statement; if these will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14634/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 991. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the availability of Sotrovimab to immunocompromised patients here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14635/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 992. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the availability of Paxlovid to immunocompromised patients here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14636/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 993. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the availability of Evusheld to immunocompromised patients here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14637/22]