Results 1-20 of 8,816 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

EU Directive: Motion (29 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I was called in the nick of time. I thank the Chair for the opportunity to speak on this directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and CSAM. The directive addresses a number of important issues such as investigations and prosecutions of offenders, the increased possibilities for perpetrators to hide their identity, the increased presence of children on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: As the Taoiseach can imagine, many young constituents in County Donegal go on to study in the North given its close proximity to home and given the housing shortage in Dublin at the moment. At the beginning of this yea,r it was announced that funding would be made available for 25 additional medical students qualifying to study medicine in Queen's University from September 2024 and that, as...

Neutrality and the Triple Lock: Motion [Private Members] (29 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on the motion. I pay tribute to People Before Profit for bringing it forward, rather than the Social Democrats. There has never been a more important time to protect and preserve Irish neutrality, so I support the motion fully. It is incredible to see the significant U-turn all three Government parties have taken in their views on neutrality....

Local Authority Housing Maintenance and Repair: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this motion regarding the maintenance and repair of local authority housing. I support the motion and its call to significantly increase funding for a social housing retrofitting programme to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy poverty. However, I note the motion lacks a rural aspect, which is disappointing. Although there...

Ireland's Recognition of the State of Palestine: Statements (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: All eyes are on Rafah as we are forced to watch in horror the utter brutality of Israel's attack on the Palestinian people. The level of bloodshed and devastation the Palestinian people have had to endure, especially in recent months, is unimaginable. Israel's bombing of a camp of tents of displaced people is indefensible. The images and stories coming out of Rafah are truly gut-wrenching....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Several deadly US Airforce Osprey aircraft crashes have taken place in recent years, one of which occurred in June 2022 when five US marines were killed in southern California. Following this, the US Marine Corps published its investigation on 21 June 2023 which stated that the mishap was due to an unpreventable mechanical failure and not any error on the part of the pilots, crew or...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: -----before Osprey aircraft were given permission to fly over Dublin in August that year? If not, why not? If so, why was this allowed before the safety recommendations were implemented?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Chair. I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his explanation of the legislation. Under section 7(a) a person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on summary of conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months. The fine element has gone out of that. That means that under this Bill everybody who is caught in possession of a knife in a public place with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: The sanction is the only option for the court. Deputy O'Callaghan said that in 2022, 2,146 knives were seized by the gardaí. How many charges were laid on foot of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I think that is something that would be important for the House to know. According to section 7(b) refers to five months, 12 months and up to ten years on conviction on indictment. Is five years not a serious enough length of time to spend in jail for an offence such as this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: It is open to the court to do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I think it is a bit extreme. There is no doubt that possession of a knife is a serious offence but why do we propose to extend the sentence to more years in jail? I refer to five years in jail for somebody for a serious offence. There is research that shows that over 12 months or maybe 18 months in prison is detrimental to a person's mental health. Our response should not always be to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: The charge of manslaughter would carry a heavier sentence anyway. If they are found not guilty of manslaughter, this would come into effect. Is it necessary? In 2022 of the 2,146 people who had knives seized from them, a proportion of those were charged with possession and got a conviction for that. That sends a stronger message than the Oireachtas passing new legislation increasing the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Maybe it would be better if of those 2,146 people convicted for possession, some of them were prosecuted for that specific offence. That might send out a stronger message than the proposed legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: We do not know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: We do not know. .

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021 (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: That is right.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turbary Rights (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: 280. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is any restriction on the exercise of the turbary right of turf cutting on lands included in Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) SAC and Lough Nillan Bog SPA, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23743/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (28 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: 359. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports that are available under the Common Agricultural Policy for owners of commonage or other agricultural schemes that might be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23669/24]

Business Support Package: Statements (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: According to the 2022 census, 32% of people in Ireland, including 15,300 people in Donegal, work from home for at least some part of their week. When considering business support packages, it is important that we also consider supporting businesses to offer the option of remote working and support the transition to remote working. There are companies with jobs that exist only online and...