Results 1,901-1,920 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (13 Jan 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 684. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been remanded to the Irish Prison Service while awaiting removal from the State, not including persons awaiting extradition since March 2020, by month in tabular form. [44833/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jan 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund was intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19. The criteria of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jan 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I am aware of the challenges faced by many community organisations at this time and my Department has put a range of initiatives in place that provides supports to the community sector during the COVID-19 crisis. My Department currently supports over 420 community organisations under the Community Services Programme (CSP) to provide local services through a social...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (13 Jan 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulator (CRA) is an independent public body which is under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development. The CRA have informed my Department that the open recruitment competition, to recruit a new Director of Legal Affairs and Registration was advertised by them on 14th October 2020 with a closing date for applications of 4th November...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Data Centres (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and apologise on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who is attending an EU Council meeting today. The Government's statement on the role of data centres in Ireland's enterprise strategy acknowledges the role of data centres as part of the digital and communications infrastructure for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Data Centres (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I again thank the Senator for her comments. The Government is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, with an annual reduction in overall emissions of 7%. This is a challenge and at the same time an opportunity for the Government, agencies and industry stakeholders to work together to achieve a green Ireland. I have noted the Senator's questions and will take them back to the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Just Transition (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I welcome the opportunity to set out the actions being taken by the Government to support the midlands region. Significant funding has been allocated to support workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna. The work of Kieran Mulvey as just...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Just Transition (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Senator's point is very much taken. The ESB recognises that the closure will impact on the midlands region. However, this does not mark an end to the long relationship of ESB with the region. The company has extensive ongoing operations, which include ESB Networks depots in several areas and the ESB Networks national training centre in Portlaoise, which provides training to 280...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Just Transition (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Acting Chairman and wish her a very happy Christmas.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I am glad to say there is constant communication between my Department, myself, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, the local development companies, the community services programme organisations and the broader community voluntary sector. That flow is constant and we are keeping a close eye on developments as they carry on. I want to mention some other programmes which are key in terms of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The short answer is "Yes". The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and I had a meeting with local authority chief executives earlier this year which informed the budget process as well. We stay in touch with the local community development committees, LCDCs, which the Department oversees. I stay in touch with the public participation network. Some 15,000 community organisations are members of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted communities in rural and urban Ireland. Those that were already vulnerable, marginalised or facing higher levels of deprivation must continue to be supported to ensure that no community is left behind as we navigate our way through the pandemic and build towards an inclusive recovery. The Department's programmes have been supporting...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: In 2019, my Department published Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A Five-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland 2019-2024. This strategy reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector and addressing some of the challenges faced by service providers while also recognising the reality of finite resources and the need to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Tusla is one of the priority organisations that we want to engage with on this issue, along with the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is important in this whole mix. Last week the cross-sectoral group overseeing the strategy had a meeting. There were several priority...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I agree with the Deputy and there is also a recognition of that in the strategy, which is one of the reasons it has been prioritised. Much of this comes down to some Departments and agencies not getting what the community and voluntary sector is about to some extent. That is certainly not the case with my Department. I have been very impressed with the officials in my time there. They...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Volunteering Strategy (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I am pleased to advise Deputies that the National Volunteering Strategy was launched on the 5thDecember, which coincided with International Volunteering Day. The purpose of the National Volunteering Strategy is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution of volunteers to Irish society. It also provides an opportunity for Government to acknowledge how important...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's mission is “To promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland". A key part of achieving this mission is regularly reaching out to organisations in the community and voluntary sector through consultation, engagement and outreach regarding the Department's policies and all of our programmes. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Men’s and Women’s Sheds make an invaluable contribution to community life in Ireland. My Department provides a range of supports which Men's/Women's Sheds can avail of, some of which provide specifically for costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, I launched the 2020 Community Enhancement Programmewith funding of €2m. In August, the Department launched a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Through my ongoing engagement with the Community and Voluntary sector, I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by the sector and their communities both rural and urban whilst meeting increased demands on many of their services. In order to support the sector, my Department has put in place a number of initiatives including the following. A €50 million support packagefor the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Through my ongoing engagement with the Community and Voluntary sector, I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by the sector and their communities both rural and urban whilst meeting increased demands on many of their services. In order to support the sector, my Department put in place a range of measures over the period of the pandemic, including the following initiatives. A €50...