Results 241-260 of 5,599 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I reiterate my view that we are dealing with two Bills in one. In the context of child maintenance, it is a really good and positive piece of work and I commend all those involved. It will make a significant difference. I reiterate our support for that aspect. As regards the other side of things, I agree with it being brought in line but the inside-outside distinction will create problems...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is my point - consideration of this should not take place down the road. We need to be------

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: A year can go quickly, particularly if people are applying for IPAS. There are plenty of people waiting far more than a year for an IPAS determination. A year is not a lot of time in this context.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I appreciate that. The point I am making is that it needs to be talked through now for several reasons. The first reason is that the decisions made in this jurisdiction in respect of social protection are not necessitated by the directive. These decisions have been taken independently here. Similarly, the decisions on the elapsing of that can be taken here as well. The Minister suggested...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There is no disputing that many of those who have come from Ukraine are already making a significant contribution. As I stated, many of them will contribute for many years to come, be central to many communities and make their home there. The point is the war in Ukraine may last beyond the temporary protection directive. Whether it lasts another month or another ten years, the directive...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: From a legislative point of view, that is very thin. In practice, these will be oil and water. I cannot see how that can be delivered. A new category of accommodation is being created. It speaks to the whole issue of planning. We have no idea where these will be or how many of them there will be. We do not even have an example, not to mind the list that is supposed to be designated off...

Housing and Homeless Prevention: Motion [Private Members] (23 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have always believed that the very least that people could expect from their government is a roof over their head. To say that the Government is failing in that regard is a profound understatement. At least 13,000 people, including 4,000 children, are without a home. That figure is probably 20,000 when we include all of the shelters in our calculations. The Minister is failing them....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (23 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether he supports the provision of electric trains to Cork in early 2024 for the purposes of expansion of the Cork area commuter rail; and if he has had discussion with Iarnród Éireann in relation to this. [3018/24]

Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille seo. Tréaslaím leis an Aire agus leis an Teachta Kerrane in éineacht leis na hoifigigh sa Roinn. Is reachtaíocht fhíorthábhachtach é seo a dhéanfaidh an-difríocht do thuismitheoirí aonair agus do dhaoine atá ag comhoibriú ó thaobh tuismitheoireachta. Ní raibh na forálacha faoi mar...

Investment Funds Trading in the Residential Property Market: Motion [Private Members] (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have heard more full-blooded defences of the Government’s housing policy. It is no wonder because the Government knows it is very much on the wrong side of this issue. Weekly, if not daily, I talk to people who are trying to buy their first home. I am sure the Minister of State does so too. When you talk to them, noting the sacrifices they have to make and the work they have to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I would also like to be associated with the expression of condolences to Paul. This is a very good session. It is very timely and important. When one is knocking on doors and seeing the different types of poverty that exist, often energy poverty is the most visible. We would be talking to people at the door and one could nearly feel the cold. They bring us inside and they point out the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am sorry, but I did not get the upper range figure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The reason I asked, and it is the fault of nobody in this room, is that, increasingly, I have heard from more than one local authority that the money they get from the State does not pay and they have reduced the amount of retrofitting they are doing directly because of the increase in building costs and all the rest of it. It is much less achievable for them to reach the targets than it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Are there challenges generally with areas of architectural protection?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That might be a conversation I will take up directly with the SEAI. There might be scope to have a conversation in the locality I am thinking of. On the fully funded scheme, according to the SEAI's website, fully funded energy upgrades are available to people who receive the following welfare payments: fuel allowance as part of the national fuel scheme; those on jobseeker's allowance for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Before I go to Dr. Keilthy, I get the sense that a conversation has happened a little on this, but it is not very far advanced.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Yes.