Results 15,381-15,400 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the interdepartmental group. It is fantastic that the Departments are coming together. If funding is to come down the line, it would be a good idea to have the Departments work together on this and to avoid putting strain on any one particular Department. I look forward to hearing what comes out of this interdepartmental group, but the sooner the better for all involved.

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: 125. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will develop a nationwide scheme for equal access for children with special needs to the early childhood care and education scheme, which provides a free year of childhood care and education for children of preschool age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7737/15]

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: At the risk of repeating what has just been said, will the Minister consider developing a nationwide scheme to provide equal access for children with special needs? The early childhood care and education scheme currently provides a free preschool year of childhood care for all children, including children with special needs. This can be divided over two years, with six hours per week in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Regulation of Gas Industry: Discussion (18 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: I thank both delegations for attending and for their presentations. It is important to make sure people are safe in their homes and to protect businesses and those who are registered and working legally. If 30,000 boilers have been installed and 12,000 certificates are returned, that means the other 18,000 are installed by unregistered gas installers. If there were only ten or 11...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Regulation of Gas Industry: Discussion (18 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: If the CER has no ability to police this without communication from the public and is not the one making the first move, does it need more power to carry this out or is it an impossible task?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Regulation of Gas Industry: Discussion (18 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: Does Ms Rooney agree that the CER needs more assistance to carry out that duty effectively?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Regulation of Gas Industry: Discussion (18 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: There was one question that was not answered, relating to those who are prosecuted. Is there follow-up to ensure they either register afterwards or leave the trade?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Regulation of Gas Industry: Discussion (18 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: One would hope a person would register after being prosecuted and fined, but is there a list that can be checked to see if the installers are continuing to work while unregistered?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) IAG (12 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: I thank Mr. Walsh and Mr. Griffin for appearing before the committee. As he has said, the IAG brand is very strong but he also recognised the Aer Lingus brand is extremely strong and recognised worldwide. We are delighted to hear that if there was a successful bid IAG would maintain the Aer Lingus brand. Two main issues remain, namely, jobs and connectivity. Mr. Walsh has spoken about job...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) IAG (12 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: To follow up on Deputy O'Donovan's question regarding the five-year guarantee, why was that number of years decided and would Mr. Walsh consider extending it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Equality and Fairness of State Pension: (Resumed) Discussion (11 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: I thank Mr. Whelan for appearing before the committee and for his presentation. He has touched on an issue I want to know about. In respect of the rest of Europe, the witness said that Ireland is moving at a faster pace and that we are jumping ahead of ourselves. Does he have any figures or timeframe as to how Europe is moving and how we compare?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Exemptions (10 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: 218. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will amend the criteria for those seeking an exemption from the property tax due to pyrite in their homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5727/15]

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (4 Feb 2015)

Helen McEntee: Will the programme for renovating swimming pools be announced at the same time or will it be separate?

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Helen McEntee: I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on this Private Members' motion. It is very topical considering last night's announcement by the Central Bank on mortgage lending. It is an issue which I have followed very closely and something in which I have a very keen interest. County Meath has expanded dramatically in recent years. We have a growing and very young population. The people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Raidió Teilifís Éireann: Chairperson Designate (28 Jan 2015)

Helen McEntee: I thank Ms Doherty for her presentation and wish her the very best. She has an extremely impressive CV and I think she will bring much to the board of RTE. We still face challenges and Ms Doherty touched on many of those in regard to creating Irish drama, documentaries and public affairs programmes people actually watch. She used "Love/Hate" as an example. If we could have more programmes...

Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products Availability (27 Jan 2015)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Minister for his response, but I must stress that two people are involved. While I understand that we need to consider a cost-benefit analysis and the cost to the taxpayer, this does not involve a large number of people. The two people concerned, out of a possible 12, are not involved in a pilot scheme. I am aware that the company met HSE officials and other bodies this week...

Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products Availability (27 Jan 2015)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for accepting this issue and I thank the Minister for coming into the Chamber to take it. I acknowledge the presence of Mr. John Duggan, his wife, Aileen, and his brother, Stephen, who are in the Gallery. John is a suffer of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, PNH, the disorder that I am about to outline. I want to acknowledge they are here and that they...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Helen McEntee: 560. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the revised guidelines for wind energy will be published; and if they will apply to projects that have prior applications submitted. [3893/15]

Hospital Services: Motion [Private Members] (14 Jan 2015)

Helen McEntee: I take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the contribution of front-line medical staff both in and outside our hospitals for the work they have done in the past two weeks and also that which they do on a daily basis. It has been an extremely difficult and challenging time for everybody working in our health service and also for those seeking to access that service, namely, patients. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (14 Jan 2015)

Helen McEntee: 555. To ask the Minister for Health his views on extending the free cervical smear testing programme to include under 25 year olds; if the scheme will be extended on the basis that should a person under 25 years decide they require a smear test, based on family history, if they will then be included; the amount it would it cost to include under 25 year olds in this programme; if he will...