Results 41-60 of 5,542 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I understand that. To be honest, this is something I am quite passionate about. I am concerned that we have seen a number of cases where whistleblowers have expressed concerns about their treatment and how the system works. Will the Minister be making a submission in relation to that? I would suggest that he does-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I have one more question in relation to this. As things currently stand, if a protected disclosure is made to the Minister by a civil or public servant, the Minister can pass that complaint on to the Secretary General. However, the complaint could relate to the Secretary General addressing an issue but due to the Carltona principle, the Secretary General could respond to the complainant in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Go raibh maith agat. It is an issue of huge concern. I understand that the Minister must leave at this point. We will move on to the Minister of State now. I invite her to finish her point in response to Senator Higgins although I understand that the Minister of State is also under time pressure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Is that okay, Senator Higgins?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I have a few questions myself. A review of the public procurement system is under way at the moment. The Minister of State will also be aware of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council's recent report which was somewhat critical of the Government for what it described as "poor budgeting". The State spends around €19 billion per year contracting for goods and services but my concern is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I am aware we are under time constraints so we can delve into that a bit more tomorrow because I do have a number of concerns. I have one more question which the Minister of State may not be able to answer right now and if that is the case, that is fine. I understand that a circular will be sent out to all Government agencies and Departments warning about overspending and the need to keep...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I understand we have three minutes left. I cut short the response from Senator Higgins, so she can make a brief contribution now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Okay, Senator Higgins, I can give you 30 seconds.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Go raibh maith agaibh go léir. That concludes the committee's business in public session for today. The meeting now stands adjourned.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fishing Industry (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 14. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government whether the board and or senior management team of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has given notice to Departmental officials that the Cong Salmon Hatchery in County Galway will cease operations imminently, considering that IFI operates under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34944/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Asset Management Agency (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 46. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide the par value of loans acquired by NAMA from each associated bank; the value of securities/funds provided to each bank in return; and the number of loans received by NAMA from each bank, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34596/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (25 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a license was issued (details supplied) in spite of not all the requirements being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34945/25]

Presidential Voting Rights: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: In the North, there is an incredible situation in which Irish citizens who live on the island of Ireland have a Head of State in the President of Ireland but are unable to vote for that Head of State. These citizens feel there is an othering of them, that they are somehow different and not equal as Irish citizens who live in Ireland and have an Irish Head of State for whom they cannot vote....

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: The Minister for Finance alluded to the fact that things are changing and have been changing in terms of the world economy and the geopolitical landscape. In the last number of days, we have seen huge and concerning changes. Every time we turned on the news this morning there was a new update on what is happening between Israel and Iran. Some of the reporting relating to Iran is that it...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I take the point that we cannot predict this. It is probably one of the most unpredictable things at this moment in time. My concern is the impact this could have on ordinary households with regard to the cost of electricity, the cost of gas and the cost of oil. Anecdotally, I am sure we all see oil being delivered to houses around our own towns, as people are fearful of the impact this...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: People are concerned that this could have a serious impact on oil and gas prices, and potentially electricity costs. If there is a serious impact, will the Government consider this again?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I want to move on to the other Minister, Deputy Chambers, because we have very short time slots at this committee. On the overpayment of civil servants, what analysis has been done on the age profile of the recipients of the overpayments?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I am particularly concerned about whether the people are retired. The age profile could have an impact on repayments.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: What analysis is currently being conducted by the Department?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I have only a few seconds left. I want to ask about the Deloitte report on the OPW. We have had numerous reports on the OPW but I am particularly interested in the maintenance, building and refurbishment of public property and the impact. There has been criticism from a value-for-money perspective. With regard to the property management function, does the Minister accept there has been...