Results 501-520 of 1,019,396 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Catherine Martin)

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the situation in UHL. My understanding is that the Minister will announce a HIQA review of urgent and emergency care in Limerick. A wide range of issues there need to be reviewed, including the need to determine whether a second emergency department is required in the mid-west. The Minister will announce a wider review and a HIQA review of emergency care in...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Marian Harkin: Yesterday, the Minister, Norma Foley, announced that she will continue the free primary school book scheme for 2024. She said the funding is to provide, at a minimum, schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks and any surplus is to be used to eliminate the cost of pens, pencils, etc. However, the funding has been cut by 16 6%, from €96 last year to €80 per pupil this year, despite...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: If the scheme started last year, books were purchased by schools on behalf of pupils. As those in first year move on to second year, schools do not have to buy an entire supply of first year books again. That is the case across the country. The idea is to retain a lot of books for the next year, keep them in working condition and so on. I suspect and surmise that is the context for the...

Residential Tenancies (Illegal Evictions) (Amendment) Bill 2024: First Stage (9 May 2024)

Residential Tenancies (Illegal Evictions) (Amendment) Bill 2024: First Stage (9 May 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the creation of an offence of the forcible ending of a tenancy; to provide for a power to award exemplary damages where an illegal eviction has been found to have occurred; to provide for data exchange between Board and Property Services Regulatory Authority and the Revenue Commissioners in order to establish...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Griffin for his continued support for this initiative. He is correct that the purchase of Inch Strand by the NPWS on behalf of the State now forms part of the new Páirc Náísiúnta na Mara, along with Derrynane, Conor Pass, Owenmore and Sceilg Mhichíl. The marine national park is a really important and wonderful initiative by the State. At the...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I spoke to the Tánaiste previously with regard to the need to eliminate the disparity in pay levels for employees of section 38 and section 39 organisations and those employed directly by the State such as by the HSE. People with similar qualifications and providing similar services on behalf of our State should not have such a differential in their pay. This pay gap issue needs to be...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue of section 38 and section 39 organisations and parity. We are close to full employment in this economy and one of the biggest challenges in the health service has been, notwithstanding funding being provided, recruiting sufficient staff in certain categories. More than 28,000 extra people have been employed in health service in past four years and...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: We are over time.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: He is absolutely correct. It cannot just drag on year to year and a fundamental reappraisal is required, in my view.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Johnny Guirke: I have submitted several parliamentary questions on the issue of the Loughcrew megalithic tombs, also known as the Hills of the Witch. This is a group of neolithic passage tombs near Oldcastle in County Meath. Spread over four undulating peaks the tombs date back to approximately 3000 BC. Cairn T of Loughcrew is older than the pyramids in Egypt has stood silent over the Irish landscape for...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: That was a disingenuous comment.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I want to appreciate the number of Sinn Féin Deputies who have called me Taoiseach this morning.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Johnny Guirke: You have another couple of months.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Malcolm Noonan: That was a disingenuous comment by Deputy Guirke. I will follow this up with the National Monuments Service, liaise with the OPW on this matter and revert to the Deputy in due course.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Catherine Murphy: I want to raise the issue of summer provision for children with special educational needs. It is not an added extra but in some cases that is exactly how it is being treated. A variety of people from my own constituency have contacted me with regard to this, and I expect it mirrors other areas, where sanction was sought from the Department of Education but that sanction was not given.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Which sanction?

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Sanction was sought from the from the Department of Education for summer provision for special educational needs. This goes back to court cases where parents took the State to court for appropriate education. Where there is July provision for some weeks each year, some people are getting it for their children and some people are not. There has to be a consistency in this but there...

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that about €40 million was spent on the summer provision scheme last year.

Ceisteanna Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 May 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Some people are being told they will not get it at all.