Results 1,741-1,760 of 2,078 for speaker:Richard O'Donoghue

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Mar 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: In Limerick, people going out on their walks could go to the coffee trucks and the rest and get their cup of coffee. The licensing was not in place for these and they were all closed down because of licensing rules. We need to relax licensing rules for pop-up coffee trucks so people can go out for a walk and have a cup of coffee and so these businesses are supported.

Banking Sector: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: As a major shareholder, was the Government aware of Bank of Ireland's plans to significantly reduce its presence in the community? Was the Minister privy to this information regarding the closures before the sudden announcement on Monday? Does the Government support Bank of Ireland and its decision to close more than 100 branches? Is the Government's policy to support Bank of Ireland and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Mar 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: In County Limerick, seven branches are closing, in Abbeyfeale, Askeaton and Rathkeale in west Limerick, Bruff in east Limerick and three in the city. That leaves five branches in Limerick city and county. It is about time the Government stood up and said enough is enough. We bailed out the banks and now it is time to leave the services there. Three branches in west Limerick, one in east...

Housing Shared Equity Loan Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (3 Mar 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: On the face of it the shared equity scheme looks like it would be very welcome in the market. Anything that will help first-time buyers is welcome. I have been involved in construction all of my life. I can see the failure for many generations of not supplying houses in Limerick and the surrounding areas. When speaking to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, last week I told him that 60% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Redundancy Payments (3 Mar 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: 45. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts he has made in respect of the 150 job losses announced by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12026/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (3 Mar 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: 227. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on increasing the primary medical certificate thresholds in line with VRT increases as per budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12027/21]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I raised this issue about peat last week and about straw being put back into the ground by farmers. 1 o’clock They were relying on peat for bedding and now, because of the legislation the Government is trying to introduce to require farmers to put the straw back into the ground, additional pressure will be put on them. The last two speakers are 100% correct. This all goes back...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I am going talk about the 2040 national development plan as it applies to the mid-west region. The plan was written in 2015. It is like a "once upon a time" story when one considers what is needed in Limerick. The plan later became the national development plan of 2019 and then the national framework, which is now the 2040 plan. I looked at the investment projects and programme tracker in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I look forward to the investment in Limerick but, as I said, it is like a "once upon a time" story. The Minister is talking about everything but 73% of towns and villages have no infrastructure, sewerage or adequate water supplies while €4.5 billion is spent in Dublin. There are 25 other counties in the Republic of Ireland and the Government is spending billions in Dublin and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Medical Certificates (25 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: 287. To ask the Minister for Health his position on the halting of primary medical certificate assessments by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10698/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Medical Certificates (25 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: 288. To ask the Minister for Health his position on alternative travel arrangements for patients awaiting a primary medical assessment; if funding will be allocated to patients for transport to medical appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10699/21]

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I have been a building contractor all my life. When the Land Development Agency, LDA, was launched in 2018, it was to have two functions, namely, to manage State lands strategically to ensure they were being put to the best use, and to deliver 150,000 homes over 20 years. Those are the functions the agency should have managed. As I said, I have been in construction all my life. I have...

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I can hear it up here. If the LDA has the right structure, it will cover rural areas where there are currently poor water and sewerage services because they are at capacity. Oolagh has no capacity and people cannot build a house in the area. People in Askeaton have been waiting 30 years for a sewerage system. How many Governments have promised this in the past 30 years? Raw sewage is...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: In August last year a company sent information to the Ceann Comhairle, who gave it to the superior officer, regarding a high performance air cleaner. We have constantly said we are looking for more time to talk in a safer environment and way. The officials did their job and reverted to the company that manufactured the high performance air cleaner. The Government has sat on this since...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I also want to highlight that the mass vaccination centre announced for Limerick is in County Clare. The racecourse in Limerick, which is off the motorway, was offered. The HSE called out and saw it but never got back to it. The greyhound track was offered but again it was not chosen. People from Kilbehenny, Galbally and Abbeyfeale will have to travel for an hour and then go outside the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I agree with all of the speakers. If half an hour was designated for Questions on Promised Legislation only, with the Government business agreed and done outside of that half an hour, people in the rota would be able to get in. As I said earlier, I was second on the list but I was overlooked. I take it that I was overlooked and that is fine and I got an opportunity to come in. I was there...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I was second on the list yesterday. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle took down my name. Members have stood up here today who were behind me on the list yesterday. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae was first. I was second on that list. I was here at 9.30 a.m. Nine of us stood in a queue yesterday and Members have spoken before me.

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I will share time with Deputy Michael Collins. There are many types of front-line workers and I draw attention to those front-line workers in the homelessness sector, where in many cases they work in a voluntary capacity. They are among the front-line worker heroes so I acknowledge and thank them for the work they do. This work is challenging at the best of times but especially now in...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (17 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: Farmers will pay in the region of €25 million in carbon tax in 2021. However, not one cent of those taxes will go back into the agriculture sector to help reduce emissions. Agriculture sector farmers will pay €80 million a year towards carbon tax. More than 2 million calves will be born in Ireland this year, on top of the 2 million that were born last year. Some 27% of those...

Insurance (Restriction on Differential Pricing and Profiling) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Feb 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I have paperwork in front of me here but I do not need to use it because I know what I am talking about. I thank Deputy Doherty. I have been listening to what he has been saying for the past number of years and it is 100% true. The Government has failed to tackle this issue and that can be explained by a look at the Cabinet. How many of them are self-employed? I am self-employed and have...