Results 41-60 of 1,023,308 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Leo Varadkar)

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I am exploring this issue. I get to the same point as the Deputy but from a slightly different perspective. If the view of society is that people should not be able to turn up masked outside people's homes - anybody's home - in this country, we need to know a very simple answer as legislators. Is that legal now? If it is, let us fix it and change the law. If it is not legal, why is it...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Michael Collins: For those who died in the Stardust disaster and their families, yesterday's apology was welcome but was 43 years too late. I ask the Taoiseach and his Government to think of the 50 people who died so horrifically on Whiddy Island on 18 January 1979. Forty-five years, three months and 14 days ago, these victims went to work at the offshore jetty off Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay where they...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I certainly acknowledge their suffering and I think of them, the 50 people who died and the 23 bodies that were never recovered. I received correspondence yesterday about this matter. I have it here in my hand and want to give that due consideration. My understanding, and it is an initial understanding because I need to be properly briefed on this, is that the Attorney General was asked to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Réada Cronin: I want to raise the case of my 19-year-old constituent Seán, who has ADHD, ASD, depression and an anxiety disorder. He has aged out of CAMHS and his family is cut adrift. After a recent suicide attempt and a 999 call, he spent a night in the Lakeview unit attached to Naas General Hospital, in a padded room in the dark. Seán is terrified of the dark. He left Naas General...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

David Cullinane: Liam Dennehy is 13 years old and is from Fossa in County Kerry. Just over one year ago his spine started to shift. On his first X-ray Liam's spine was at 35°. By November it was at 85°. It was evident then that he needed surgery urgently. Five months later not only has he not received his surgery he has not even received a date for surgery. His mam, Pamela, has described his...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising this matter and bringing Liam's case to my attention. Deputy Healy-Rae also wrote to me on this issue today about Liam. I thank both Deputies for highlighting the case. I have contacted the office of the Minister for Health to seek a direct update for the Deputy. As the Deputy will be aware it is not within my gift to make commitments around clinical...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Alan Kelly: I was delighted to hear in the Taoiseach's maiden speech that he would "ensure a step change in how we care for our elderly". As the Taoiseach is aware, this is completely at odds with the decision of the HSE to annex the new 50-bed nursing home unit in Nenagh which was built because the St. Conlon's community nursing unit was effectively condemned by HIQA and has to be closed. I am aware...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kelly for raising this issue. I do want to see a step change in how we care for older people. The Commission on Care for Older People the Government has set up is a really important step in that. I thank the Deputy for raising this specific issue regarding Nenagh and the point he makes about the unintended consequences if older people are not able to access a community...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Catherine Murphy: The Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities completed a review into local government last October. I raised this issue in November and have raised it in parliamentary questions subsequently. The report was scathing. It found, not surprisingly, that Ireland has the most centralised system of local decision making and referred to the balance of power between the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I certainly hope we intend to respond to the report. I will familiarise myself with the points the Deputy made, which she has raised before but which have just come to my attention here. I will certainly familiarise myself with that. I would point to some steps we have taken. As the Deputy has acknowledged, the directly elected mayor Limerick is a not insignificant step, which the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The International Court of Justice, ICJ, concluded earlier this year that Israel was plausibly committing genocide against the people of Gaza. Yesterday the Government of the United States of America made a decision to give €13 billion to a State that is plausibly - and in my opinion undoubtedly - guilty of genocide. Thousands more people have died since the ICJ ruling. Does the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: It is not for me to tell any other sovereign parliament or congress how they should spend their taxpayers' money. The position of the Irish Government is crystal clear on the need for an immediate cessation of violence in the Middle East. Ireland has been one of the first countries to call for a ceasefire. At a European level we are pursuing the association agreement. I also raised this...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Many people are struggling to pay their bills. The fuel allowance provides vital support for so many households across the nation and especially for older people and those with chronic pain. To qualify for fuel allowance one must live alone or with a spouse, in a civil partnership, or with a cohabitant who qualifies the person for an increase in his or her pension or social welfare. For a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for raising this issue. The whole issue of energy poverty is one we must take seriously. The energy credits are being paid right now in this billing cycle. In fairness to my colleague the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, we have made a number of improvements and expansions to the fuel allowance scheme, and I am aware the Deputy would have been supportive of that. I...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: In a reply to a question in the House last week the Taoiseach told me there was now a net outflow of Ukrainians from State accommodation. At the same time we find in Clonmel that the Department of Education is putting in 82 modular homes for Ukrainians in Haywood Road. This is without any information whatsoever being provided to me as a directly elected Member and with very little...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: Under the current national planning framework, the Government has committed to achieving a 50-50 split in population growth between the eastern and midlands region and the other two regions, namely the northern and western region and the southern region. However, based on the latest population statistics from the CSO, 55% of population growth has taken place in the eastern and midlands...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. Before I had this role, I used to take Leaders' Questions on an interim basis. On foot of that, I know that this is an issue the Deputy raises on a regular basis. I accept her sincerity and bona fides in respect of this matter. I will begin by pointing to some areas we have made progress on. When we talk about population and where we want...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Taoiseach. He spoke of people wanting to work, study and live in the regions and of winning hearts and minds. What he needs to do is build houses. Stop talking about hearts and minds or community centres here and there, although the latter are welcome and great to see. I am talking about the big-ticket items, and the Taoiseach knows that. I am talking about systemic...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I am a little disappointed with that response. Hearts and minds matter because we live in a democracy. The Deputy can wave her hands at me if she wishes, but I am going to speak for a second and am not going be told to stop talking about certain things. I am going to continue to talk about the fact that this Government has proudly invested in Sligo. From time to time, it might suit others...