Results 4,841-4,860 of 5,157 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: I move amendment No. 164: In page 66, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Report on introduction of measures to combat hoarding of land 55. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the introduction of measures to combat the hoarding of land needed for development, examining the options...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: I welcome that commitment. That is good news. We cannot overstate the impact of land hoarding. I will not name any sites but anybody who lives in Galway city or who has been to the city knows exactly what I am talking about. I thank the Minister and I welcome that.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: No. I welcome what the Minister has said. I really hope that will lead to development on this. I have been raising the topic for a long time because of a particular issue in Galway.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: I move amendment No. 166: In page 66, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Report on introduction of a progressive Wealth Tax 55.The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on options available for the introduction of a comprehensive and progressive wealth tax. The report shall include options...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: I disagree with the Minister on this. It will be interesting if we have a report to see whether a wealth tax is overstated as he said. I disagree and it would be interesting to see that report. I will press the amendment.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: Could the Minister tease this section out a little? I would like to know how the warehousing would happen. I might have follow-up questions.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: I want to add my voice to that. Deputy Doherty outlined the position very well. It is an issue of compassion. I would imagine it is an issue on which we can find common ground. I am sure we all know people, including family members, with dentures. I just cannot imagine the discomfort of ill-fitting dentures. We can all agree that a little compassion could be shown and that we could find...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: I am aware that the Minister of State visited Clifden at the time and took in how difficult it was for the people there. Some 17 houses were flooded and six roads were blocked, so what happened had a significant impact on the people of Clifden. We have heard from previous speakers about the worry and concern families have about flooding. It can have a great impact in terms of insurance and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: I appreciate that, and I appreciate that the Minister of State has outlined how horrendous it was to see. What he outlined was the reality that faced the people of Clifden at that time. As he said, it came and left out of nowhere. It was a massively shocking incident for the people of the area. I appreciate that the OPW will ensure it will work as closely as possible with Galway County...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: Sure.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: 100. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for a flood defence program in Clifden, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36714/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: 102. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW plans to install river gauges on the Owenglin River, County Galway in locations in which none currently exist. [36716/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: 115. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the trial for the new simulation system for advance warnings will be put in place on the Owenglin River, County Galway. [36715/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, is aware of the flooding in Clifden at the beginning of September and the very serious impact it has had on the people of Clifden. I am seeking a statement on the plans for a flood defence programme in Clifden.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: 87. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures that will be taken by the review to renew the national development plan, which will look to incorporate an independent peer review at two key points in the life of a contact worth over €10 million in order to ensure that successful tender bids are coming in on cost. [36712/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: The Aire recently launched the Review to Renew consultation on the national development plan, NDP. I understand that this will incorporate an independent peer review at two key points in the life of a contract worth over €10 million, to ensure successful tender bids are coming in on cost. As cost overruns have been something of a problem in large public procurement contracts, can the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. That is interesting. Getting value for money is very important in the area of public procurement. We often hear talk of the supposed cost efficiencies of the market relative to the public sector, yet many of the large cost overruns come from large public procurement capital projects. The national children's hospital is a noteworthy example but 35 out of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: Again, that is interesting and I would like to get more information on it so perhaps the Minister can send that on to me. How will the independent peer review process itself, and the Government's interaction with it, be decided? As the Minister has stated it could involve people from different countries and so on, how will the make-up of the independent peer review be decided? Where will...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Lobbying Regulation (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: As I mentioned, since I have been elected - but I am not saying that the two things coincide - we have seen public confidence damaged by the events surrounding golfgate, the case of a former Minister and with the recent leaking of a confidential document. All of these instances have had a real impact on public confidence in politics. I am glad to hear that the Minister is genuinely...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Lobbying Regulation (17 Nov 2020)

Mairéad Farrell: 89. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the further measures being planned in terms of amendments to the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 in view of his recent statement that he was planning fines and criminal sanctions for Deputies and Ministers that breach the cooling off period and become lobbyists shortly after leaving political life. [36719/20]