Results 1,161-1,180 of 5,157 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Ms Morgan. All of us who have dealt with and spoken to whistleblowers know it can be something that takes a huge amount of time, the concern there being the massive toll that has on mental health, which I will come back to, as well as financial resources and everything else. My second question relates to the concept of interpersonal grievance. There would obviously be concerns...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I understand what Mr. Keane is saying and what he means in that sense. However, what of the opposite situation, which he touched on at the end? The whole concern about this is if somebody is whistleblowing or making a protected disclosure, that it could be dismissed as an interpersonal grievance when it is not one, if he knows what I mean. I take his point that the Department is open to...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Politics is about choices and rarely is that clearer than on budget day. A Government's budget is a fiscal expression of its policy priorities. Does it tackle sky-high rents? Does it tackle unaffordable childcare or a health system bursting at its seams? It does not. The crises we face in each of those areas did not come about through some act of God. They were the direct results of...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: When it comes to addressing some of the most fundamental aspects of the cost of living, the Government's measures seem, at best, ineffective and, at worst, to be exacerbating the problem. This Government is basically telling us that it is sorry but that it cannot deal with housing, healthcare or childcare. It is giving us a couple of quid and suggesting that we all forget about it and move...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: To be clear, my time is being eaten away. You might think of that in the last few seconds.

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Tá mé ag iarraidh cúpla rud a rá. Tá an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht fágtha in áit na leathphingine le €6.3 milliún agus gan ach €1 milliún dó sin mar mhaoiniú caipitil. Níl aon tagairt do choistí cobhsaíochta a bhí geallta do choláistí samhraidh Ghaeltachta atá i mbaol. Níl aon...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: They need to catch up.

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: For this Government the golden rule is that he who has the gold makes the rules. It is time for a new Government which follows the rule of the people, by the people and for the people and that delivers budgets which can deliver the transformative change that will fix the socioeconomic problems we face. This will ensure our political system is responsive and capable of responding to the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Data (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 32. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of eucalyptus imports in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49613/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 64. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make any of the current bus routes in Galway city run on a 24-hour basis as has been done with a number of Dublin Bus routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49155/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regional Development (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 188. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if city and county development plans must be consistent with the relevant regional, spatial and economic strategy and relevant national policy; the legislation this falls under; if regional assemblies have an oversight role in the development of city and county development plans to ensure that the regional, spatial and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 195. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if it is intended to have public consultations as part of the planning legislation review that was announced on 28 September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49798/21]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Priorities (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 209. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the travel arrangements he is making to Ireland for Afghan nationals with visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49221/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank the witnesses. I was very interested to read Professor Murphy's opening statement and to listen to both speakers give their views on the different questions. It is important that we are discussing this legislation today. Both witnesses have clearly outlined the importance of openness and transparency in lobbying, the role that the current Act plays and how it can be strengthened....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Professor Murphy made a very good point on the need to be able to react, which is what our Bill is doing. It is reacting and trying to strengthen the legislation. It is essential to have public confidence in political and public life. As Mr. Devitt said, this along with other Bills will seek to increase transparency and accountability. I am interested in the witnesses' views in regard to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Thank you. That is very interesting. In his opening statement, Professor Murphy stated: Moreover, it also brings into question the situation whereby people receive privileges by virtue of their former public employment, whether as TD or adviser, such as an access pass. There seems to be no adequate or even plausible reason as to why this remains the case and the question should surely be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: That was my last question. It is something I have concerns about. I have written to the Ceann Comhairle on this, not in regard to former Members in general having access but people who are moving towards lobbying, as Professor Murphy outlined in his opening statement. I have not seen a response yet but it is something I will be keeping an eye out for.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Ms Perreault for her opening statement and for appearing before the committee. It is very interesting to hear what the witnesses have to say. My first question relates to the Act in its current form. Is the commission constrained currently in enforcing the regulation of lobbying, more generally speaking, and specifically with respect to the cooling-off period?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: More generally, will this amendment Bill provide workable and practical solutions, which would strengthen and make easier Ms Perreault's job of the regulation of lobbying? She might answer that question and then I have two more specific questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: My other question is one I raised with the witnesses at the earlier committee meeting. Professor Murphy mentioned it in his opening statement, which I am not sure Ms Perreault saw. It relates to former Members who, when they move to a lobbying firm, still have that access pass and have access to the so-called corridors of power where decisions are made. There are concerns about their...