Results 1-20 of 26,195 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Sector Pay (9 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I again thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As I have stated, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for public expenditure and reform, Deputy Chambers. Given how diligent Deputy McGrath is, I have no doubt he has already taken the matter up with the Minister. I ask him to outline the specific circumstances to the Minister directly following the debate. As I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fishing Industry (9 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I again thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As I already stated, I am taking it on the behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who will be in direct contact with the Deputy in the coming days. He would like to have been here to take the debate in his capacity as the Minister of State with responsibility for this area but had a prior arrangement to meet the minister...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Sector Pay (9 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for public expenditure and reform, Jack Chambers TD. The community and voluntary sector plays a vital role in delivering public services across Ireland. Various organisations in the community and voluntary sector are contracted to provide services on behalf of the State and are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fishing Industry (9 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I was speaking to him this morning in advance of the debate. He sends his apologies. He has to attend a meeting with the UK fisheries minister this morning. He will be in direct contact with the Deputy in the coming days on the matter. I hope that provides some level of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (8 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: We have to welcome anyone from Limerick, so I welcome our visitors. I thank Senator Duffy for raising this important matter. Addressing vacancy and bringing existing properties back into use as homes is a key priority of the Government. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. A key initiative introduced in 2022 under...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (8 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Having listened carefully to the points raised by the Senator, I will say that the Government is committed to addressing vacancy. The vacant property refurbishment grant has been successful in this regard, along with the other schemes and measures in place. It is supporting bringing properties back into use as homes and the regeneration of villages, towns and cities. The Senator raised a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (8 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this very important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss the future of social housing PPP bundle 3, the individual project at Ardrew in Athy, County Kildare, and the next steps following the recent decision regarding the procurement process. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (8 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator again for raising this very important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. While the decision not to proceed with the original procurement route for PPP bundle 3 was difficult, it was made in the best interest of value for the Exchequer and long-term programme viability. My Department's...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Arts Centres (8 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. I wish to clarify that the provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacities as library authorities under the Local Government Act...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Arts Centres (8 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: Once again, I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important matter, which I am talking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. I understand how genuine Senator O'Loughlin is on this matter. In line with the programme for Government, there was an intention to expand URDF estimates as part of the towns and cities infrastructure...

Health (Availability of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2025: First Stage (3 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is not being opposed.

Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025: First Stage (3 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: No.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Budget 2026 (3 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 to 352, inclusive, together. Since becoming Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, I have been working to support people with dementia and their families and will continue to prioritise their needs and build on the existing provisions and already substantial investment in dementia over the next five years to ensure that all people...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (3 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes: Motion [Private Members] (2 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that: — a national policy on adult safeguarding will be introduced for the health and social care sector, as set out in the Programme for Government, and this policy will commit to the development of adult safeguarding legislation for the sector, including nursing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (2 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care Services (1 Jul 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 857, 859 and 860 together. Since becoming Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, I have been working to support people with dementia and their families and will continue to prioritise their needs and build on the existing provisions that focus on person-centred care. On 23 May 2025, I announced that implementation of the National...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regulatory Bodies (26 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: The context here is quite simple. I always go back to the needs of older persons in nursing homes. What we saw in that programme with the residents in the nursing homes in Portlaoise and Beneavin was wanton neglect and abuse of older people. We want to look at the regulatory system and how we can improve it. All aspects will be considered. This is ultimately about improvements and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regulatory Bodies (26 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy and I have engaged intensively at the health committee. I will go through the points she raised. With regard to the licensing, there is absolutely a lacuna there at the moment. Within a group of companies, the licensing inspection is on individual nursing homes and who they are run by, but the parent company is not under HIQA's remit. I want that to be changed. There is an...

Seanad: Nursing Homes and Care for Older Persons: Statements (26 Jun 2025)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the opportunity to discuss nursing homes and the care of older people with Members of the Seanad. I acknowledge the "RTÉ Investigates" programme that was broadcast on 4 June. This hard-hitting and harrowing programme highlighted a litany of poor care standards in two nursing homes, showing clear neglect and abuse of older people, namely, The Residence Portlaoise and...