Results 1-20 of 3,132 for speaker:Marc Ó Cathasaigh

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I wish to raise an issue around joint family visa applicants. Like so many of these issues that we get into our offices it goes from the particular to the general once one starts looking at it. A constituent got in touch with my office. He is working at University Hospital Waterford and he is well integrated into both the workforce and the wider community and wants his wife to come and...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Even though these two amendments are grouped, they are quite different in nature, so we are discussing apples and oranges. This is really welcome legislation, as was said on Second Stage, and it represents good policy and politics. If the scheme were up and running next year, it would be 2065 before those who had worked for 40 years would exit and benefit from it. I do not believe they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what specific measures are being taken to address menstruation-related absenteeism in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20733/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what specific measures are being taken to address the severe effects period symptoms have on students' ability to participate, engage and learn in educational settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20734/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 572. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people who lost access to a medical card due to pension increases in the last Budget; his Department's plans to pre-emptively address the issue in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20506/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Policies (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 616. To ask the Minister for Health for clarification on the method undertaken to create the endometriosis framework; when we can anticipate a release date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20735/24]

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: When the Minister referred to section 40(3)-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: In paragraph (b)(i) of that subsection-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Similarly, section 42 refers to "other statistical information as may be prescribed." There is a strong argument for having the authority report on the type of funds. I know it is within the powers of the Minister under the legislation to ask for that. The legislation would be stronger if we expressly stated we would like to see where the money is and made that one of the reporting...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I would be more than happy to withdraw the amendment on that basis.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I move amendment No. 4: In page 35, lines 4 and 5, to delete “and the level of retirement savings in the State” and substitute “, the level of retirement savings in the State, the types of funds invested in”.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I have given consideration to the amendment tabled by Deputy Sherlock and it is another way of skinning the cat. Some of my later amendments go to the idea of divestment, particularly in respect of fossil fuels and the arms industry but amendment No. 13 is another way to skin that cat. Within a private pension I can avail of the option to invest in an ESG-friendly green pension product and...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I think we would accept the amendments are quite different in ambition and scope. I have amendments later on which I am confident that the Minister will take a similarly dim view as she has of amendment No. 13. I do not suppose all my amendments will be as successful as these, in terms of going back to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. I thank the Minister for taking it on board. It is...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I move amendment No. 16: In page 54, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: "(a) shall not invest those resources, directly or indirectly— (i) in equity or debt securities issued by a munitions company as defined in Part 4 of the Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008, (ii) or any financial derivative instruments, insurance policy, exchange traded...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I meant first to make the case for amendment No. 22, which I think is grouped as well.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: This is just an expansion of a provision that is in there already. We are looking at section 75(3). The amendment provides that: "An investment management contract shall include provision for enabling of the achievement of the obligations of the State under international agreements on environmental sustainability and climate change and national obligations under the Climate Action and Low...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the Minister with regard to her taking amendment No. 18 back and having a look at it. It may look like throwing the dog a bone, in that it is the smallest and least consequential of these amendments. It is consequential, though, because strengthening this language can make a difference, even if it is only the substitution of a single word. I thank the Minister for taking this on...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I will again make the point I made at the outset. I do not, at the moment, get to legislate on anything else that is happening in the pensions industry. We are getting an opportunity to look at legislation to do with what will become a substantial part of our pension provision State-wide. I strongly feel that if we are looking at convergence, we should converge upwards and not downwards....