Results 1-20 of 10,372 for speaker:Niamh Smyth

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Family Resource Centres (7 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this issue this evening. Cabra, like every other community in the country, is as entitled to it as anywhere else. I have the lived experience of the benefits of a family resource centre in my community in Bailieborough. Many moons ago, a community got together and established it in a housing estate in Bailieborough called Drumbannon. I had the privilege...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Family Resource Centres (7 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: The Deputy is right in what he said that they can be the heart and soul and can be designed in such a way that they really respond to the nuances of a community, because communities' needs are not always the same. It is a real opportunity when a new application process is opened. The Deputy is well entitled to stand here and advocate for the Cabra centre, especially when, as he said...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (7 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Senator for his question and warmly welcome the family who are here today to keep the campaign going for what is a very good cause. The An Saol Foundation does really great work. I thank Senator McCarthy for raising this very important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (7 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I again thank the Senator. I will convey his sentiments to the Minister, Deputy Foley, and encourage her to visit the site if she has not already done so. I will tell her that an invitation has been extended. The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to improving disability services and ensuring that people with disabilities and their families receive the necessary support. By...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Appeals (7 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Senator very much. As she is well aware, I am not the Minister for Social Protection, but I am the Minister of State with responsibility for AI and digitalisation. I tell her wholeheartedly that if I achieve anything over the next five years, it will be to bring efficiencies into our public services and public bodies so parents and families are not left forgotten or "invisible",...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Appeals (7 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: The Senator can share the details with me, but I encourage her to share them with Minister, Dara Calleary. I will convey to the Minister the thoughts, views and, more importantly, the sentiments of what the Senator has put forward in her argument. I know that if the Minister can do anything on an individual basis for that family, he will try to ensure that their case is expedited as quickly...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Ticket Booking Fees (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: Ireland has a strong track record when it comes to protecting consumers. Primary online marketplaces provide a platform where event tickets can be purchased and are regulated by various pieces of legislation, some of which I will outline below. Primary tickets are allocated for sale to the platform by event partners, which includes, among others, event organisers, promoters, venues,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Company Registration (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: At the outset, it may be useful to give some sense of the scale of material dealt with by the Companies Registration Office (CRO). At present, details are held on over 300,000 companies, more than 600,000 business names and the beneficial ownership records of over 280,000 entities, in addition to details on smaller numbers of limited partnerships, trade unions, industrial and provident...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Artificial Intelligence (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: A Refresh of Ireland's National AI Strategy was published in November 2024. The Strategy sets out a whole of government approach to putting the necessary enablers in place to underpin AI adoption in enterprise and public services, including a supportive innovation ecosystem, a secure data and connectivity infrastructure, and policies to ensure that the workforce is prepared for the impact of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Artificial Intelligence (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: A Refresh of Ireland's National AI Strategy was published in November 2024. The Strategy sets out a whole of government approach to putting the necessary enablers in place to underpin AI adoption in enterprise and public services, including a supportive innovation ecosystem, a secure data and connectivity infrastructure, and policies to ensure that the workforce is prepared for the impact of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Public Procurement Contracts (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I have no direct knowledge of the contractors or subcontractors engaged by the CRO to work on the CRO IT system. I have been informed that the CRO is not aware of any significant project delays, failures or cost overruns involving such contractors or subcontractors that have arisen in other public sector ICT projects in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Promotion (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: The current disruption in the global trade environment poses major challenges for Ireland’s economic model as an open trading nation. Whatever happens with global tariffs, we need to double down on our ability and our readiness to strengthen and diversify our trade links. As the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I very much see international trade promotion and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Regulation (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: The Programme for Government is clear in setting out the importance of SMEs to our economy. Developing Ireland's enterprise base remains a key priority, and we will strive to reduce costs, administrative burdens and bureaucracy for businesses. Ireland is internationally well-regarded in terms of regulatory burden. The 2025 Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report from the European...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 181. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review procedures (details supplied) regarding driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21752/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Appointments (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 350. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21813/25]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Reviews (1 May 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 384. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if she will outline any possibilities for support available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21767/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (30 Apr 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the case of a person (details supplied); if matters will be clarified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21704/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (30 Apr 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 106. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21706/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disabilities Assessments (30 Apr 2025)

Niamh Smyth: 150. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting three years for an assessment of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21435/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Niamh Smyth: A Refresh of Ireland's National AI Strategy was published in November 2024. The Strategy sets out a whole of government approach to putting the necessary enablers in place to underpin AI adoption in enterprise and public services, including a supportive innovation ecosystem, a secure data and connectivity infrastructure, and policies to ensure that the workforce is prepared for the impact of...