Results 1-20 of 2,677 for speaker:Noel Grealish

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Cycling Facilities (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I definitely hear the Deputy's frustration. I am delivering the script that was handed to me. I know that active travel and these greenways are very important for people's health and everything. In this context, I want to say that over €360 million of grant support for the active travel and greenways networks for next year was committed in the recent budget. This funding helps...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I thank the Deputy once again for raising this important matter. Vaccination is recognised as one of the most impactful and cost-effective public health interventions that can be employed, promoting good health and saving many lives year on year. As has already been highlighted today, shingles can impact anyone who has been infected with chicken pox during their life, leaving a significant...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Cycling Facilities (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ward for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, who unfortunately could not be here this afternoon. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with Members of the House on his behalf. I understand that the Deputy's question relates to the proposal to create a continuous 22 km...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Code (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I thank Deputy Moynihan again for raising this matter. The Government recognises the complexity of caring roles and the reality that many carers continue to provide full-time care while navigating other life events, including maternity leave. As I said in my opening remarks, this Government has committed to improving support for carers and those they care for. The significant changes to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Burke for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health. Varicella is a common and highly infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. This virus is associated with two distinct clinical syndromes, namely, varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, and herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles. Primary infection...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Code (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this issue, which I am dealing with on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary. The Government acknowledges the vital role that family carers play in our society and remains fully committed to supporting them in that role. This commitment is reflected in both the programme for Government and the recent budget. The Department of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Support Services (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who cannot be here. The wage subsidy scheme is a key disability employment support. It aims to encourage employers to offer substantial and sustainable employment to disabled people through a subsidy. As of September 2025, there were 1,538 employers availing of the wage subsidy scheme and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Support Services (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: We are committed to improving the wage subsidy scheme and supporting organisations employing more than one person under the scheme. The Department of Social Protection offers a range of other employment supports for disabled people and their employers. In July 2024, the Department launched the work and access scheme, which offers seven supports to improve access in the workplace for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Éireann (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I am responding on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, who, unfortunately, cannot be present today. On the Minister of State’s behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond to this matter and thank Deputy O’Donoghue for his question. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Éireann (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update him on school transport. I remind him of the increase in the number of tickets issued for the 2025-26 school year to date, with an increase of 6% in tickets issued when compared to the same time last year. While Bus Éireann has reported challenges in sourcing contractors and drivers, not only for school transport but in the wider...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: Tá an-áthas orm a bheith sa Teach seo ar maidin le haghaidh an ní seo a thógáil ar son an Aire. I think this is the first opportunity I have had to speak to the Senator here in the Seanad and I am delighted to take this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, who is unfortunately unavailable. I want to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: As the Senator knows, I am only reading out the script that has been given to me by the Department of education. I will read from the last page. I would like once again to thank the Senator for giving me an opportunity to outline the Department of Education and Youth’s position to the House. I understand the application from Scoil Gharbháin for additional accommodation is...

Tillage Sector: Statements (15 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I am delighted to hear that.

Tillage Sector: Statements (15 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I hope the committee has visited Moorepark in Cork as well. I was very impressed by it. It has been said that the Government is not trying to support the tillage industry. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on going to the meeting in the Killashee Hotel recently. Over 1,000 people attended that meeting. It was very important for the Minister to be there. It shows how seriously he...

Tillage Sector: Statements (15 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I thank all of the Members who have spoken today. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, and I have listened carefully to what has been raised by the Opposition and those on the Government benches. For a few minutes I will speak about my role in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as Minister of State with responsibility for new...

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: Deputy Tóibín gave a press conference.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Air and Water Pollution (15 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I thank Deputy Murphy for his input this morning on this important issue. Although ambient air quality in Ireland is recognised as being among the best in Europe, there is no safe level of air pollution. There are policies and legislation in place to ensure that we continue to strive to minimise the impact of air pollution on our citizens and the environment. Local authorities are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Risk Management (15 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I assure the Deputy and the House that the Minister of State and the Government are committed to proactively addressing, along with Cork County Council, the flood risk to homes, businesses and communities in County Cork. These measures are being funded through the Government's €1.3 billion allocation for flood relief measures under the national development plan. The Minister of State...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Air and Water Pollution (15 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am dealing with on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The air we breathe is fundamental to our health, environment and the overall well-being of our communities. Nationally, from an ambient air-quality point of view, the main air pollutants of concern are fine particulate matter from solid fuel combustion and nitrogen...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (15 Oct 2025)

Noel Grealish: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The programme for Government 2020 contained a commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming. As a result of this commitment, the Department enacted the Animal Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 in December 2022, amending the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The new Act contained a statutory prohibition on the...