Results 1,501-1,520 of 11,971 for speaker:Mary Butler

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: There is no better advocate for the Curragh than my good friend and colleague, Senator O’Loughlin, whom I thank for raising this matter. We hear so much about the Curragh on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. It is fantastic to hear the Senator advocate so well for Kildare’s jewel in the crown, as she put it. The Curragh’s unique area of approximately 5,000 acres of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator. I will bring her comments back to the Minister, specifically her belief that there is no urgency and her request for a timeline in relation to the review of these sites that is foreseen. It is important that all the facets of the State come together. I am confident that the Department of Defence, together with Kildare County Council, will continue to work towards...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Admissions (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an cheist a ardú mar go dtugann sé deis dom an cás mar atá sé faoi láthair a shoiléiriú i dtaca le soláthar iarbhunoideachais i gCoill na Silíní. I would like to thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Admissions (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I would also like to welcome the Tipperary spina bifida association from my neighbouring county. It is lovely to have the representatives here and I hope they have a great day here in Leinster House with my colleague, Deputy Cahill. I will bring what the Senator has said back to the Minister. The Department has said that the pace of delivery of additional residential development in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Broadcasting Sector (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank Senator Carrigy for raising this important matter and I am replying today on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin to provide an update. I do not think anyone would disagree with what the Senator has said about local radio, local news and local journalism. They are so important to people the length and breadth of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Broadcasting Sector (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator for raising this issue, which is very topical at the moment. I was watching part of the committee meeting last night while I was in my office. I acknowledge the fundamental challenges facing the sector and reiterate the Government's commitment to supporting the provision of public sector content by the wider media sector at local, regional and national levels. In...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Night-time Economy (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank Senator Ruane for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on some of the issues involved on behalf of the Minister for Justice, who is attending a Private Members' debate in the Dáil. I would like to respond to Senator Ruane's very important comments on trying to get young people off their phones and out into the fresh air, whether on the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Night-time Economy (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: All of Senator Ruane's comments will be brought to the attention of the Minister and her officials. One of the facets of the new Bill is the standardisation of opening hours for pubs and off-licences . The introduction of annual late permits and annual nightclub permits will be very important in large cities but perhaps not so important in a smaller rural town or village. All of these...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I, too, congratulate my colleague, Deputy Lawless, on his promotion to the position of Minister of State in the Departments of Transport and the Environment, Climate and Communications. I have no doubt this will be the first of many times he will be in the House for Topical Issues.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: There were meant to be four.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: Two out of three ain't bad.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Urban Development (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputies again for raising this issue. As I and both Deputies have said, community safety is a whole-of-government responsibility and it requires a multiagency approach. I agree with the Deputies that there are great communities in the area. They spoke of the role of sports clubs, which are important. I agree on addiction and dual diagnosis issues,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Urban Development (3 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, I thank the Deputies for raising this. It is essential that people feel safe and are safe in their local communities, and Dublin 8 is no exception. Dublin city, and its surroundings, is a hive of business and tourism, particularly at this time of year. There is also a strong, vibrant community created by local residents. We want every...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising the issue of Fermoy Educate Together school. Individual school authorities are responsible in the first instance for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are organised at local school level. The Department's guidance to schools is that the number of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Pollution (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy and I will certainly bring his concerns back to the Minister, who has overall responsibility in these challenges. As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government is committed to funding Uisce Éireann's capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. There will be record levels of investment in water services by Uisce...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue on Fermoy Educate Together National School in Cork East. I am answering this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. I believe the Deputy has already pre-empted some of the response. The Deputy most certainly is aware that Fermoy Educate Together National School is an ordinary mixed school in the town of Fermoy,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Pollution (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising the issue of pollution in the River Sullane near Macroom. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of the Macroom wastewater treatment plant is a matter for Uisce Éireann, which, since 1 January 2014, has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: No, you cannot. You will have time to come back in. You can say it then.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: No, he actually used the words "lie" and "liar". I heard exactly what he said. I just want to be clear-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Butler: The Deputy is saying that, in his opinion, the information was a lie.