Results 4,681-4,700 of 6,568 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: No. We know exactly where we are with regard to this legislation. The problem we have had with the idea of a windfall tax is that it took the Government a hell of a long time to realise this was the way to go. It was not until the conversation was properly happening within the European Union that we got to where we are now. Correct me if I am wrong, but the fact is that over a three-year...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (29 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 41. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the work being carried out by his Department and related agencies to support SMEs in the Border region wishing to export; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31586/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Food Prices (29 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 79. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he intends to meet food production companies in the near future to discuss the high cost of retailed/end product food items in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31587/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has considered the impact on Border third-level institutions of a later-than-usual Leaving Certificate results day, as Border third-level institutions need to attract Northern-based students who will receive UCAS offers based on their A Level results on August 17; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31590/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans that are in place to ensure the maximum number of second-level students who apply for places under the school transport scheme for the 2023-2024 academic year will get them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31591/23]

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I apologise. I had to speak in the Dáil and I have suddenly discovered I am not as fit as I thought I was as I tried to run over and back. An awful lot has been dealt with, or not dealt with. If we get down to the contract, there is huge disappointment out there, and the sense I get is that the only place there is more disappointment than among the public is among those people who...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Eventually, we will get to an answer but I do not think there is anyone out there in the wider world who does not believe that the only reason for this was to conceal the payments in respect the figures that are actually displayed to the public. I apologise if I have missed anything, but at this point in time RTÉ is saying Ryan Tubridy's contract is what way exactly?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: There is obviously a fair bit of commentary on this. There is a slight dispute on it, and I will just read this quote rather than paraphrasing it. However, a source close to Mr Tubridy told the Irish Independent he does not believe that his contract is terminated and plans to contest that assertion by the national broadcaster. "We reject the suggestion that the contract is terminated....

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: -----but RTÉ is still saying categorically at this point that there is no contract.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is it. Would it be fair to say that his contract is not terminated at this point in time?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: No, I get that. The way it was said was, to a degree, that things were put in mothballs, the previous contract was terminated, and that a new contract was only being negotiated. Maybe there is a certain element of things not having been made clear enough, but my understanding is that at this present time, he is still in contract?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Okay. I do not need to add commentary on the fact that we would be a lot better if certain players were here, particularly Dee Forbes. I do not think anyone is particularly happy with how a situation arose where she is not here. I accept that she is under no compulsion, but she should do what is necessary and come before us here so we could at least have everything in the public domain....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I would like to bring up the case of the Family Addiction Support Network in Dundalk. The Guerin report and the Drogheda implementation report spoke about the important work it does, particularly with families. It is sometimes the go-to body for those who are not necessarily comfortable with going to the Garda about drug debt, intimidation and the huge issues there are with those matters....

Matters Arising in RTÉ: Statements (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This all comes down to trust. Anybody we have spoken to in recent days has told us about their absolute lack of trust in RTÉ. In fairness, most of them talk about the fact that they feel absolutely sickened by what has happened, but I could not say they are shocked. That is half the problem. We all know the issues that have existed for a long period regarding certain of the big...

Matters Arising in RTÉ: Statements (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is before we start looking into the ins and outs of what exactly was in that barter account. That is a phrase no one is going to forget in the near future. I know that two reviews have been set up at this point in time, but culture, governance and the means by which business is done in RTÉ must be examined so that we deliver public sector broadcasting as it should be.

A5 Route Upgrade: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The A5 - enough is enough. That is the message that must be agreed across this House. We can talk about the fact that planning in the North has been disastrous. A small number of objectors have been able to hold up this project. We know the issues in relation to partition and underinvestment in the Border areas, particularly in the north west. We could talk about regional imbalance until...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 64. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration is being given during the process ahead of budget 2024 to increase the rate of the foster carers’ allowance, which has not increased since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32456/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: What consideration or plans are there for budget 2024? We are aware of myriad issues around foster carers’ payments and particular conditions. The Minister had said there were certain things he wanted to deliver on previously. I hope he will have an opportunity to deliver on these in this budget.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I appreciate that. First and foremost the allowance needs to be dealt with. What the Minister has said about his interaction with IFCA and Movement 4 Change in Fostercare is very positive. I have a list of issues I was going to bring up with him and he has dealt with some of them, including the pension. There have been issues with the contributory pension for foster carers and with child...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is all very positive. We need to see that paper and the recommendations in it and see them enacted, whether we are talking about pensions or whatever else. The Minister has dealt with the issue and he has been quite clear that the allowance issue will be dealt with, having not increased since 2009. We have to look at the travel expenses and all those other benefits that these parents...