Results 141-160 of 905 for speaker:Francis Noel Duffy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: On the DMAPs that were mentioned, have a number of them already been established or are they being worked on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: There have been MACs before now, given there are wind farms, albeit done in a completely different manner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: In the context of wind farms just in that part of the State, what is the relationship with the fisheries sector, or is there one? I assume it has its own spots to fish in or whatever. Is that all part of that DMAP strategy? I imagine fish move and do not all stay in the same space, or maybe they do. I am not sure how the movement of various currents affects that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: We have one map going and I assume there will be various maps. I am curious about how long it will take to map out the country. From my engagement with the wind industry here and elsewhere - I was at the wind trade show recently - the industry is desperately worried that we are so far behind. We are ten years or more behind where we should be. Other countries have gone well beyond where...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: I rarely speak for this long. I have another question that is combined with the last one. It is on a similar point. I taught in a school of architecture. I talked about energy and the fact that we were importing €6 billion worth of energy when we have the capacity to export it. It is phenomenal that in a generation or two, we could be doing very well as a country by exporting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the witnesses also who have taken the time to attend. I have found the conversation quite instructive. It is interesting to hear the different points of view. I do not really have a question because I believe we are still talking and asking what the mayor should do. All of the points are very interesting. I will make some points. I do not normally make statements. I believe...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: I would like to make a point in response to what Mr. Geissel is saying about policy. From my experience as a councillor - I am not sure if anybody wants to talk to their experience as a Deputy - it is very difficult to interpret much of the information that is given to us as part-timers. When I was the chair of the transport and planning strategic policy committee, each year we had four...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: As has been discussed, if there was that person, they could champion things. I know from my experience, however limited that is, and knowing the power Ministers do or do not necessarily have, that, for example, with housing or transport, a mayor could sit in with the Department or the NTA. I have found that the NTA is a closed shop. Stuff was passed by the regional assembly and there was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: On the SPCs, I do not want to be pushing against the local authorities but the existing legislation mandates the local authority to sit a certain number of times a year and it is very tight. I remember telling some of the first-time councillors that if they really wanted to push an agenda, they needed to go off and do their research, they needed to follow it up with the director, and they...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (24 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: 476. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the current waiting time for a facility (details supplied) for basic support services is in excess of 18 months; his plans to cut these waiting times; if his Department is providing additional resources from Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46307/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the witnesses for their wisdom and insight. Having been a councillor, Deputy and member of the regional assembly, I am very grateful for the work our local authorities do. They make our communities better places to live in and I am well aware it is a difficult job. I have various questions based on the information the witnesses have given us, relative to funding, functions and...

Middle East and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: The scale of loss of life in the latest events in Israel and Palestine can be difficult for us to comprehend. While we can be shocked, saddened and angered by the massacres, those people unknown to us can, unfortunately, become mere statistics in this terrible conflict. Unless such events touch our lives, we cannot truly know the horror and devastation of needless loss of life. These...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (17 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: 504. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware foreign nurses currently working as healthcare assistants in Ireland who meet the UK's nursing and midwifery council's English language qualifications do not currently meet the English qualifications in Ireland; if it will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44708/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (10 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: 95. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason his Department categorises approved retirement funds not as a pension, but as savings and investments; if consideration has been given to categorising approved retirement funds as a pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43477/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (10 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: 224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the roll-out of solar panels to all schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44005/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (10 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: 595. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the additional €307 million in core funding annually, promised in May 2022, will be provided to financially stressed universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43478/23]

Statement of Estimates for the Houses of the Oireachtas: Motion (3 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: I move: That Dáil Éireann take note of the Statement of Estimates of moneys required in respect of ongoing expenditure for the period beginning on 1st January, 2024 and ending on 31st December, 2024, prepared and published by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in accordance with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Acts 2003 to 2021, which was laid before Dáil...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: The Housing Association for Integrated Living, HAIL, provides housing primarily to people with mental health difficulties. The success of the organisation is monumental as it supports our most vulnerable to live securely and independently by providing housing and tailored services. I am certain that without HAIL, the level of homelessness and hospitalisation of our most vulnerable people...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (3 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: 312. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that a school (details supplied) is not recognised by the State; if, since 2007, the school has applied to be recognised; if so, the outcome of this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42397/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (3 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: 328. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that special education bus services for many students with additional needs have been stopped; the reason for this; if she will engage with the Department of Transport to have this vital service reinstated for service users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42677/23]