Results 6,501-6,520 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister. I have no doubt that is a subject we will revisit. We will move on to Vote 22 - the Courts Service.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister. We will now move on to Vote 24 - Justice.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Alan Farrell: It would be inappropriate of the committee not to note the €452.7 million increase in this particular Vote. Within that is a 975%, a 681% and a 788.9% increase in three headings, which are domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, for non-agency and the actual establishment of the agency itself, and the Irish passenger information unit, the IPIU. Obviously the first two are...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Alan Farrell: Given the lead time certainly it would be a concern. The Minister mentioned a couple of years minimum before that investment would see actual turnaround. All the while, as the Minister has rightly pointed out, our population is rising. It stands to reason that the number of individuals receiving custodial sentences will commensurately increase as well. There was also my question on the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister for that. That is a rather large subhead, it must be said. The only other matter that I neglected to mention was the 50% increase in the budget, which is not a small amount by any measure, for the Free Legal Advice Centres, which is very welcome. We will agree Vote 24 and move on to Vote 41, which is the Policing Authority. Deputy Ward, as the only remaining member...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Alan Farrell: We will note that and move on to Vote 44, the Data Protection Commission. I have one question in relation to the commissioners themselves, which I am asking on behalf of Deputy Costello, who had to go to another meeting. Is it envisaged that we will have three commissioners in place at any stage in the budgetary year?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister and echo her appreciation of the work of Ms Dixon and I also wish her well in whatever the next steps might be. We will note Vote 44 as well. That concludes our consideration of the Revised Estimates. As we are thanking Civil Servants, it would be appropriate to thank Ms Emma Smith, a member of the secretariat who is leaving the Oireachtas tomorrow to pursue other...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Message to Dáil (30 Jan 2024)

Alan Farrell: In accordance with Standing Order 101, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Justice has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2024: Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána, Vote 21 - Prisons, Vote 22 - Courts Service, Vote 24 - Justice, Vote 41 - Policing Authority, and Vote...

Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: Briefly, I wish to add to the collective sympathies offered to the Bruton family, to Finola, her children, her grandchildren and, of course, my dear colleague Richard and his sister, on their profound loss. I did not overlap with John's term here from 1969 through to 2005. When I was first elected in 2004, there was another member of the class of the Government of 1994 through to 1997 and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: 6. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail his Department’s plans to support the SME sector in Ireland in 2024. [5299/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: My question relates to the Department's plans to support the SME sector in Ireland, for the very reasons that the Minister outlined in his response to the previous group of questions. There are significant increases in costs associated, in particular, with businesses in the hospitality and food sectors which have been contacting me in increasing numbers in recent weeks. The Minister has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. I do not disagree with anything he said. However, we need to focus on certain sectors which he already identified in his response to previous questions, specifically the food and hospitality sector. As I said already, that sector is under acute pressures including as a result of quite a number of Government measures which are incredibly welcome...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister for that comprehensive response. I recognise his point about a mini budget on the VAT question in response to Deputy Stanton's question. However, we need to try to determine a scheme that identifies those businesses that are struggling versus all of the businesses that the Minister rightly points out are opening up. The economy is buoyant and we are doing...

Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this Bill which, as has been repeatedly mentioned, will provide better protection for consumers and existing consumers of financial service providers that have left the market. As the Minister outlined, it will ensure that consumers in the latter group will continue to have access to services provided by the office of the Financial...

Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: I feel much better now, a Cheann Comhairle.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: 45. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his Department’s efforts to support the hospitality sector. [5300/24]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: 99. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to report on the progress being made to digitalise public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5332/24]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: 103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on his Department’s priorities, with regard to the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5333/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Alan Farrell: Good morning. I thank the witnesses for coming before us in our final meeting, or so I read on RTE.ie this morning. I only have a couple of questions, and my first one is a point rather than a question. With respect to the Department - this is not really a criticism; just an expression of disappointment - we have been aware that this committee was to be formed since 2020, and for the...