Results 1-20 of 537 for at speaker:Patrick Costello

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Éileamh don Ghaelscolaíocht: Plé (Atógáil) (15 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: ...Gaeilge i bhfad níos fearr ná Béarla cliste. Tá fadhb agam de bharr nach bhfuil a lán Béarla cliste agam either. Gabhaim buíochas le gach cainteoir anseo. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil fadhb mhór i mBaile Átha Cliath 8. Níl go leor spáis le haghaidh na ndaltaí atá ag lorg spáis sa scoil, bíodh sé sin aon...

Family Law (Divorce) (Amendment) Bill: First Stage (14 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 to provide for swifter access to divorce proceedings. This legislation will further modernise our laws around divorce. Divorce was prohibited in the State until the 1995 referendum, which allowed divorce where people had been separated for four of the previous five years. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (8 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: 113. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legal status for advanced stop lines at traffic lights; the offence that is committed when these lines are breached by motor vehicles. [20246/24]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Prison Service (2 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: The challenge is that the tangible incentives the Minister for Justice referred to in her prepared response are gone. Moving out of the progression unit means moving from an environment with no drug use to one with significant issues with drug use, and moving from an environment where education is available to one where educational options are frequently closed, with fewer teachers and fewer...

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

Patrick Costello: A minor frustration in relation to this Bill is that it is yet another amendment of an Act that has been amended and amended. It would have been in everybody's interests to produce a consolidated version of the various amended Defence Acts and produce a clear piece of legislation instead of one needing six or seven Acts to try to understand what is going on. We certainly have a habit in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Patrick Costello: ...Sexual Abuse 2023. To quote the report, "The area of interagency working is a key area where continuing challenges present." The report highlights the need for enhancing multi-agency collaboration at a strategic level and at an operational level. The most straightforward way of doing this is co-locating duty social workers from Tusla into Garda divisional protective services units,...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Ireland's International Obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I thank the Chair and thank the witnesses for coming in. I apologise for being late as I was in the Chamber where they are dealing with the Stardust tragedy and could not leave. I did not wish to walk out in the middle of the speeches. I was quite struck by the suggestions on improved teacher training, changes to the curriculum and changes to the wider school environment. I had wanted...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Projects (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: 70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the works being carried out at the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park; and the timeline for completion and its opening as a visitor site. [17835/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: 511. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to public health concerns raised by Tusla’s acting head of practice assurance and reported in the media (details supplied) of “high occupancy rates” in special emergency arrangements, reports of bed bugs and scabies infestations in some settings and findings of “obvious...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: 628. To ask the Minister for Health if he will introduce a new comprehensive newborn screening programme that is adequately resourced and ensures that babies born in Ireland are screened for the European average of 18 conditions at a minimum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17692/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I think the Minister is in the hot seat. When we are talking about the vindication of individual rights, efficiency and speed alone are not necessarily the markers we should be aiming for. "Efficient" is a very loaded term and its appropriateness depends on what we are trying to achieve. To echo some of the previous contributions, there is a fundamental right in law. There is a moral...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I rise to underline some of the elements from the pre-legislative scrutiny report that would strengthen the Bill but are strong enough in the legislation as written. When the committee considering the matter, it highlighted important things in relation to the governance framework, sustainability, environmental, social and governance factors, divestment from fossil fuels, prohibition of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Anti-Social Behaviour on Public Transport: Discussion (17 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I thank our guests for coming in and raising these incredibly important issues. At the heart of the matter they are about driver safety and public safety. We are seeing a long overdue and much-needed investment in public transport in recent years. We could do with getting more into public transport, but there has certainly been a big increase in investment in public transport. However, it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Anti-Social Behaviour on Public Transport: Discussion (17 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I was referring more to stopping at the end of a run, downloading the recording and so on. I will follow this matter up separately. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence and patience.

Fair Procedures in the Administration of Justice Bill 2024: First Stage (16 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide and guarantee that administrative decision makers operating under Article 37 of Bunreacht na hÉireann are obligated to dispense of their quasi-judicial functions in accordance with due process and fair procedures, to give the Minister power to designate such bodies and to give the Minister power to issue...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (9 Apr 2024)

Patrick Costello: 1234. To ask the Minister for Health if, following a recent radio interview (details supplied), the National Gender Service staff believe asexuals are entitled to the same medical care and at the same age as all other sexualities. [13700/24]

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Patrick Costello: Gaza is on the edge of famine. It is man-made starvation caused by the deliberate actions of the Israeli Government. This comes on top of the horror and the brutality we have already seen. As we as we have already said, the EU Council meeting is coming up at the end of this week. What actions will the Taoiseach be asking from our European colleagues on this? We need a strong European...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Patrick Costello: 180. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of vacancies and, at what rank, there were in the Defence Forces Medical Corps annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11345/24]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Patrick Costello: 181. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of applications made to join either the general service or cadet ranks of the Army, Naval Service or Air Corps in 2023 and up to the present date in 2024; how many of these applicants were invited to take part in training; how many of these trainees completed their training; the rank at which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Mar 2024)

Patrick Costello: 184. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline the responsibilities that Minister of State at the Department of Defence currently has within the Defence remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11349/24]