Results 2,801-2,820 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (14 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of cuts in local government funding, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that voluntary initiatives show that savings of at least 20%, or €23 million per year, could be made in the energy costs of local authorities, which are estimated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland at €115...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: This is a complex and technical Bill. I acknowledge that the Government has no option but to legislate for this issue, but I have mixed feelings about it. It is difficult to see where this legislation fits into the overall scheme of reform of the health service. I would like the Government to provide a road map for these reforms. A universal, single tier system may not be possible within...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Black Economy (15 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated loss to the Exchequer of tax returned in the years 2011 and to date in 2012 from black market activities; the sectors that have been identified as the main offenders; the action that has been adopted to date to curtail black market activities; the return on such activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50235/12]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services (15 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government with reference to the 2007 report entitled ‘Regulatory Impact Analysis of the proposed Surface Water Classification Systems including Environmental Quality Standards: Final Report’ which is hosted on his Department’s website and states that the total cost of the remediation of septic tanks nationally will...

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion [Private Members] (20 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Earlier this year I supported Deputy Clare Daly's Bill set within the parameters of the X case. While the Bill had flaws, they could have been ironed out on Committee Stage and had that happened, I wonder if it might have prevented this terrible tragedy from occurring. If there is an equal right to life for both the mother and the unborn, then action is needed to give expression to this. I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (20 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the various types of ICT education which is offered in primary and post-primary schools; if he will provide a list of schools which do not offer ICT education; the measures he is proposing to ensure a high level of functional and theoretical ICT knowledge amongst school age children; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (20 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way his Department's competitive tendering process for Departmental contracts is designed and implemented; if there is a process as part of the competitive tendering process for construction and ICT projects to ensure that the maximum number of domestic suppliers/contractors are engaged and domestic jobs created; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Referendum (20 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Taoiseach when he expects the proposed referendum on the abolition of Seanad Éireann to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50860/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (20 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the disqualifying criteria for the back to education allowance would credit previous involvement in education, when such involvement was made under individual initiative and making use of personal resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50943/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (20 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the disqualifying criteria for the back to education allowance would measure progression at being at, and not beyond, qualifications previously achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50944/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (20 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the disqualifying criteria for the back to education allowance would not take account of qualifications previously gained when such qualifications have not been widely recognised and have been seen to have little value in acquiring employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50945/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform (21 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether there has been a substantial increase in recent years in the number of citizens who feel forced to make representations to elected politicians regarding their interactions with the public service; his views on whether several negative consequences are risked from this trend, in particular an increase in political...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (21 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if in view of the skills gap amongst Irish citizens in terms of filling technology sector jobs and the scaling down of projects designed to stimulate a domestic technology skills base such as the Digital Hub, the measures he is proposing to foster our domestic technology skills base with the aim of job creation; and if he will make a statement on...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: There has, clearly, been a policy switch to go along with the change in the choices people are making because of what has happened in the property market. It is appropriate that we have legislation to govern the rented sector. The Bill might work in principle. I ask if it will work in practice. I am not filled with confidence in the Private Residential Tenancies Board. If constituents...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Property (22 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total cost to the State of the lease held by Forfás on a vacant property in Dublin 4 (details supplied) between 2012 and 2034 which is when the lease is due to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51773/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Property (22 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: A number of issues arise in this regard. First, we need to reduce waste. Are other sections of the public service in buildings where the lease can be broken or has almost expired and could they use the space in Carrisbrook House? Have all Departments been notified of the existence of this space? This is a considerable sum of money for a vacant property in a prime location. What...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Property (22 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: I ask the Minister to ask other Departments if there are leases that are almost up so that this building could be used. It is a sizeable building. Could we not get out of a lease somewhere else? The Government promised a big cost-cutting agenda. We need to be imaginative about using this space if we cannot get out of the lease, which we do not seem to be able to do.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Visa Applications (22 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is considering the introduction of a new, dedicated visa for citizens of other countries to come to Ireland to take up employment in the technology sector; if his Department has engaged in any research on the possible multiplier effect on domestic employment that such a facility might create; his views on the benefit to technology...

Other Questions: Integrated Ticketing (27 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the rollout of the Leap card integrated transport scheme in terms of numbers of active cards, journeys travelled and other usage statistics; if the difficulties regarding availability of top-up facilities has been resolved; his plans to extend the scheme or a similar scheme to commuters around Dublin, or...

Other Questions: Integrated Ticketing (27 Nov 2012)

Catherine Murphy: I did not hear any reference in the reply to my question about the difficulties regarding the availability of top-up facilities. Have these been overcome? Is it intended to extend the scheme? Internationally, the transport systems that really work are the ones that are simple to use and whose prices are within people's range. Ireland has a bad history of long-term planning in many areas....