Results 1-20 of 2,116 for speaker:Richard O'Donoghue

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (12 Jun 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: 89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the recent publication of the new specification for the senior cycle engineering subject; and if she will commit to the introduction of a second additional assessment component (practical skills test) in senior-cycle engineering, given that 89% of engineering teachers are in favour of its introduction. [31421/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (12 Jun 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: 319. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will request her Ministerial colleagues to grant immediate pension parity to school secretaries and caretakers, as they are integral to the daily operations of schools and are paid by her Department. [31422/25]

Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (28 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: Limerick is standing with Cork.

Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (28 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: The Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 is a crucial piece of legislation. I will start off by looking at how Debenhams managed to pull the wool over the Government's and its employees eyes, and leave this country with no accountability. It set up a UK sister company and set up online. All its online business was imported into this country through a UK...

Gaza: Motion (28 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: What everybody has said has been repetitive. Everyone is on the same page. I believe the Minister of State is also on the same page and would like to see what we can do. Can the Minister of State imagine if anyone in this House had to go hungry? We can walk out the door, go into a canteen and eat. Imagine he was here, looking at the food, while starving, knowing that his brothers,...

Independent External Medical Audit for Children's Health Ireland and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh: Statements (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: Accountability is at the very heart of this. The Minister is new to her role. She has hit the ground running, and I appreciate that. However, what has happened in Cappagh and Temple Street hospitals is unforgivable. There has to be accountability. We can look at it and nod our heads all day long, but at least now we are going the right direction. There will be no more hiding for anyone....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: If we ever have a case again where we have a design like the children's hospital, can the Government please not do it? Look at what we have done in Limerick: we built a box. People want boxes to be built because one can add onto a box or put a box down. They want care. Consider the cost of maintaining the children's hospital, with round curtains, round glass, and furnishings that have to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: One could build boxes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: I thank the Taoiseach for his response and look forward to meeting with the Minister on this. I am under no illusions; there are many criteria under different payments the Government must consider under different circumstances. When it comes to people losing a loved one, however, and they are trying to survive, whether they have children, there are massive overheads, even with current...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: People are dying younger than that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: I will talk about widows' pensions. Pensions for widows do not discriminate by age. Recipients can be in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s or any age. However, it is worrying for people. I will tell one or two stories. One is about a mother with three children whose husband died. They had a house with a mortgage and she is in receipt of the widow's pension for which she said she is grateful....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: 349. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether it is appropriate that the CEO of Fáilte Ireland preside over Bord Fáilte giving contracts to subsidiaries of two organisations (details supplied) given the CEO is a board-member of one of the organisations; the steps he will take in relation to this conflict of interest; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: 526. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason two organisations (details supplied) have been and continue to be excluded from the DPO Consultative Framework since October 2023; if this indirect discrimination will be remedied as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26760/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (27 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: 560. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the disability equality policy unit’s current position in relation to the Equal Status Acts 2000–2018 in their interaction with their clients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27679/25]

Biodiversity Week: Statements (21 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: I welcome biodiversity but I also welcome biodiversity in the right areas and places. I also welcome safety on roads. On biodiversity, the laws that have been passed in this country never took into account people travelling. This is where I have a major issue with some of the laws on wildlife and biodiversity: as regards safety of lives. Roads where two vehicles could once travel are now...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: The maximum age for Bus Éireann bus drivers is 70. At the moment, our children cannot get to school because private operators with contracts with Bus Éireann cannot take them to school if their drivers are over 70. However, these drivers, even if they are over 70, can be called by the school to take children to a tour of the Dáil. The same bus driver who cannot take our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: A lot of them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: In the first part of his remarks, the Taoiseach said he had met with representatives of Irish Water. Maybe he needs to bring me with him to teach them a bit of common sense and give them some ideas and solutions. The Taoiseach mentioned the EPA and septic tanks. Yes, there are grants but the problem with the grant system for septic tanks is that in 2013 the Taoiseach brought in a system...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: In 2013 there was a system whereby people got €5,000 to upgrade their septic tanks. They registered their tanks and if they qualified for the grant due to their tanks being defunct, they received the grant. The problem was that nobody qualified for the grant because the tank had to be tested first and only a small number of people got them tested. Now the grant is up to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2025)

Richard O'Donoghue: We have tanks in Oola for 15 years. Askeaton is waiting 46 years for its treatment system to be upgraded. This is what I am talking about.