Results 21-40 of 3,831 for speaker:Jennifer Whitmore

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: 383. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills details of the current policy regarding maximum commute times for special needs children availing of school transport services; the way in which the Department ensures that transport arrangements are in line with the needs of these students, particularly in respect of minimising travel times; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (22 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: 566. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average processing timelines for work permits for international protection applicants; the number of applications from IPAS applicants the office has received this year; the number of applications processed; the rate at which applications are processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42698/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: 644. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to the State of assuming the current wage bill for early years educators, lead educators, graduate lead educators, deputy managers, and managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43054/24]

Maternity Protection Bill 2024 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: I also welcome this legislation and commend the Minister on bringing it to this point. I hope we will get it through all the processes. It seems the Minister is determined to do so and that is welcome. This is a very important Bill to close all the gaps we have seen in legislation relating to maternity leave in recent years. The provision on illness is particularly important. The...

Maternity Protection Bill 2024 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: I am delighted to hear that because it is really important. With regard to maternity leave for Oireachtas Members that is also very welcome and something we have been waiting a long time for. To date we have expected women either not to serve as politicians or to hide when they get pregnant and not go back to work. We made it very difficult for them. Enabling this is something I hope...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: The money to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank the witnesses for their opening statements. I was a bit late to the meeting and may have missed something, so I apologise if I go over something that was already spoken about. With regard to the Office of Government Procurement, Ms Stewart spoke about guidance. This is probably following on from Deputy Bruton's question. Are there definitive rules as to what public bodies have to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: Then there is the whether, something Deputy Bruton touched on - whether the public sector body has done it. When the public sector body writes and explains, is it to the Office of Government Procurement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: Is that made public?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: Any time an entity goes beyond the guidance, it will be there and reported on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: As regards the funding element of it, a lot of procurement is based on the price and that is the overarching criteria. If someone says they can meet a specific price, but I want a green procurement and it is going to cost more, is there an allowance given?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: A lot of public sector bodies must go with the cheapest price, however.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: Great. I thank Ms Stewart. I will ask the SEAI a question. I met Mr. Walsh last week in County Wicklow where Bray fire station is the first county building to be fully decarbonised. It is a very positive project. I understand that was funded under the pathfinder project for Wicklow County Council. That is really welcome. In the work SEAI is doing, is consideration given to the fact...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: I have looked through the SEAI's report. I want to drill down into one of the figures that is really jumping out at me concerning the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I have looked at the data, and I perhaps I am reading this incorrectly, but the report states that the Department's fossil CO2 emissions have increased by nearly 450% since the baseline, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: Will Mr. Ryan be following up with that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: It looks like there is a trajectory where it is increasing over a number of years but where there is a quite a steep increase in the final year's data.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: Yes. It jumped out at me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: When the SEAI is looking at different buildings, the energy demand and the potential for energy reductions, does it ever take into account nature-based solutions such as green buildings? I refer, for example, to having a grass roof or even vegetation on one wall. This has been proven to reduce energy demand by up to 60% in some instances. Is that something the SEAI looks at or is it purely...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Jennifer Whitmore: Obviously, it has nature-positive benefits as well. Even from a leadership perspective, if it became more visible within our communities that public buildings had this kind of greening and use of nature as part of their design, other people would look at that and take it on board. There is a need to not look narrowly at these public buildings. These are community public buildings. If...