Results 1,741-1,760 of 9,563 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (25 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 121, inclusive, together. Irish Airports must comply with European Union Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility ("PRM") when travelling by air (“Regulation 1107”). The objective of this Regulation is to ensure “high and equivalent levels of protection and assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (25 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes all application and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my department have information on individual cases. As such, I have referred the question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Insurance Coverage (25 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: Under Section 56 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, vehicles used in a public place require a minimum of a third party liability insurance. There is no legal barrier to vehicle owners who do not have a driving licence insuring their vehicles. However, insurance companies are private entities and provision of insurance cover s a commercial matter between the parties. Therefore, I am not in a...

Mortgage Interest Rates Cap Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I again thank Deputies for speaking to the Bill. I also thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for bringing it to the House. We are all acutely aware of the high mortgage repayments currently faced by some mortgage holders and the stress and hardship this causes for families. The Government has undertaken a number of initiatives, including measures in the budget, to help people impacted by the rise in...

Mortgage Interest Rates Cap Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for initiating this Bill. The Bill proposes to cap mortgage interest rates on private dwelling home mortgages and to give the Central Bank the power to issue a direction to all mortgage lenders setting out the maximum APR chargeable on housing loans, that being a rate not exceeding 3%. The Government is opposing the Bill and I will outline shortly some of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Welfare (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Cronin again for raising the issue. As I said, the footage that was broadcast was abhorrent and extremely upsetting for us all. Many people across communities would never show such a blatant disregard for the welfare of horses. That is why what we saw was potentially criminal behaviour by a number of individuals and there needs to be consequences of that. The welfare of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Welfare (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate Deputy Cronin raising this important issue. I am taking this issue on behalf of my colleague the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. As I said to Deputy Murphy, the footage broadcasted last week showing incidents of animal cruelty was extremely upsetting and the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, shares the reaction of viewers and the wider public who were appalled and upset by such a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Welfare (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. The footage broadcast last week showing instances of animal cruelty was extremely upsetting. The Minister shares the reaction of viewers and the wider public who were appalled and upset by such a blatant disregard for the welfare of horses. He is certain that the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Welfare (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I will pass the Deputy's feedback to the Minister. The footage broadcast last week was abhorrent and extremely upsetting for all of us who have never shown such blatant disregard for the welfare of horses or other animals. What we saw was potentially criminal behaviour by a number of individuals and I do not believe it was representative of the wider horse owning community. The welfare...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the specific difficulty being experienced by many of the students referred to by the Deputy. I will definitely reflect this issue to the Minister. Her intention and hope is that the changes being progressed from the wider review of the school transport scheme will bring about a situation that will ensure more students nationwide can qualify for and access the school transport...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Laboratory Facilities (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate Deputy Naughten's kind words. I am replying on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I appreciate the opportunity to update the House on the important matter of national laboratory capacity for genetics and genomics. It is important that we increase genomic laboratory capability in Ireland and invest in the infrastructure to drive this advancement....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Laboratory Facilities (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I again thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The national strategy for accelerating genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland outlines a clear approach to developing a sustainable patient- and family-centred genetics and genomics service. As I said, it is important that we increase laboratory capability in Ireland and invest in the infrastructure to drive this advancement. An...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate Deputy O'Sullivan's kind words. I am taking this on behalf of our colleague the Minister, Deputy Foley. Before I address the specific issue raised, I have been asked to provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme which is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, more than 161,600 children are being...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the difficulty for certain individuals and families. We all, as constituency TDs, try to work with families and individuals to support them in the application process. The HSE and all Departments and agencies should strive to make sure that applying for public services is a user-friendly process for everyone involved. As the Deputy mentioned, lengthy documents or a lot of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regeneration Projects (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: The regeneration of social housing flats is within the parameters of the national regeneration programme, which targets the country's most disadvantaged communities, those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour, as per housing Circular 11/2007, policy framework for the regeneration of local authority estates. It is the responsibility of local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regeneration Projects (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Ceann Comhairle very much.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and Deputy Browne for their kind wishes. I also thank Deputy Browne for raising this important issue. Eligibility for a medical card is primarily based, as the Deputy knows, on a financial assessment, which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970. The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regeneration Projects (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Costello for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for housing. I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss Dublin City Council's redevelopment plans for social housing complexes. The Department of housing is committed to ensuring that tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards most recently laid down in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for his kind words. This is an important project in the national development plan and I have met the Deputy and many other colleagues about advancing it. It is being funded this year with Cork County Council. I will provide the Deputy a detailed update from Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the project’s progress. It is central to the national development plan...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (20 Jun 2024)

Jack Chambers: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I appreciate the kind words from both Senators and I am here to take this on behalf of the Taoiseach to whom I think the Senator submitted the item. I appreciate the Senator giving the Government the opportunity to provide an update on this matter. Solar radiation modification, SRM, is the intentional large scale intervention in the Earth's...