Results 1-20 of 724 for at speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: This matter is a very important one for the Department of housing and I thank the Deputy for raising it. It is very important that local authority tenants who are occupying social housing properties and paying weekly rents are living in homes that provide good comfort levels for their occupants. The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: The Deputy is correct. I recall a number of examples of complete regeneration projects in Dublin, including right in the heart of the north inner city and in Dolphin's Barn where flats were beyond their lifespan in the way described by the Deputy. A completely different regenerative approach was necessary but it was largely driven by Dublin City Council in the first instance and supported...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I could not agree more. It appears that the issues which give rise to the necessity for boil water notices can be easily understood and communicated. They can sometimes be persistent. I have an issue in my area whereby after very heavy rainfall, people are aware that there will some difficulties for a very particular reason and that there is a longer term strategy to remedy the problem....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: It is a most reasonable request and I am sorry the Deputy has to raise it persistently on behalf of his constituents. I note what he has said about communication with Irish Water-Uisce Éireann, whose services continue to improve yet have room for further improvement. As the Deputy is aware, the operation of Macroom public water supply is a matter for Uisce Éireann, which has...

Spending of Public Funds by the Government: Motion [Private Members] (8 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: ...and social developments while ensuring the sustainability of our public finances. Budget 2025 will build on and continue the enhanced investment in recent years in our society. The budget strategy generally has been framed in the context of a growing population and elevated price levels in recent years. As set out in the summer economic statement, the strategy for budget 2025 has a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (1 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I thank the Senator for raising the issue again. It is not by any means the first or second time he has raised it in this House and he is representing his constituents most ably to try to advance this, which is of course entirely what they are entitled to. The Senator is already aware that the Water Services Acts 2007-2020 set out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (1 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I could not agree with the Senator more and I am told the Department has secured record overall funding of €1.81 billion for the delivery of water services in 2024.As the Senator said, it has to actually happen, be delivered and done efficiently. I am also told Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (1 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I thank Senator Wall for raising the issue of the proposed necessary refurbishment of the social housing scheme at McCauley Court, adjacent to the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Athy, County Kildare. As the Senator is aware, the age-friendly social housing development was initially funded under the Department of housing’s capital assistance scheme approximately 30 years...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (1 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I completely agree with the Senator but it is a complex build in an area of architectural interest, which makes things more difficult. It sounds like an excellent design and I hope that, when the building has been completed, it will help move the school forward. The Senator is correct; the physical building is as important, in many ways, in moving forward as are the different traumatic...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I am very happy to appear before this committee for the first time as Minister of State for European affairs and defence. I sent this statement yesterday. I was writing it from the General Affairs Council to try to encompass yesterday's work, so if I have to deviate slightly to provide further updates, I am sure members will forgive me. I look forward to discussing the issues arising from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: It is no difficulty. However, as I think of further information, I might provide it because I want to do the best I can to answer across the board. I will take them in turn, starting with the Middle East situation and what has happened in Lebanon. We are deeply concerned about the escalating violence in the Middle East. It is hard to say, but the committee will be aware that there are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: Indeed, they turned up for us physically and they saw how important it was for us not to have a border on this island. They did not have to do that but they did it and it improved understanding and helped to shape a European position that was entirely in Ireland's interests. It is our turn to turn up for them and while that does not mean changing our military position, it does mean turning...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: The Senator has identified something that is really important for Ireland and I thank her for doing so. The cyber attack on the HSE did get a lot of attention and people understood. It was not long after this that people were receiving phone calls to their mobiles looking for payment for an e-flow tag, for example. It was fraud, basically, and it was the acquisition of personal data by an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: Exactly. When I was there, Ireland's secondee on CCDCOE, Commandant Frank Hickey, gave a presentation to me, along with his superior, on the work they are doing more broadly across Europe but also on Ireland's increased participation in that. It is a NATO-accredited centre that enhances capability and co-operation between 38 countries in cyber defence. It brings together legal,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: To be clear, we are not under pressure concerning our independent foreign policy approach. I would not like anyone to get that impression - we are not. That is important and consistent with what Deputy Haughey heard separately. I raised Sudan yesterday and was the only member state representative to do so, to try to make it part of the discussion for the European Council meeting. We will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: This is exactly the point that net contributors are concerned about. That measure of frugality is absolutely at the top of our mind. We straddle the balance about needing to invest more in Europe. The Cathaoirleach is right to highlight it. That is the perspective we bring and I thank him for that. However, I do not know where it will land given the challenges of Europe as well. I again...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council Meetings: Discussion (25 Sep 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I might start at the back end, if I may. Yes, I did see that article. I do not think it reflects the work and ongoing engagement Ireland has had and continues to have. It is premised on an assumption, which I believe to be incorrect, that the portfolio that Michael McGrath has received does not have significance or importance. I could not disagree more. At the heart of the European...

Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (17 Jul 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I thank the Chair and the Senators for inviting me to meet the committee today to discuss the issues relating to the transposition of EU directives. The committee's letter of invitation indicates a wish to discuss the provision of draft statutory instruments to the committee by Departments, as well as the matter of their publication by the committee. I received a letter from the...

Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (17 Jul 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: Perhaps the Senator would like me to respond. I will respond to each of the points in turn. On the list of infringements, I would be greatly pleased for the committee to have a substantive involvement in the detail of the directives and the transposition process, as well as the broad powers of the committee, which is what we have discussed to date. There is a substantive body of...

Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments: Engagement with Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (17 Jul 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: The point I am trying to get to, in order to answer your question, is that I would like to spend more time reflecting on that. One way I can usefully do that is by investigating the process to date, the extent to which there has been outside consultation, the circumstances under which that was understood and whether privilege was indeed attached to that. I can get a better answer and a...