Results 20,221-20,240 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy referred to individual cases. Of course, nobody wants to see anybody waiting a day longer than is necessary.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is extremely important that the Deputy accepts that every effort is being made to deal with the waiting lists. The trend is going in the right direction. I accept that is no help for the individual to whom the Deputy referred. The point is that it is an absolute priority to deal with this issue in a variety of ways. First of all, real money is being put in to deal with the 500 more...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----it seems reasonable to me that that should be done.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is Deputy Kelleher suggesting that they should not be told what their rights are as EU citizens? The Deputy will be aware we have always had, and encouraged, cross-Border health care initiatives. That has worked well. We would like to see that continuing.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We accept that this is a huge challenge. I reiterate it is an absolute priority.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We care every bit as much as the Deputy about people who are on waiting lists, which is why we are making every effort to make sure people will spend less time on waiting lists and that the necessary resources will be given to the health service. It was an absolute priority in the budget to provide the kind of money that would make a difference and reduce waiting lists. The Deputy should...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy raises an issue about a drug that women have been prescribed during pregnancy. As she said, this is not the first time issues have arisen about drugs prescribed during pregnancy which potentially have extremely adverse effects. We have seen this happen in the case of thalidomide and numerous other drugs and women have had to fight quite hard to prove the consequences of the use...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy said, the European Medicines Agency has started a review of the approach to use of this drug. Very strict warnings are in place in prescribing it for women and girls. It is a drug that is prescribed across Europe. A review is under way and it is expected that a decision will be made by the end of the year by the European Medicines Agency on whether there should be further...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was disturbed by and disappointed to read the decision of the Workplace Relations Commission. I read it again this morning. It is absolutely clear that the Minister of State's questions during the interview were discriminatory and unacceptable. The Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, has expressed regret for what happened. The incident should never have happened and he has accepted that....

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: He will give a more detailed statement in regard to some of the issues the Deputy has raised and in regard to some of the discrepancies the Deputy mentioned. As I said, the Deputy has raised a number of issues in regard to this. The Minister of State has expressed his regret and I certainly accept that he has done that.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department this morning issued an email to all Department staff to remind them again of the policies and procedures that are in place. It is important to note they are in place across the Civil Service, in particular the dignity at work policy and grievance procedure. The dignity at work policy defines what is meant by bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. Indeed, we have been...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The ICIJ leaks make a number of points about changes in the Irish tax system. It rightly points out that Ireland has already acted to address definitively the issues around stateless and double Irish companies. In the Finance Bill this week - the finance committee is meeting as we speak - the Minister for Finance will be discussing the changes he has already brought forward to our regime...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland continues to take a very active part in that global work to reform the international corporate tax system. The publication, for example, of the OECD base erosion and profit shifting, BEPS, report in October 2015 was a significant milestone in this work. From the beginning a key aim of the BEPS project has been to better align the right to tax with real economic substance. That is...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland has already begun that process by introducing country-by-country reporting and the OECD-compliant knowledge development box. Ireland is playing a strong role in ensuring that this issue is dealt with at an international level.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland is taking strong action at international level-----

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----as I have made clear. Indeed, we are one of the leaders internationally. It needs to be addressed internationally. Regarding Deputy Boyd Barrett's point on the escrow account, the Minister has made it clear that the Department of Finance is working on this matter. It is one of the most complex international transactions that the Department has ever had to deal with, but the...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: At international level, the focus is on examining whether new rules are needed to reflect the increasing digitalisation of global business. This issue needs to be examined internationally. The agreement on the anti-tax avoidance directive by all EU member states was another significant step towards the implementation of the BEPS reports to which I referred. Ireland will implement the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the fact that a statement has been signed by the cultural institutions. They are already bound by strong governance protocols. The key point is to ensure that those are implemented. As I told Deputy Howlin, ongoing monitoring and reporting mechanisms are necessary. We have strong rules on board membership and the role of directors and the new Charities Regulator will ensure that...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister to answer.

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is priority legislation. My understanding is that there was some discussion at the committee yesterday as to whether it required pre-legislative scrutiny. I will communicate directly with the Deputy on that matter, but I am keen to have the Bill before the House as soon as possible. Progress has been made.