Results 1,841-1,860 of 3,935 for speaker:Sorca Clarke

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: That is a lesson other countries should learn from us. They have not picked up their pledges.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: On Vote 28, I refer to the mandatory assessments for the UN. The Minister mentioned there has been a significant increase in contributions. Can he give us some information on why there has been such an increase? Is there an increased work plan from the UN? What is the cause?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: This three-year cycle will essentially even itself out with the previous three-year cycle.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I praise the work of the staff in the Passport Office, on whom phenomenal pressure was placed at some points. It cannot have been an easy place to work at times and that needs to be acknowledged. As difficult as that scenario was from our perspectives, I can only imagine the pressure on the other side of the equation. The Minister spoke about the bulk purchase in advance of passport books,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: Specialist quotes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I am talking about emigrant support programmes in the UK. This committee heard previously from organisations that work with the returning Irish diaspora. We heard of the difficulties they experience when they want to move back to Ireland. Does any of the allocated funding go towards those companies and organisations that work with Irish people abroad who want to return home? Is that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: Habitual residency is another challenge.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: If the organisations that are going to be funded by this additional finance are not already listed, would the Minister consider listing them on the Department's website? Any advertisement of the supports available to people of Irish extraction, those who are Irish and living abroad, should be undertaken. If it is not advertised on the Department's website, would the Minister consider...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: In respect of emigrant support programmes, this committee heard previously-----

Water Policy: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue on behalf of my constituents in Longford-Westmeath. One thing that is very clear is that the approach to water policy in this country needs a drastic realignment. As well as the communication and engagement issues that have been spoken about, the very basics need to be got right. Today, in Westmeath, there is an 81-year-old man who lives...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: Some of the Covid testing centres are due to close on 22 November. That will leave the entire midlands area without a dedicated testing service. I have been contacted by staff in Mullingar and by members of the National Ambulance Service, NAS, who are deeply concerned by this move and, in particular, the additional responsibility it will place on the NAS. Concerns relating to the NAS have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a comprehensive update on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan. [47027/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of successful applicants to the Climate Action Fund in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47028/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 136. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which the electricity credit, as part of the Government’s cost-of-living measures, can be applied for tenants who purchase their prepaid meter top-up cards directly from their landlord. [55362/22]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 311. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will provide an expected date for publication of measures agreed regarding the requests from Department of Defence for extensions on the mandatory retirement age at current pay and conditions for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54722/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadcasting Sector (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 332. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if any consideration will be given to removing the broadcasting levy paid by independent radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54348/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 484. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement that his Department has had with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the mandatory retirement age of 50 years for those at the rank of sergeant across the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54717/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 485. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement that his Department has had with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the mandatory retirement age of 55 years for senior non-commissioned officers across the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54718/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 486. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the situation in the Defence Forces where at the rank of sergeant, there are over 400 vacancies from an establishment of 1,330; the steps that he is taking to rectify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54719/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 473. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if any study has been conducted or report prepared as to the suitability of Columb Barracks, Mullingar, as a location for the erection of portacabins to provide accommodation to those fleeing the war in Ukraine, given that many of the community groups operating from Columb Barracks have no access to water or sewage services. [54350/22]