Results 181-200 of 3,560 for speaker:Duncan Smith

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: I congratulate the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on his new post and genuinely wish him every success. Particularly with a Ministry such as Health, his success will be the success of the entire nation in keeping us all healthy. We do not need a reminder of how important our health service is or how well it has performed under the most difficult circumstances over the past...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: I have a concern as we go into August and September. I imagine the schools will be back in some fashion, although that is a whole other debate. Society will feel like it is moving even further towards reopening and we may feel further away psychologically from the pandemic. I want to continue to hammer home the need for the Government to be ten steps ahead of where society is as we head...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: 407. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of new schools (details supplied); the status of same; the expected delivery times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13975/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: 447. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the refurbishment and new buildings for a school (details supplied); when these works will be completed; the level of priority these works are assigned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14317/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: 448. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether it is appropriate for a school (details supplied) to continually accommodate other second level schools on its grounds in temporary accommodation when it is in need of refurbishment and extension and the work is delayed due to the school continually accommodating other schools; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (7 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: 747. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure persons (details supplied) are issued with their over-70s medical card which has expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14128/20]

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: I regret that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is no longer in auditorium because I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment. He is a constituency colleague and I know him well. He is, of course, a Fianna Fáil Minister. When many people heard that a Fianna Fáil Minister was taking over the housing portfolio there was a sharp intake of breath and worry...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: I congratulate the Minister and the Minister of State on their new roles. I look forward to working with them over the coming months and for however long this Government lasts. I get a sense from the Minister that she has a strong understanding of all the difficulties the arts sector faces and I am encouraged by that. The programme for Government states that as part of the July...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: Would it be fair to say that the Minister is pushing for more funding in the July stimulus package so that there may be some expectation or hope in the industry of further announcements later this month?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: Before I address the witnesses, I also would like to call for a session in the near future to which the trade unions would be invited on this specific issue.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: In their submission, they offered to come in. What we are seeing here is that were it not for MRCI and the work of the unions, we would not have any information-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: -----about what is going on inside these meat plants in what I and many others interpret as the largest example of systemic worker exploitation happening in the State. We had a session here a couple of weeks ago where it became clear that one was most likely to contract Covid in three areas: a healthcare setting, a nursing home or a meat plant. While there are issues with healthcare...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: When we had a debate with the former Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, some weeks ago, he was very defensive and borderline aggressive in his responses. Responding to me, he said I was entitled to my own opinions but not to my own facts. That was when I was referencing the figures being put together by the MCRI and the trade unions. Knowing the people and...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: Yes, that will be fine.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: Me neither. I sympathise.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: I thank Ms McGinley for her answers and for her work in this area.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (Resumed) (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: I thank the witnesses for their attendance. I want to return to their rationale for not engaging with the unions which, frankly, I find incredible in the current climate. I want to point to Meat Industry Ireland's opening statement where it refers to the reason high-level clusters occurred and states that there was uncertainty as to why large clusters occurred. Mr. Carroll stated this "is...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (Resumed) (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: Okay. Will Mr. Healy agree to meet SIPTU, for example - yes or no? Will Mr. Healy agree to the invitation it has extended?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (Resumed) (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: Will Mr. Healy meet its representatives?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Meat Plants (Resumed) (10 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: Is that a "yes"? Will Mr. Healy meet them?