Results 1-20 of 786 for at speaker:Mairead Farrell

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

Mairead Farrell: That is fair. Ms Harmon said the industry is worth €1 billion. What are our guests' fears in respect of the long-term impact if the situation continues as it is at the moment and if something is not done? We have heard so clearly about the real-life impact these issues have on people and the thousands of euro they save and lose through scams and all of that. The real-life impact is...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (14 May 2024)

Mairead Farrell: ...Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the €8 million provided by her Department through the large-scale infrastructure funding programme to Galway City Council for the development of a facility at Cappagh Park has been returned to her Department; if so, the date on which this was; and the reason provided for why these funds were used. [21232/24]

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

Mairead Farrell: Around this time five years ago, local elections took place. We heard all the talk that there was going to be affordable housing delivered on the east side of Galway city. I distinctly remember people asking about the affordable housing that was going to be delivered. Since then, in the past five years people have consistently come to me and asked when that affordable housing will be...

Europe Day: Statements (8 May 2024)

Mairead Farrell: Today, on the eve of Europe Day, of course we look at the positives that Europe has offered Ireland and that Ireland has offered Europe in return. I want to look at something in my brief of further and higher education. This relates to a proposal about research that has come to light and causes me concern. We know how important research is. It looks at planning for the future and how best...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 May 2024)

Mairead Farrell: .... People lying across chairs. This was Tuesday morning. Some had been there since Sunday. Staff under huge pressure, stressed with their workload. No time to think. It was just panic. At one point, I thought I'm going to die". Those are the words of Niamh, who presented at the accident and emergency in Galway University Hospital at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, 9 April after a night of...

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

Mairead Farrell: If these price increases tell us absolutely anything about the Government, it is that it is completely and utterly tone deaf to the reality for people across this State. People are already struggling. The cost-of-living crisis is still here. People are facing huge challenges every day because of it. What is the Government's response to that? It increases the price of petrol and diesel,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Go raibh maith agaibh as teacht os comhair an choiste. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and their opening statements. They were very interesting and it is very much appreciated. I will start with the Department first. I have an interest in local authorities and their use of apprentices and that kind of thing, especially given...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: Could Mr. Beausang confirm that? I see people suffering because their houses are not up to standard and I see empty boarded-up houses, and those are the kinds of things that need to be turned around and that is what we need to look at. At the same time, it would be powerful to give young people opportunities in their local authorities and areas in which they can see the work they are doing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: At the same time, we are looking at the local authorities and that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: I am conscious of my time. That is something I feel really passionately about as well. On that whole issue of the 10,000 target, the growth of apprenticeships is something we hear about a lot from Government. That is extremely welcome. It is really good that people have different opportunities and all that. However, I was looking at the growth of consortia apprentices versus the growth...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: Yes, it was 2% in 2016 and now it is 30%. Still, if we are looking at that, there is a significant difference in the growth rate. When we look at the breakdown of the types of consortia apprentices, from what I understand, there were 48 different types of consortia apprenticeships last year. It is really welcome, as I said, that there are alternative routes outside the CAO system for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (25 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: 115. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide the instances where Irish peacekeeping deployments were blocked at the UN Security Council level; the year this took place; the permanent member of the Security Council which issued the veto, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18614/24]

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: We are all thinking of the families who have been bereaved by the roads. As the Minister of State is very well aware, we had a number of tragedies that affected Galway families recently. All our thoughts are with those families and their loved ones. Over the course of this debate and those we have had over the last number of weeks, we heard of many different ways in which we can tackle...

Disability Justice: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: I thank Solidarity-People Before Profit for tabling this motion. It is important that we recognise that the voices of people with disabilities were heard and that thanks to their activism, the Green Paper was scrapped by the Government. That was the right thing to do. It is essential that all disability policy is centred on a human rights-led approach and that people are listened to. I...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (9 Apr 2024)

Mairead Farrell: 100. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the recent appointment of a deputy CEO at Inland Fisheries Ireland under section 24(3) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 was a tacit acknowledgement that the position of CEO is currently vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14342/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Mairead Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. The context to all of this is that in September 2020, Bus Éireann announced that the 20X20 route between Galway and Dublin was to be discontinued as and from July 2021. At that time, the NTA granted a licence for the Aircoach 706 706X commercial service, which has then being running since July 2021 with ten departures each way, seven days a week. At...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Mairead Farrell: There is no harm in that but we need to be looking at rural Ireland as well and its connectivity. I live in Galway city and can jump on a Citylink or a GoBus any day of the week, almost any hour, but we also need to look at services for rural areas. We cannot have a situation where this Government is once again forgetting about rural Ireland and public transport links for rural Ireland. It...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (21 Mar 2024)

Mairead Farrell: 107. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will be focusing his Department's attention on the infrastructural deficit with the maintenance of roads in Connemara; if he will allocate resources to address the persistent flooding at Cuan na Loinge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13235/24]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Student Accommodation (20 Mar 2024)

Mairead Farrell: That is a disgrace because from the sound of that response from the Minister, Deputy Harris's Department, he is just washing his hands of all of this. The Minister of State in his reply told us that the Minister, Deputy Harris, is "actively pursuing" the issue of securing affordable accommodation. He did not put any money in the budget to build that student accommodation. The Minister of...

General Practice and Local Health Services: Motion (20 Mar 2024)

Mairead Farrell: The need for the provision of properly resourced healthcare at community level is clear. The ongoing crisis in our hospitals emphasises the importance of care being available to people at a community level to help relieve pressure on the emergency departments. Part of the plan to strengthen community care is the concept of primary care centres which would support the provision of a range of...