Results 1-20 of 3,821 for speaker:Mark Ward

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (10 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: I am going to read out some statistics from last year. There were over 45,000 reports of domestic abuse to Women's Aid, over 22,000 contacts to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, over 49,000 domestic abuse incidents recorded by gardaí and over 65,000 domestic abuse calls recorded by gardaí. Behind every single one of these statistics is a person and they are mainly women, like the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: The parents are dead.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (10 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: 304. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the options available to parents whose children do not have a crèche place; the efforts being made to increase availability of places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38456/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (10 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: 331. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the process for family members to obtain medical records of a private nursing home resident following their death; if private nursing homes can be compelled to release these records if they refuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38369/25]

Mental Health Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: We have had this conversation many times about admitting children into adult psychiatric facilities. The Government had four years to get this right and it has failed. It is draconian. The practice is wrong. Every human rights organisation has said it is absolutely wrong. The Government also had four years to get the regulation of CAMHS in place. It is not in this Bill. It is literally...

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2025: First Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Act of 1962, to provide for a verdict of Iatrogenic Suicide and related matters. Today Sinn Féin is introducing “Jake’s amendment” to amend the Coroners Act. This Bill will introduce the term “iatrogenic suicide” into the Act, allowing the coroner to return it as a...

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2025: First Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: I reiterate what my colleague Deputy Carthy has said about the exclusion from the Bill of militaries that are engaged in a genocide. This is wrong, and our amendments go towards correcting this. We can see what the IDF is doing daily. It is committing war crime after war crime. There is the mass displacement and the ethnic cleansing of the population of Gaza, using mass starvation as a...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: The definition of "provocation" is too broad, as is the definition of "glorification". They are wide open to interpretation and abuse. As has already been stated by Deputy Carthy about what he termed the Kneecap clause, the broad definition of "provocation" could be used to target freedom of expression, an issue that I raised with the Minister in the Dáil. We have also seen how...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (8 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: 284. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the waiting time between passing the driver theory test and being able to apply for the driving test; if this time is required for those who need to drive for work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37744/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: 633. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of people in prison who were on waiting lists to access psychology services, as of June 2025, by days waiting list, by prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37306/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: 634. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline mental health waiting lists within prisons, for a breakdown of these across prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37307/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: 742. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine the childcare provider case (details supplied); if access and inclusion model funding can be backdated and clarity given for providers around timelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37674/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: 4. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the criminal justice disregard of certain convictions related to consensual sexual activity Bill; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36639/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: While most of the world celebrated Pride last week and this week, in Ireland there are still men who have criminal convictions for just being gay before 1993. Can I have an update on the Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025? When will it be completed and when will these men have their criminal convictions quashed?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: I thank the Minister. It is hard to believe that only 32 years ago it was illegal to be gay in Ireland. In 1993, when the law was changed, I was only 18. I was not aware of this rule when I was 18 but you can bet your life if I had been a young gay man, I would have been. Gay men at the time would have been driven underground. They suffered trauma and abuse. Ireland has come a long way...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: I welcome the Minister's comments on the Bill that was introduced this week by Deputy Ó Snodaigh and several other Opposition Deputies, the Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025. The timing was to coincide with Pride last week and this week. We still have people around the world who are subjected to tyranny and abuse just for being gay. In...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: That is a crime.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: Absolutely.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Mark Ward: 23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will hit his target of 1,000 new Garda recruits this year; how he will reach 5,000 recruits over the lifetime of this Government, as outlined in the programme for Government, if the numbers are below average this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36606/25]