Results 1-20 of 4,811 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (10 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government is committed to deepening our ties with our diaspora to ensure our relationship with our global Irish communities is a dynamic one that meets their needs and can also adapt to evolving circumstances. Central to our approach is the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), which provides grants to organisations in the voluntary sector who work with our most vulnerable citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains deeply concerned by the conflict in Sudan and the resulting humanitarian crisis. Since April 2023, the situation has continued to deteriorate, with devastating consequences. Over 14 million people have fled their homes and over 25 million people are in acute food insecurity, some facing famine. The two main parties to the conflict – the Sudanese Armed Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: We remain deeply concerned at the continuing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Almost half of the population depend on humanitarian assistance to survive, including 12 million children. Years of conflict have decimated the population’s ability to recover, and widespread human rights abuses and food insecurity drive humanitarian need. The Programme for Government re-instated our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (10 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, work is underway on preparing the development of the new Diaspora Strategy to succeed our current strategy which expires at the end of this year. I am keen to understand the issues affecting long-standing emigrants, newer arrivals, second and third generations and those in under-represented communities so that our new strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains deeply concerned by the situation in Sudan. More than two years of conflict have resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Over 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes and over 25 million people are in acute food insecurity, with some facing famine. Recent attacks on Port Sudan and the attacking of a UN convoy in North Darfur mark an escalation in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Humanitarian Access (8 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I do not know. I do not think we are doing enough. I do not think any of us are doing enough because, ultimately, there will be scores of Palestinian children killed tonight. I think we accept that with heavy hearts, but I wonder what more we can do than what we are doing. It is important that we constantly have this debate. That is why I repeat my genuine gratitude to the Deputy for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Humanitarian Access (8 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I genuinely and sincerely thank Deputy Crowe for tabling this very timely Topical Issue. Even though it is a late hour, it is the most appropriate opportunity to talk about a key aspect of a vicious and bloody conflict that has seized the Irish and global body politic for quite some time, particularly since the horrific events of 7 October, followed by the brutal and unacceptable response of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: The "Graduate Gateway" is overseen by the Irish Business Organisation of New York. The IBO has been a recipient of Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) funding for a number of years. In 2024, the IBO was awarded $17,000 in ESP funding, $10,000 of which was allocated to Graduate Gateway-related events. 2025 ESP grant awards are currently under consideration and decisions will be communicated to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am glad to hear that the response was of some use. We look at the quantums available, as I alluded to at the outset of my initial response, in terms of the capital spending budget, not necessarily for new national road projects but the €2.9 billion allocated for the protection and renewal of the existing national road network, with a considerable amount, €502 million, made...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy for expressing condolences in the House. I suppose when he submitted this Topical Issue, he did not think we would be thinking of tragedies on our roads and indeed more high-profile ones. It is a timely reminder. The Ceann Comhairle has such a strong track record on road safety, it is appropriate we take a moment before discussing this specific issue. As the Deputy...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: As the Deputy will know, I am very aware of this issue and I have been lobbied intensely by the local councillors. I will lay out a few points for the interest of the Chamber before I get to the meat of the ask, as is appropriate in such a debate. It is important to state for the record that the annual enrolment process for new junior infants at primary and new first years at...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy for using the time available to highlight a really important issue. Being married to a special education teacher, I hear about this quite regularly, as the Deputy can imagine. For anyone who thinks politicians are going on holidays in two weeks' time, I can assure them not only are we not but our school leaders and teachers certainly are not on holidays at the moment....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I sincerely thank Deputy Dolan for raising this important matter and allowing me the opportunity to outline the changes on behalf of the Government and his party colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for special education, Deputy Michael Moynihan, that have been recently made to the enrolment criteria for specific speech and language disorder special classes. There are 63...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: As I outlined previously, the Department has reviewed the enrolment criteria and updated the circular. The updates to the circular were informed by robust engagement with the speech and language therapy service in the National Council for Special Education, the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists, and speech and language therapists in the HSE. It was a multifaceted process....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: If it is arranged, then that is the next step. I am more than happy to put on pressure to ensure that it delivers a welcome outcome.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Personal Injury Claims (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Senator sincerely for raising this timely and pertinent matter. Before I deliver the reply on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Burke, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the Senator's long-standing personal, professional and political commitment in this area. It is an area to which she brings a great level of familiarity, and one that I would imagine is the rival of any...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Personal Injury Claims (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I will ensure the relevant Departments look to see if the SME test should be applied. I am not ruling that out. I just wanted to be frank and direct to make sure I was not misleading the Chamber about what can be achieved by the SME test on this compared with other areas of policy or legislation where it may be applied. However, the case the Senator has laid out, not only here this morning...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am grateful to Senator Clonan for raising this issue. The importance of the National Educational Psychological Service, which he raised, is not lost on this Government. It provides a critical service to almost 1 million children and young people and almost 100,000 staff who work in our primary, post-primary and special schools daily. The Government has set its commitment to double the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: It is important to say that I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, as opposed to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Senator will understand the need for the Department of Education and Youth to make sure there are qualified psychologists coming into NEPS in particular. That goes to the heart of the issue at play. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Control of Dogs (3 Jul 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank Senator Andrews for raising this matter. I ask him to bear with me. I have a slightly lengthy answer which I will deliver on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon, who has asked me to take this Commencement matter. The Control of Dogs (XL Bully) Regulations 2024, SI 491 of 2024, that banned XL bully dogs came into force in two stages beginning...