Results 1,381-1,400 of 4,132 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: I again raise the issue of school bus transport, which has been a huge problem in recent months. Thankfully, the Minister for Education recently announced she was going to introduce a system whereby children who had been on a concessionary ticket last year or who had been entitled to concessionary travel in the past would be allowed on a bus this year, with a provision put in place for that....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: I met with the Garda Commissioner recently and, of the number of issues he outlined to me, one was that we have two economies in this country. We have an international economy whereby people are in very high paid positions in the various technological companies. Many of the gardaí being recruited have skills and we need those skills to deal with cybercrime and all these areas. They...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate that. In the new work environment that is evolving since Covid-19, more and more people are looking for flexible work arrangements. When everyone else in society is getting flexible work arrangements and when gardaí have very rigid ones, it poses a difficulty and a problem. In respect of that, I want to raise the point that retention and recruitment is also about...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: 3. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties in recruitment and retention in An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52718/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: The Minister referred to the difficulties in respect of recruitment for the Garda in her response to the previous question. That needs to be addressed. The increase in our population, according to the most recent census, tells us the numbers of gardaí and the civilian capacity of the Garda need to be increased. Many gardaí on the ground are telling me that many people are leaving...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the timelines for appointments of new members of the Judiciary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52628/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: I welcome the announcement in the budget that we are going to get more of a commitment to ensure that our judicial system, and particularly our courts system, get more resources. I ask the Minister to provide an update on the timelines for the appointment of new members of the Judiciary; and to provide a statement on the matter. Clearly, in many aspects of our Courts Service there are huge...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: I understand the situation in regard to the High Court judges, and there has been an improvement in respect of that. However, I think the key area in which we need to see improvement is in the Circuit Courts and District Courts, in particular. Indeed, the whole family law system is hugely backed up. Access to justice is a primary need and a primary right that citizens must have. At the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate all of that, but at the same time, we have to recognise that the shortage of judges is having an impact not just on the number of cases going through the courts, but on the full utilisation of the services we have. For instance, there are new court buildings that were established a number of years ago in Limerick. Most of the time, half of the courts there are not being used....

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 is very welcome. It is clear to all of us that this legislation is coming from the pledge that we will implement a zero tolerance strategy, particularly in regard to violence, domestic violence, sexual violence and violence against women. It is very welcome in respect of that. Anything that can support victims of stalking,...

Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (12 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: This legislation comes from the European Union directive. It is welcome that progress is being made on all of these issues. The notion of work-life balance always comes to the fore, as has been mentioned by colleagues, particularly for women who have to balance family life and incorporate work into that life. As the price of houses and the cost of living soar, few families can survive on a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (12 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: 127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on when the circular related to partial refunds on fees paid before the €1,000 reduction came into effect can be expected by institutions of further and higher education. [50441/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (12 Oct 2022)

Martin Kenny: 128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on when a person (details supplied) can expect their partial refund of fees paid before the €1,000 reduction announced in Budget 2023. [50442/22]

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General: Financial Resolution (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Martin Kenny: In the context of a budget, we first look at the overall budget and we then get into the detail of each particular section of it. I commend the budget spend this year in the area of justice. There is a clear commitment to provide the numbers of gardaí that we need to see. That is welcome. All those we talk to, whether rank-and-file gardaí or senior members of the force, tell us...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Sep 2022)

Martin Kenny: I raise the issue of section 39 workers, some of whom are considering taking industrial action in the coming weeks because of the situation they are in. They cannot get a pay rise or increments. We all know and understand that the work they do is vital to our society. They work with people with disabilities, children with autism and so on. Most of them are professionals who are very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Data Protection Regulation Enforcement: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Martin Kenny: I thank our guests for their participation and interest in all of this. I guess the unique position Ireland is in, in having so many of the big tech companies here, puts that huge emphasis and burden on the Irish system. Of course, we recognise that every country in Europe has similar issues. Many issues have been raised and I fully accept that our guests know that the work we did in the...

Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Martin Kenny: I am pleased to speak to this legislation. Online safety affects all of our lives and we all experience the issue. It is particularly acute when we think of children and young people at a very vulnerable age. All of us can be annoyed and frustrated by things that are said about us online and so on. For adults it is not as big an issue but it certainly is a big issue for younger people....

Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Martin Kenny: I welcome the Minister of State to his new post and wish him all the very best for the time ahead. This legislation is clearly necessary. We have had considerable direct investment into Ireland, the vast majority of which has been very successful. IDA Ireland has done an excellent job. International corporations have employed many people in many regions of the country and have not just...

National Retrofit Plan: Motion [Private Members] (20 Sep 2022)

Martin Kenny: I commend my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, on bringing forward the motion. It is very clear that the retrofit scheme the Government has in place is not working and not delivering for very many people the length and breadth of the country, particularly those on middle incomes, who may be paying down a mortgage and who have all the other various issues in life to try to deal with. They simply...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Sep 2022)

Martin Kenny: In the past year, on numerous occasions, I have raised with the Minister of Justice and, indeed, the Minister of Transport, the need for a public transport policing service to be put in place in this country, especially as we have seen, over the past number of months, serious attacks on people both on the public transport service and on some of the drivers of buses etc. A driver in Cavan was...