Results 1-20 of 1,022,128 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman OR speaker:Mairead Farrell OR speaker:Niall Collins) in 'Committee meetings'

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

Mairead Farrell: I thank the witnesses for coming in and sharing their experiences. I know the experiences have been very difficult, but to have to come forward can be very difficult as well. We really appreciate them coming before this committee. I thank them very much for that because it has been incredibly important. Mr. Ó Luain's opening statement set out the challenges and experiences very well....

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

Mairead Farrell: Before she does so, Mr. Ó Luain mentioned that Department officials confirmed that significant knowledge gaps had been uncovered within the sector. What kind of improvement in data collection oversight is needed? Could this be added to the experiences?

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

Mairead Farrell: How is the accreditation and coordination of English language services, ACELS, functioning? Have the witnesses had any engagement with it on the various issues that students have encountered? I am aware I only have limited time but there will be other questions.

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

Mairead Farrell: I might finish with one question. Why has it been so slow in terms of regulation?

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

Mairead Farrell: That is why Mr. Ó Luain thinks it has been so slow in terms of regulation.

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

Mairead Farrell: While people are suffering.

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

Mairead Farrell: I thank our guests for their presentation. The Irish Council for International Students made a presentation in the AV room and it does incredible work to try to raise this issue. My first question is about the lack inspections of schools that Mr. Ó Luain mentioned. Why is there light-touch regulation?

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

Mairead Farrell: Mr. Hearne mentioned self-assessment and monitoring. We have seen in many sectors that self-regulation can, unfortunately, often lead to no regulation. I am not saying that is the case in this sector but one would obviously have a concern. Instead of such a system, what are our guests saying needs to be done, how and by whom, to ensure there is regulation? If they had three buzzwords to...

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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (9 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the official response but he really cut to the chase in his closing comments. I have no issue with the welfare partners portal. Indeed, community employment scheme supervisors recognise it as a top-class piece of kit. The reality, however, is that a serious situation is evolving. There is an eminently sensible situation to the problem, which is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (9 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I am aware of Abbeyshrule and the improvements that were made there through the community employment scheme. It is well known around the country. I appreciate the benefits of community employment schemes. I will take the specific issues the Deputy raised to the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, to see whether he has any specific knowledge of them. He may engage directly with the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (9 May 2024)

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 6.46 p.m. go dtí 2 p.m., Dé Máirt, an 14 Bealtaine 2024. The Dáil adjourned at 6.46 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 May 2024.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products (9 May 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: I thank the Minister of State for the new statistics showing that 362 licences have been issued, which is very positive. Recently a patient reached out to me who had applied for a ministerial licence. The Minister for Health will be very familiar with this case because I submitted a number of parliamentary questions on the matter. What has come to light is that because the consultant is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products (9 May 2024)

Mary Butler: As I stated earlier, the Department is currently establishing a clinical review group to review the publication to make recommendations to the Minister for Health. In response to an oral parliamentary question last week, he stated that he would be open to any expansion, if recommended, but that he would be entirely led by the clinicians in the group. The Deputy spoke about a specific...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (9 May 2024)

Community Employment Schemes

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (9 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I appreciate the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, standing in for the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, who is unavoidably absent this evening but I ask that the senior Minister would respond to me directly in the fullness of time on the important points I will raise. She, like the Minister of State, is passionate about rural Ireland and appreciates more than most the huge...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (9 May 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy for his questions. I listened carefully to the points he made. I will now read the formal response from the Minister for Social Protection before discussing the matter further. It is important to acknowledge the excellent work that is done on the full range of work schemes, including community employment, Tús, the rural social scheme, RSS and the job initiative...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (9 May 2024)

Mary Butler: As I said, sometimes difficult decisions have to be taken for the greater good. The decision to utilise the new Nenagh community nursing unit building, on an interim basis, as a step-down, sub-acute and rehabilitation facility was taken to alleviate the significant pressures on University Hospital Limerick. The intention is that the arrangement will be reviewed within one year - I have...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (9 May 2024)

Martin Browne: It is dependent on the 96-bed unit being finished.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing Homes (9 May 2024)

Mary Butler: An older person with a urinary tract or kidney infection who needs intravenous drugs and fluids can be brought to the community nursing unit and avoid the emergency department in Limerick. Please God, they will be back home with their loved ones within 48 to 72 hours. It is not a decision that was taken lightly, but it was taken for the greater good to try to support the emergency...