Results 13,221-13,240 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will be as brief as possible, if I may. As I did not have an opportunity earlier, I will take this time to thank all of our front-line workers who are fighting Covid-19. I thank our healthcare workers, the workers in supermarkets and other essential shops that are open, our gardaí and members of the Defence Forces and, in particular, the farmers who are producing the food in our...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Minister for the work that her, her team and her Department are doing. A huge amount of support has been provided to the business community and employees from the State. What people want to know next is how can their business get going again and how can they start. Obviously, we know it will not be a matter of flicking on a switch and that it will be gradual and that businesses...

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Tánaiste touched on a lot of this but I will reiterate what he said. I share Deputy Crowe's concerns and the concerns that have been expressed by most Deputies who have spoken. It was not outlined in the Taoiseach's speech because it was not an item on the agenda but that is why the Tánaiste in particular wanted to raise this issue. He has consistently showed solidarity and...

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Members from across the House for their contributions. The cross-cutting nature of the MFF means that it impacts on a wide range of policy areas and political priorities, not just for member states across the Union but also for parties and groupings in this House. As the Taoiseach has noted, there is further work to be done to finalise the MFF package. There remain differences...

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Helen McEntee: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I dtús báire ba mhaith lion Seachtain na Gaeilge shona a ghuí ar gach duine. Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí ar fad as ucht a gceisteanna. Is iomaí ábhar ata luaite acu agus déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall iad ar fad a fhreagairt. B'fhéidir go dtosóidh mé leis na ceisteanna maidir...

Post-European Council: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Helen McEntee: I will start with the last questions, around Brexit and when the €100 million funding will be ready. We are still implementing funding from the EU-funded INTERREG and PEACE programmes, which will finish when this current budget term ends. There is a question as to whether the next EU budget will be implemented on time. We are pushing to try to make sure it is ready, which will be...

Post-European Council: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his questions. Despite the fact that there was a lack of a conclusion to the COP25 negotiations, the new European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, was positive and made significant steps in the right direction with the launch of the green deal last week. The endorsement by the European Council of the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 was also...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety (18 Dec 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, who cannot be here this morning because he is attending a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport. He sends his apologies. The Senator has raised a number of matters and I will try my best to answer them. Where she has...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety (18 Dec 2019)

Helen McEntee: I will highlight another few areas, particularly in terms of the overall emissions, to show that a considerable amount of work is being done. The rebate was introduced at a time when the industry was under particular pressure. It was needed to try to ensure that individual businesses did not go under and that they were sustainable. It was acknowledged that they were still in significant...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank both Deputies. On views on the length of an extension, my understanding is they have sought an extension for the next three months and that is what we are responding to. From our point of view, no counter-proposals or conditions were expressed in the Taoiseach's conversation with Donald Tusk but again, I can only speak for us. I cannot speak for other member states or the...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: At the moment what we have is a minimal amount of checks in the ports and airports in Northern Ireland. There will be further checks, obviously kept at a minimum, to the level required by the Commission and those who are upholding the letter of the law and the Single Market. There will be a certain level of checks, again that will be kept to a minimum, to ensure that any goods that are...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: They will be done at the ports and airports and there will be-----

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: I think some of that has to be still worked out at this stage but there will be officials at the ports in Northern Ireland, so they would be Northern Ireland officials. As to it being overseen, as I have said in terms of the Single Market and alignment, there is talk of various bodies but also the ECJ, if it gets to that point. It is important to say that from our point of view and,...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: The detail has been published, in that we have the new drafts of how this protocol will work, but there is further detail still to be worked out.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: The Commission accepts that what is being proposed can be followed through and worked through and that we can protect the integrity of our Single Market but also that Northern Ireland will remain part of the territorial integrity of the rest of the UK, which has been extremely important throughout all of this. On the cross-community element, what is different here is that now we are...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for their questions. On Deputy Haughey's question regarding the enlargement discussion, I was very disappointed that not only the European Council but the General Affairs Council had difficulty reaching a unanimous decision to open up accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. I was particularly disappointed because we had this same discussion last June,...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: My understanding is that legally they do not have to meet and that this can be addressed by way of letter but whether other member states might request a meeting or a summit has yet to be determined. There may be a meeting between now and next Thursday. In regard to Catalonia, I do not know if the Taoiseach raised this issue. I am sure that he has had conversations with his colleague in...

Child Maintenance: Motion (22 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: A range of important issues have been raised throughout the course of this debate, including the social welfare system for supporting families, the legal system and the Courts Service, and how they impact on family lives. We have heard about the people whom we are all here to help and to support. The issue has been raised of creating some type of maintenance agency, but many countries...

Developments in Spain: Statements (22 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions this evening. As I said in my opening remarks, the question of Catalan independence remains a deeply divisive and contentious issue, not just in Catalonia but in all of Spain. It is very clear from the contributions that what is happening in Spain and Catalonia matters to each and every one of us in this Chamber and beyond, for reasons I have...

Developments in Spain: Statements (22 Oct 2019)

Helen McEntee: The Government follows closely developments in Spain, which is an important EU partner and friend of Ireland. I know some Members of this House have visited Catalonia and their perspectives contribute to our consideration here this evening. Irish people know Spain, and, indeed, Catalonia, well. After Britain, Spain is the country to which we travel most. Furthermore, cities and towns...