Results 221-240 of 840,750 for "section:" . (isset($hansardmajors[$1]["title"]) ? $hansardmajors[$z[1]]["title"] : "$z[1]") OR "section:" . (isset($hansardmajors[$1]["title"]) ? $hansardmajors[$z[1]]["title"] : "$z[1]") speaker:Paschal Donohoe
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Michael Ring: On the town and village renewal scheme, on this occasion I am examining the scheme in the context of social distancing in public realms. In light of the rules around social distancing we need to introduce new rules and regulations. I have asked the local authorities to make provision for this when submitting their plans. The Deputy raised the issue of the stability package. He is...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Michael Ring: We do not fund free legal aid. That is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality. I have overall responsibility with regard to Pobal, but it deals directly with the Department of Justice and Equality. The Deputy wrote to the Minister for Justice and Equality. I will ask my officials to raise the Deputy's concerns with the Minister again. I am glad the Deputy raised the issue...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Matt Shanahan: I am deputising for a colleague at short notice so I apologise in advance if I am not fully au faitwith the Minister's brief. Regarding the town and village renewal scheme, I think everybody would agree that it is a great opportunity to develop towns and cities, but I wonder about the idea of drawing up the strategic plans around it, particularly for community groups. Has the Minister's...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Bríd Smith: In the few seconds remaining I would like to ask if the case I have made about the study in the US and the statistics coming from the CSO are a cause of concern to the Minister given his responsibility for rural affairs, if not for meat.
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Michael Ring: I am always concerned about what is happening in rural Ireland and I can stand over my record. The investment made by this Department in rural Ireland has been substantial over the last number of years. There is no doubt about the fact that my Department has helped to create jobs in the context of the rural regeneration scheme. One can go to many parts of rural Ireland where people would...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Bríd Smith: That is not the case.
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Michael Ring: I can use the same statistics as the Deputy. There are more people working and living in rural Ireland now than since the foundation of the State.
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Paul Murphy: I wish to raise three issues with the Minister, the first of which is not an area under his direct responsibility. However, it is an urgent issue so I will raise it with him now. I have written to the Minister for Justice and Equality about it and ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to raise it with him as well. I refer to the conditions inside the direct provision centre...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Bernard Durkan: Next is Solidarity-People Before Profit. Is Deputy Bríd Smith sharing time?
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Bríd Smith: Yes, with Deputy Paul Murphy.
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Bernard Durkan: Is that agreed? Agreed.
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Bríd Smith: I wish to raise the recent CSO statistics with the Minister. The CSO identified a slight decline in cases of the virus in cities but an increase in the number of cases in urban towns. It examined the figures for counties like Cavan and Monaghan. The number of cases hit its peak in April when Cavan had a high of 182 cases per week and Monaghan recorded 176 new cases per week. According to...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Bernard Durkan: Does the Deputy want a reply now?
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Bríd Smith: Yes, please. I have a minute and a bit left.
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Michael Ring: I do not have responsibility. I will raise the issue at Cabinet and ask the relevant Minister to respond to the Deputy. All I can do is raise the matter at Cabinet. I must say that meat plants are important to rural Ireland and to the agricultural sector. It is very important that we have meat plants but it is equally important that they operate in a safe manner. I will raise the...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Michael Ring: I thank Deputy Cairns for her comments. As I said earlier, my Department is represented on several groups, along with the Department of Justice and Equality, that address migrant, immigration and Traveller rights issues. All of the issues that Deputy Cairns has raised arise at these forums. We have the Roma strategy and strategies for the different groups. We fund these from my...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Holly Cairns: I am pleased that the Minister has acknowledged the extent of our reliance on those voluntary sectors. This highlights one of my questions. Does the Minister acknowledge that maybe there is an over-reliance on these organisations having to fundraise? The State should not abdicate responsibility in that sense.
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Michael Ring: The State will not be able to fund everything and there is no point in pretending. We have a great many organisations and groups. Let us consider the community services programme and the funding that my Department provides. We can see all the groups. People would be amazed with all the groups. Maybe that is one of the things we should be looking at. We have a €5 million...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Holly Cairns: I have a brief statement to make and then three questions for the Minister. Like many, I am outraged at the killing of George Floyd and the treatment of Black Lives Matter protesters in the US. As public representatives, it is important we respond to these events and listen to and amplify the voices of those affected. We cannot ignore this; that is how racism thrives. We also need,...
- Covid-19 (Rural and Community Development): Statements (3 Jun 2020)
Michael Ring: The Deputy is correct. I did not get the chance to publish the new policy on rural Ireland, although I have it ready and I want to put on the record that I am hopeful that I will publish it in the next fortnight. When I was drawing up that new policy, one of the big issues I looked at was the pilot scheme I carried out for towns and villages. We picked six towns and villages and we gave...