Results 1-20 of 1,714 for at speaker:Thomas Pringle

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the Bill. Although I completely disagree with the overall model of care for nursing homes and residential homes for people with disabilities in Ireland, I recognise that this legislation is important in the context of the current model that we have in place. The recent significant increase in the number of nursing homes in private ownership...

Delivering Universal Healthcare: Statements (15 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: ...record highs and access to sufficient healthcare is becoming increasingly difficult. Last month, Letterkenny hospital broke another record: the longest ever waiting list for beds. Some 594 patients were admitted to the hospital without a bed, the highest number ever recorded at the hospital for the month of April. The health service in County Donegal and throughout the country is...

Road Safety and Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (15 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I an grateful for the opportunity to speak on this motion and to the Labour Party for bringing it forward. This year has been devastating for road fatalities. My heart goes out to all the families and loved ones affected by road deaths and road accidents. There have been 67 fatal collisions with 72 people killed on Irish roads so far this year. This is the highest we have seen in a number...

Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion [Private Members] (14 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak on this motion on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I would like to welcome the survivors, relatives and the Justice for the Forgotten campaigners to the House today. I fully support this motion which calls on the Government to urgently address the matter of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings directly with the British Government in order to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Regulation of the English Language Sector: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I thank our guests for presenting their evidence. I will ask a couple of questions. EEA students have the ability to work at any time of the day or night while in Ireland in order to support their studies, but students from outside the EEA are restricted to morning or afternoon work. While the witnesses are not the ones who decide this, what are their views on the matter? Should students...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Regulation of the English Language Sector: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Earlier, we heard from ELSU about a meeting that it and the MEI had with the Minister at the time - the current Taoiseach. It was explained to him that the schools were going to reopen after Covid with existing students. When they did reopen, however, new students were mixed in existing students. Was that good practice? Did it happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Regulation of the English Language Sector: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: So new students were not recruited at that time.

Challenges Facing the Childcare and Nursing Home Sectors: Motion [Private Members] (9 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: ...this very important motion on the challenges facing the childcare and nursing home sectors. I support this motion and its calls on the Government to put in place specific policies to ensure that, in the childcare and nursing home sectors, there is an equitable local and regional spread of affordable quality services. I am going to concentrate on childcare in my contribution but it is...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate on special educational needs provision for vulnerable children. I welcome the Minister of State and wish her the best of luck in her new job. It is important that this issue is debated, although when we read the Minister of State's comments, we would have been forgiven for wondering why it should be discussed in the House when...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I understand the sale of alcohol Bill to reform the alcohol licensing system and extend licensing hours for bars and restaurants has been in the works for a while now. The Government initially indicated the Bill would be introduced before the summer recess. However, the Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, recently expressed scepticism about meeting the summer deadline, citing the need for careful...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (8 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: The state of housing in this country is an absolute disgrace. We have been in crisis mode with a severe lack of affordable housing for years now and despite this, the Government still fails to act and take the drastic action that is so desperately needed. I have been contacted by many constituents in Donegal who are facing dire situations. These are people who are having to choose...

Europe Day: Statements (8 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: On 9 May 1950 the foundation of the European Union was set out in a declaration based on two core principles, namely, peace and solidarity. This is what the European Union was set up to achieve but as each year passes the EU distances itself further and further from these core principles. Peace and solidarity are no longer at the heart of European policy, and selfishness and greed have...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (2 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024. I condemn the way this Government has treated legislation and the legislative process throughout its time in Government. At the Business Committee last week I highlighted that neither the Bill nor pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill were published despite the fact it was due for debate this week....

Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024. The State has repeatedly let down survivors of residential institutional abuse and this legislation is yet another example. It is interesting that this legislation is being put forward by the Department of Education. We had the Department of children previously. It...

European Union Migration and Asylum Pact: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I express my solidarity with the Minister and her family. It is an appalling situation and should not continue anywhere. Although I am against the introduction of the European migration and asylum pact, it is not for the reasons the Rural Independent Group outlined in the motion, so I will not support that motion. The Government will probably bring forward an amendment, which I will be...

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Pringle: ...supporting Deputies the depth of hurt the current cost-of-living crisis is continuing to have on families in our communities up and down the country. Quoting macroeconomic figures for inflation growth and the like are meaningless to the working mothers and fathers across Donegal who are struggling to meet their bills and to put food on the table for their children. Fuel prices are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Pringle: ...for his answer. The one thing we can do is to target the algorithms the companies use. Putting age profiles and barriers on accounts is grand but the algorithms are the problem and they are what we should be targeting. If we were serious about protecting young people, that is what we would be doing. In his response, the Taoiseach mentioned the ban against harmful content and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Aid Board: Chairperson Designate (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I thank Ms Egan for her opening statement. It was interesting. It is timely that she is here today because we will be discussing the EU migration pact in a later session. In relation to the international protection element of the board's work, I wonder what impact the new procedure envisaged under the migration pact will have. Obviously, it may be a wee bit early for Ms Egan to comment on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Legal Aid Board: Chairperson Designate (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Pringle: When Ms Egan spoke about solicitor recruitment and retention, she said that new "solicitors are paid less than their comparators in the Office of the DPP and the Chief State Solicitor's Office." This may be a bit unfair but I will say it anyway. Is it a judgment on our society that we look at people in need of legal aid as being something less and, therefore, they do not get the resources...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I thank everybody for the presentations to the committee. We are going through this procedure today but it does not have any bearing on the actual decision that is being made. The decision will take place in the Dáil when it is scheduled to come up. This committee hearing is basically around the information to inform the decision-making process when we get there. Last week at the...