Results 361-380 of 471 for speaker:Cathy Bennett

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Work of Dóchas: Discussion (17 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: I thank the witnesses for coming in and for all the great work they do. First, I want to talk about Ireland's contribution to overseas development aid. Ireland, through the UN target, is supposed to give 0.7% of its GDP to ODA. As regards the money that would have been used for the Ukrainian refugees, will the witnesses outline to the committee what we are really at when that funding is...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Work of Dóchas: Discussion (17 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: My other question relates to the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Have the organisations reiterated calls that this should be a top priority of that Presidency?

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Work of Dóchas: Discussion (17 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: Are the other witnesses happy with how Ireland is advocating?

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (18 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: I am simply aghast to see how the Government conducts its business with arrogance and incompetence. I recall some months ago there being a discussion on the role of inconsistent policy in driving investment away. In his press release last week, the Minister said this legislation is intended to introduce certainty. It is railroaded legislation in which we have already seen holes. It is...

Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: I welcome that the Government is introducing legislation to address issues relating to the incorrect transposition of the EU copyright directive identified by the High Court and the CJEU. Legislation is necessary. We understand that. A more equitable distribution of royalties is absolutely welcome, but the Bill the Government has brought before the House is poorly thought out, regressive...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: 44. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the engagements he has had with a view to job creation and retention in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33205/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Tourism Industry (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: 51. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the accommodation capacity available to the tourism sector; the number of bed nights in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, by county, by quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33204/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Poverty (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: 131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline his targets regarding the eradication of child poverty; his efforts to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33203/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: 130. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount of expenditure to date regarding the creation and operation of the Public Services Card; the amount expended in relation to regulatory and legal challenges regarding the card; if he accepts that the card records biometric data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33202/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: 331. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline her engagements regarding the hot school meals programme. [31315/25]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: I agree with everybody who has spoken that it is totally unacceptable that the Peter McVerry Trust did not come before us today. There is an onus on the Department, the Government and the Minister to ensure that governance is carried out for all charitable organisations that receive money from their Departments. The 2023 accounts have to come before us. The Peter McVerry Trust will have to...

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for coming. I am not sure if they are aware, but there was a protest outside Leinster House this week by the Raise the Roof campaign. They were protesting because people in this country cannot get houses as a result of the cost of housing. At the protest, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions stated housing is "the greatest political failure of our time"....

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: Who has the ultimate responsibility? Is it the Secretary General or the Minister?

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: Who is at the top of the ladder?

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: It is not working. A total of 15,400 people are homeless. Is it working? No. It is not working for me. I will move on from that. Mr. Doyle did not give me a straight answer and say whether he, the Department or the Minister is responsible. Will Mr. Doyle give me a "Yes" or "No" on that? Is it him or is it the Minister who has the ultimate responsibility?

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: There has to be somebody at the top of the ladder who has responsibility and complete oversight and is supposed to look at where the money is being spent. There are still 15,400 people who are homeless. Who has that ultimate responsibility?

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: Mr. Doyle is over everybody.

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: Okay. I will move on to the Peter McVerry Trust. At the end of September 2024, the Department estimated that €1.56 million was spent in professional fees. How much more has been paid out in professional fees to date?

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: That is on top of the €5.8 million that was overspent.

Public Accounts Committee: 2023 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 2 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities
Chapter 11 - Exceptional State Funding of the Peter McVerry Trust
Chapter 12 - Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Local Government Fund - Account 2023 (19 Jun 2025)

Cathy Bennett: How many people work in the Department?