Results 1-20 of 3,084 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Welfare (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will start by acknowledging and thanking the Deputy for the amount of work he has done and his dedication on this particular topic. I agree the issues merit the attention and the Minister, Deputy Heydon, is fully committed to building on the work already being undertaken to tackle the issue. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has lead responsibility within Government...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy. I know this is something he has been very much involved in and is very passionate on. I appreciate his remarks. I reiterate that since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the national development plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. In addition,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Welfare (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in respect of wandering and malnourished horses in urban areas of Limerick. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the Act comes under the remit of the local authorities though. Any reports of welfare issues received by the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Library Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will state part of my original answer again, in that the URDF support for the Cork city library project demonstrates this Government's understanding and the critical important part of it in the regeneration of the Grand Parade quarter. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to engage with Cork City Council on delivery in that context. The Department looks...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy very much for raising this matter. I join him in expressing my sympathies. This project is included in the Department of Education and Youth’s construction programme, which will be delivered under the national development plan as part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework. The Divine Mercy Junior National School and the Divine Mercy Senior National School are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: As I indicated earlier to the Deputy, and I will repeat again, decisions in relation to post offices and operational matters are a matter for An Post and not a matter in which the Minister has any statutory function. The Deputy will appreciate the Minister cannot intervene in such matters which we, as the Oireachtas, have given An Post the statutory responsibility to manage. An Post has an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Library Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, was launched in 2018 as one of the flagship elements of Project Ireland 2040. URDF is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. It provides up to 75% funding for applicant-led projects to support a programme of significant...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on this matter today on behalf of the relevant Minister, Deputy O’Donovan. An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially and, as such, day-to-day operational matters, including decisions in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network, are matters for the board and the management of the...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Daichead ar an mBunreacht (An Aois Vótála a Laghdú go Sé Bliana Déag), 2025: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Reduction of Voting Age to Sixteen Years) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: Tairgim: Go scriosfar na focail go léir i ndiaidh "Go" agus go gcuirfear an méid seo a leanas ina n-ionad: "mbeartaíonn Dáil Éireann go measfar an Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Daichead ar an mBunreacht (An Aois Vótála a Laghdú go Sé Bliana Déag), 2025 a bheith léite an Dara hUair 12 mhí ó inniu, le tuilleadh...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Child Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: The Minister thanks Senator Kennelly for raising this important issue and for offering her the opportunity to respond. The Children First Act 2015 prescribes a range of professionals as mandated reporters who must report to Tusla child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold. This provision is supported by a range of other measures for the protection of children. Under the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Child Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I appreciate the Senator's comments and I will convey them to the Minister on his behalf. The Minister has asked me to make some closing remarks on this. It is important to state that robust legislative policy and practice measures are in place to promote safeguarding of children in Ireland. Government Departments promote compliance with Children First within their funded bodies. Under...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Disadvantage (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to allow me, on behalf of the Minister, to clarify this situation concerning the Reach fund in 2025. The Reach fund is a dedicated fund to support the most disadvantaged learners to access education and training provided by ETBs and community education providers. Investment in community education increased by 52% from 2018 to 2024, from nearly...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Disadvantage (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Senator for appreciating that this is not my specific area of responsibility. I will, of course, convey her remarks to the Minister as she has outlined them.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity to update the House on the current position regarding the major school building project for Ursuline College, Sligo. The project has been devolved to the school board of management for delivery, with the assistance of the joint managerial body. The brief for the project is to provide an extension and refurbishment...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will of course relay the Senator's comments to the Minister. I went to a community school in its first year of being a community school, having previously been an Ursuline convent, so I have the benefit of having been educated by four wonderful Ursuline nuns, as part of a greater teaching team, during my time in school. I know that their contribution to education is absolutely...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Senator for raising the matter. As she is aware, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future to "Deliver a scheme that recognises the category of farmers known as the 'Forgotten Farmers'." Since the time the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was first approached in 2015 with regard to the group commonly referred to as forgotten...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will again, obviously, convey the Senator's views to the Minister on whose behalf I am replying. In the closing statement the Minister emphasises the process is under way at the moment and assessment and processing is under way. The Department, therefore, has no plans to extend the deadline.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Senator. I am obviously taking this opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister. Over the past two decades Ireland has made significant progress in moving away from disposal as our primary treatment option for waste. Ireland’s national waste action plan for a circular economy provides a roadmap to transition to a circular economy in the decade ahead. One of the key...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will absolutely raise this matter with the Minister on the Senator's behalf. I know he has raised it directly with the Minister. The point he made is very valid. This is an unfairness to our local, small, indigenous businesses trying to survive and operate in a market where they are compliant and others have an advantage. It is important that it is looked at as a priority, as the...

International Protection Processing and Enforcement: Statements (5 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: It was a very interesting debate and I acknowledge the range of views expressed across the House. When I was making notes for my closing remarks, I wrote that I would like to thank all of the Deputies who contributed to this important discussion. I said at the start that I hoped we would have a discussion that was balanced, fair and done in the right way. Most of the contributions were....