Results 41-60 of 5,128 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (8 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I concur with what my colleagues said. It shows the importance of this issue, which spanned three different Dáil terms. Colleagues from political parties and Independents have come together on this issue because it is so important for the people of Connemara. It has progressed but I have been advised by the Minister for Health in a response to a parliamentary question that it was...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (8 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I appreciate the Minister of State's response and how genuine it was. I think the other Deputies will agree we saw progress when we raised it as a Topical Issue a number of years ago with former Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte. She took it upon herself to get things moving, so that shows the role the Minister of State can play in this. Let us hope we can get progress as a result. I...

Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I commend my colleagues Deputies McDonald and Ó Broin on tabling the Bill. Taking part in the movement to ensure Irish water services were not privatised and water charges were not introduced was an important part of my political life, as it was for many others throughout our communities. Almost a decade ago, I marched during the height of the movement. I also protested when I was...

Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025: Second Stage (8 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I have always believed that when it comes to those who are working and seeking promotion, if you are able enough, you are old enough. By the same token, I have always felt that when it comes to the matter of retirement, if you are able enough, you are young enough. Sinn Féin has long argued that there needs to be a choice. We have long called for the abolition of mandatory retirement,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Social Insurance (8 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 213. To ask the Taoiseach if he can provide the total social insurance contributions in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and total contributions as a percentage of GNI* and GDP (current prices), in all years, in tabular form [16557/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (8 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 744. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review a case of a young woman (details supplied) who has been resident in Ireland for most of her life, has earned university qualifications in this country and is unable to work due to lack of progress on her application for Stamp 4 status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17451/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (8 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 965. To ask the Minister for Health if she has made funding available to the HSE to ensure that a transport service is in place for service users of St. Francis day care centre in Galway city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17115/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pension Provisions (8 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 966. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of the situation involving the pension entitlements of certain psychiatric nurses in Galway (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17130/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: One of the Minister's predecessors, who is now a European Commissioner, undertook a significant review of the FOI system. There are still issues with certain public bodies refusing requests or redacting large volumes of information. Sometimes, it comes out through appeals that this was done incorrectly. There is a view that this is done based on trying to deter people in the hope they will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I worked very constructively with former Minister, Michael McGrath, on this matter and other issues. I hope the Minister and I can do the same. Regarding this issue, we also need to consider solutions. Sometimes when people are refused an FOI request, they do not think they have the grounds to appeal the decision. I also encourage people who believe they are entitled to some information...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 96. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the reform of the FOI system; the recommendations from the last review that have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15896/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: What plans does the Minister have for reform of the FOI system, which of the recommendations from the last review have been implemented and will he make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of Government Procurement (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 91. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the public procurement system, and to better align it with strategic goals and ethical considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15893/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of Government Procurement (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I am a big believer in looking at how we use our public procurement system. When I was on Galway City Council, we ensured that there were ways to employ, through social clauses and so forth, people across Galway. There are so many real positives we can use through our public procurement system. Given everything that is going on in the world at the moment, I am of the view that they can be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of Government Procurement (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I welcome the fact that the Government is having that consultation. It is welcome that we are all thinking more about this issue, whether in the context of SMEs, social enterprises, as the Minister of State outlined, councils and so on. The EU has long been calling on member states to use the public procurement system in a more strategic...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of Government Procurement (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: That is okay.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of Government Procurement (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: That is really good. I am delighted to hear the Minister of State talking about data collection. I did a survey a few years ago asking different public bodies about their use of social clauses. One body responded by saying that it paid the minimum wage. Obviously, that is not a social clause; it is the law. You have to do that. I wish to flag another thing, which comes on the back of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I will be seeking a briefing on the review of the NDP and where it stands. The Minister mentioned housing, which is one of the basic infrastructures needed across Galway, Connemara and the State. I have to ask the Minister, because this was a hugely important issue during the general election campaign, about this number of 40,000 homes. The Deputy was Minister for Finance at the time. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (3 Apr 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: This was information that the Minister had. It was information that the Central Bank was pointing to housing outputs for 2024 similar to or slightly below the previous year. Does the Minister genuinely believe that people can have faith in the delivery of the NDP or of what the Government is saying about housing now when, during the general election campaign, two days after the information...