Results 1-20 of 4,601 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (2 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a bheith anseo. Scoil Chiaráin was founded in 1970 and educates boys and girls of primary and post-primary age with mild to moderate special needs. Scoil Chiaráin helps them to develop socially and educationally within a stimulating, friendly environment. Every child, particularly those with special needs, should be given whatever supports...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (2 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Scoil Chiaráin, as I said, is a unique, special school covering the north side of Dublin. It has been more than ten years since the school was surveyed and deemed not fit for purpose. The planning permission was granted in 2021. What the Deputy outlined is going to take us to 2026 and beyond, from what I understand. That is unacceptable. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (2 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: The Minister of State did say that stage 3-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (1 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the witnesses from PAS, SOLAS and the WRC for their input. In 2022 the European Commission reported that Ireland had the highest disability gap in the EU at 39%. In 2023 that increased to 42%. The EU average is supposed to be around 24%. We are not meeting our targets. I do not know what the figure is for this year and whether the gap has got even worse. We do not seem to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (1 May 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Yet but it was aimed at the PAS.

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: As many commuters have found to their cost, having to rely on public transport in Ireland, in Dublin in particular, is very challenging. A great number of people rely on public transport to get to their place of work, to university or to college. Often, however, they are faced with unpredictable delays, insufficient coverage, capacity issues and accessibility challenges for mothers with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Mr. Jones and Ms Ellis for their opening statements. It is interesting to see how the Garda and the court system is dealing with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and its implementation. It is very important. Ms Denning said that 7% of the workforce in the Courts Service have declared themselves as having disabilities. That is well below the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: It is the time factor relating to when the person arrives at or is brought to the station. In some cases, it can be an hour or two hours and the person has come down from the psychosis. I have experienced this on a number of occasions. People were let out when they should not have been but it happens.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the witnesses for the introduction. Most of what I experience comes from my constituents telling me what problems they face. I know that some of the problems we face involve people getting on buses and wheelchair spaces being taken up. I know that most buses have one wheelchair place and some have two. What are the plans to improve the process? The drivers have made it clear they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: It can be messy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Is there a way for the bus driver to communicate from the cab warning people they are in breach of what they should be doing? Is there a mechanism?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I have a further question. A lot of people are now being pushed to going on public transport. We are promoting public transport. A lot of people have pets and they may want to take them from A to B but we do not have a real plan when it comes to anyone getting onto a bus with a dog or something like that. I am just curious if that will be addressed in the future. I would love to know...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: That is what I mean. That is what I am saying. I am talking about in general. Is there any thought that this can be advanced in some way?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Older people especially have little dogs. It is their lifeblood.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I know that.

National Cancer Strategy: Motion [Private Members] (16 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death across the State. It is particularly prevalent in areas of the country that are more economically disadvantaged. A report published by National Cancer Registry Ireland in 2023 showed that people in such areas have an almost 30% higher risk of dying from cancer within five years of diagnosis than those from less economically vulnerable areas....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: I thank everyone for their contributions and input. In the context of Article 27 on work and employment, Ireland has one of the lowest rates of employment of people with disabilities in the EU. The situation is a lot worse in disadvantaged areas than in affluent areas and we need a targeted approach to deal with that. Will the witnesses give their views on how we address that gap and deal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: The Northside Partnership was mentioned. At one stage, we did not cover a lot of areas. We did not cover Santry, for instance, and now we have expanded into those and other areas, which I think was absolutely necessary. We have a better picture of things now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Dessie Ellis: Is there not an onus on companies to take a proportion of people with disabilities? Is there any sort of guide in this regard? If we are trying to get people with disabilities into employment, even with the local authorities or wherever, do we not have any sort of target of any description in this regard?