Results 1-20 of 1,040 for at speaker:Neale Richmond

Motor Insurance Insolvency Compensation Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 Jun 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions to this extremely important and worthwhile debate. I will address all the points and the questions raised, but there are a few things I would like to add in response as well. I do not think I will take the full 30 minutes. I will try my best to get in and get us on the road. I look forward to engaging further on Committee and Report Stages...

Motor Insurance Insolvency Compensation Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 Jun 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". I welcome the opportunity to address Dáil Éireann on the Motor Insurance Insolvency Compensation Bill 2024, which was published on Friday, 30 May. As Minister of State with special responsibility for insurance, I am bringing forward this Bill to transpose Articles 10a and 25a of the motor insurance directive, as inserted by the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Education (11 Jun 2024)

Neale Richmond: I sincerely thank Senator Clonan for raising this case again on the floor of the Seanad and for the comprehensive way in which he has put this across, which is testament to his continuing personal, professional and political work on this issue over many years. We are all truly grateful for that. As for the wider issue, as the Senator knows, inclusion is a key aim of the Department of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (11 Jun 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Senator McGreehan for raising this issue. I welcome Niamh to the Chamber and it is great to see my old pal Ciarán accompanying her. This is a very timely Commencement matter. I am meeting Vision Ireland tomorrow afternoon to discuss this and many other issues relating specifically to my work with the Department of Finance on access to financial services for those with visual...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mother and Baby Homes (11 Jun 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Senator Ruane for raising this issue and for providing such a detailed overview to the House. I apologise if there is an element of repetition in my reply with respect to what the Senator has already stated but I think it is important, for the record, to state the exact context and exactly what the Government is doing and has been doing in partnership with the Senator and so many...

Special Education: Motion [Private Members] (11 Jun 2024)

Neale Richmond: I greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the debate. This is an issue that is emotive to many of us and not just from our work as constituency TDs dealing with so many different families on a daily basis who face such a range of challenges and need so much support from their local representatives. Those of us who are lucky enough to have children also see it in the schools they...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: No, just aspects of the amendments themselves. The thrust of your argument is well made; do not worry about that. I think it is important for the totality of the debate to examine some of the impact of the entire drafting of the legislation and what considerations a government may have to take in hand in respect of utilisation, as per the middle part of amendment No. 32, in respect of the...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Senators for tabling this amendment and I thank Senator Warfield for his contribution. This is a repeat of a debate we had a number of weeks ago with the relevant spokespersons from the Senator's party in the Dáil. My response will remain the same in that I fully accept the clear intention and focus on the need for the State to improve investment in many areas, including of...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: I will always consider any amendment put forward by the Senator. Indeed, these amendments were considered and debated when they were proposed by his colleagues in the Dáil a number of weeks ago. The context of this discussion, which is key, is the real purpose of this fund. The point I am about to make might provide an element of reassurance to the Senator. Regrettably, we have seen...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: Needless to say, I do not choose the grouping but I will speak to each amendment separately because they merit being treated as such. In any event, if there are votes, they will be taken consecutively. From the outset, I think it is fair to say, although the Senator may choose to disagree, that there will be an element of this on which we are just going to disagree. It is okay to disagree...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Senator for the proposed amendment. Under this legislation, there is a requirement for the NTMA to consult with the Minister of Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and to have regard to the views expressed. This aligns with the existing requirements for the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, and the Minister can also...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Senator for the proposed amendment. I will provide some context as to where we are at. As has been discussed throughout the debate on the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, there are two purposes provided for under this Bill, namely, to support State expenditure in any year from 2026 where there has been, or is likely to be in the subsequent year, a significant...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank both Senators for their contributions. I will respond to the easy one first. Senator Kyne's presumption is correct. I would like to speak more widely to these amendments and acknowledge the contribution, as ever, from Senator Higgins. I would like to make a number of points about including these provisions. The main point to be considered for each of the additions is that only a...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am delighted to be given the opportunity to say a few words here this afternoon and to point out some of the excellent work that has been done by a slew of Ministers and officials across a number of Departments, led by the Minister, Deputy Burke, and following on, despite some revisionism, which we are used to, from certain parties across the Chamber, from a package announced a couple...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: Sinn Féin's entire enterprise budget last year was €30.3 million. Within that, Sinn Féin says that there should be the creation of an Irish jobs agency. We have Enterprise Ireland. When we have a 15-minute intervention from the Sinn Féin spokespeople, and we will have more slating of this package, they really need to start looking at themselves and the sheer lack of...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: ...also increased local property tax; Deputy Nash can ask the local councillors - even though the council has taken in more money and is spending more than ever, but yet it will not reduce commercial rates or local property tax. That is something Deputy Nash can reflect on. I am more than happy to engage with the local Labour Party candidate when she calls to my door looking for my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Credit Unions (21 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy for his question. However, I was a little bit confused and hope we might have a bit of clarification in our debate. There is a cap of €100,000, not €30,000 as is stated in the Deputy's question, on member savings, as outlined in Central Bank Regulation 35 of the Credit Union Act 1997 (Regulatory Requirements) Regulations 2016. As the Deputy is aware, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Credit Unions (21 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: There is not a cap of €30,000. That is up to the individual credit union. The policy of the Central Bank is €100,000. The reason they have that is to ensure the protection of members' savings and to ensure that credit union funding continues to be sufficiently diversified and is not dependent on a small number of members. The Deputy knows how the credit union works. You...