Results 141-160 of 477 for speaker:Paul Donnelly in 'Dáil debates'

LGBTQI+ Equality: Statements (20 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I wish everyone all the very best for Saturday and the Pride march in Dublin. It is something that many of us look forward to for the energy and fun, while we also recognise the serious message of the day concerning LGBTQI+ rights. I can remember my first Pride march in the early 1990s, leaving the Garden of Remembrance with my two children, Seán and Kerrie, who were in a double pram....

National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: The old saying a fair day's pay for a fair day's work comes through in this Bill. It was the motto of the labour movement back in the 19th century. Here we are today still demanding it. I thank the Deputies who brought the Bill forward. I also acknowledge Senator Gavan for his work on this issue. We fully support a minimum wage, but we are also calling for an hourly living wage. As...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I welcome the response about projects where the issue may not even be extra money, but a difficulty with a planning application or something that has been discovered that has thrown plans a little awry. As I said, it is not always about extra money, though that is welcome, but the flexibility to maybe kick it out for a further six months if the timeframe is already 12 months. I agree it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I thank the Minister for her answer to the question. It is obviously early days and we do not know the extent of the applications for that fund. It will be important to know the extent of them because then we will be looking to the need and the demand within the communities. I return to the community centre investment fund. There are strong stipulations on how we also need guidelines and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: 99. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the community centre fund, which closed on 3 July; and if requests for funding have exceeded the fund available, and if so, by how much. [28300/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: 63. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on the submission to the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use by the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, in particular on the role of community projects being funded to help deal with people with addiction, and the recognition of the need to address the link between drugs and poverty through a community development approach; and if...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I ask the Minister of State’s views on the submissions to the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use by the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, in particular on the role of community projects being funded to help deal with people with addiction, and the recognition of the need to address the link between drugs and poverty through a community development approach; and if she will make a statement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: There is a broad welcome for funding to Citywide and it being brought into the Department of Rural and Community Development and away from the HSE and the national drugs strategy. I have been involved in community development-based drug projects for over 25 years in Dublin 15. I am very proud of the work we have done in supporting individuals, families and communities in tackling the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I agree that it is important that every Deputy would visit his or her community drug team, particularly those which have a local management team or board. That is the essence of community development. It is the local community giving a local response and being able to effectively deal with the problem as it arises in its community. The lesson we have learned over the past 30 years since...

Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Second Stage (13 Jun 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue, which is one I have become increasingly concerned about. The Bill seeks to introduce a licensing system for retail sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes. It also seeks to introduce a range of restrictions on the sale of the products, including their sale from mobile premises and vending machines. I strongly welcome that the Bill proposes...

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 May 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I welcome the Bill. It will create a new criminal offence to tackle the issue of adults encouraging young people and children to get involved in criminal behaviour. As someone who has worked with young people from disadvantaged communities and worked with communities tackling drug problems for more than 30 years, I have witnessed this happening over and over again. Younger people are...

Targeted Investment in the Health Service: Motion [Private Members] (17 May 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I welcome the motion tabled by the Independent Group. It serves to highlight again and shine a spotlight on our health service. I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the doctors, nurses and all of those on the front lines and everyone who works in the services. Recently my mother was released from the Mater hospital after being there for five weeks. I can attest to the absolutely...

Food Costs and High Grocery Bills: Motion [Private Members] (9 May 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I want to put this debate into context and I want the Minister of State to write down one figure. The Government could have a budgetary surplus of up to €16 billion. I am going to read the Minister of State an email I got recently from a constituent. My constituent stated: I have never had any reason or inclination to contact any TD's or public representatives however the cost of...

Food Costs and High Grocery Bills: Motion [Private Members] (9 May 2023)

Paul Donnelly: My understanding is that the meeting was supposed to happen next month and that the Minister of State brought it forward.

Food Costs and High Grocery Bills: Motion [Private Members] (9 May 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I have my doubts.

Food Costs and High Grocery Bills: Motion [Private Members] (9 May 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I welcome that the Government is not opposing this motion. However, I am asking the Government to go further than just appealing to those who have the power over what we pay at the checkouts. It is time for real action and I hope the Government has real action in mind and that there will not be just words from tomorrow's meeting.

Support for Household Energy Bills: Motion [Private Members] (3 May 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I was canvassing last week in the Navan Road area, which is in my constituency, and I met Mary who is a pensioner. She and her husband have a very modest income after a lifetime of work. She said that she keeps the heating off and uses a blanket to keep warm when watching television. Mary showed me a bill of €800 for gas and one of €500 for the ESB. She said she managed to...

Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023: Second Stage (3 May 2023)

Paul Donnelly: I welcome the Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023. It is imperative for the future of the construction industry in Ireland and for the safety of all workers in that sector. I previously worked on several construction sites when I was younger. I will never forget one incident. A foreman asked me to walk out on a scaffolding plank seven storeys up, while he got other workers to stand on...

Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement: Statements (26 Apr 2023)

Paul Donnelly: The Good Friday Agreement is built on the European Convention on Human Rights. All through the document, the signatories and co-guarantors refer to human rights, equality and justice as the foundations that would move society away from conflict and sustain a lasting peace. Sadly, the Good Friday Agreement did not reconcile with the past or engage with the rights of victims and survivors....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Voluntary Sector (25 Apr 2023)

Paul Donnelly: 66. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on her Department's engagement with the future board leaders' pilot 2023 scheme for individuals who are interested in volunteering their skills with organisations that have board vacancies, in particular those from minority backgrounds. [19267/23]