Results 5,841-5,860 of 6,186 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: That would be great. I am conscious of time and I have to do an interview. I am trying to understand an issue. Will the witnesses explain it? When a report states that one in five children are living in poverty, the next line is always that it is the case if we include housing. Surely all children have to live somewhere so I do not understand that line. I am interested, because there...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Dr. Keane. I understand that now statistically. Sometimes to the public, when we say "if housing costs are included", it seems one way, but everyone needs to live somewhere.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Dr. Keane. That was very helpful. I have to run off, but I will be back.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I ask that people to turn off their mobile phones or put them on silent. Before we begin, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the House with regard to references that may be made to other persons in the witnesses' evidence. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means they...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Go raibh míle maith agat. Bhí sé sin thar a bheith suimiúil. I open it up to members to ask any questions. Glaoim ar an Teachta Nash.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I want to pick up on the issue of child poverty. The ESRI was in with us earlier. One of the questions I asked, because I genuinely want to understand it, related to a recent report which says that one in five children is living in poverty, with the tag-on line that this is the case if housing is included. Obviously every child has to live somewhere, so that made zero sense to me. I feel...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Did they not say that this was not happening in this budget?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: It seems to me that it is a bit performative of the Government to talk about tackling child poverty when under this Government child poverty is worsening. This Government is trying to fog the mirrors in order that people say it is serious about child poverty. If you do not know children in poverty or you are not dealing with that, it is something that can be forgotten. That sentence made a...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: That is very interesting about Housing First. I am aware that I am over time, but we will probably be okay. One of the things I have noticed in terms of domestic violence is the number of institutional barriers that are put in your way that are not even financial but are simple things. For example, you might leave a domestic violence situation in one county and then try to go to another...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Yes.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: It is seen as financial. It is not technically described as financial, but because it is generally seen as financial hardship rather than hardship, that is where the challenge is. Some councils have amended it to involve other issues, but it is just seen as financial.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: That is the ideal situation but it is not realistic every time.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Absolutely.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Absolutely. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. The issue of domestic violence comes up so regularly in my clinics now, every single week. It is not that somebody comes to me about domestic violence; it comes as a result of housing. They mention it as the reason for their homelessness or whatever it might be. Of course, it is really important to mention that there are help and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (8 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 1414. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on his plans to abolish the means test for carers; if there is a timeline for this; if considerations for this will be made in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46927/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Navigation Orders (17 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 104. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason five US Air Force Hercules C130 aircraft landed at Shannon Airport on 29 August 2025 (details supplied); the steps that were taken to establish who and what was being transported on these aircraft and to establish their destination was in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48832/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (17 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 326. To ask the Minister for Finance when revised criteria to qualify for a primary medical certificate (PMC) will be published; his views on the case of a person (details supplied) who has been refused a PMC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48483/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Copyright Infringement (17 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 420. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a company (details supplied); the obligations Irish businesses, namely bars and restaurants, have to this company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48449/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Policies (17 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 1057. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the consideration that has been given to extend still birth leave in cases in which babies are born at 18-weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48142/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (17 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 1345. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the establishment of an ambulance base in Connemara; and the timeline for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49006/25]