Results 1,881-1,900 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Reopening the Economy: Public Health Advice (9 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: A short question, Deputy.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Reopening the Economy: Public Health Advice (9 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Professor Nolan has signalled his agreement to that statement, so we will conclude this session. I thank the witnesses.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Reopening the Economy: Supports for Business (9 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: One of the most worrying economic or financial aspects of the restrictions was the extent to which all economic activity was driven into the hands of multinationals, many of which are headquartered outside of Ireland and pay their taxes elsewhere. Farmers' markets, for example, were inexplicably shut down and people had to go to supermarkets, all of which are indoor, in order to buy food...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Reopening the Economy: Supports for Business (9 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Were the witnesses concerned at any time by the lack of clarity? Garden centres, at least from my reading of the initial restrictions introduced on 7 April, were allowed to open. There was a big debate as to whether they were but it seemed to me that the Government waited until it got an imprimatur from Woodies and then announced that people could go to garden centres but most of the small,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Reopening the Economy: Supports for Business (9 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Does the ISME representative have anything to add, particularly on the possibly unintentional driving of economic activity towards the large multinationals?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Reopening the Economy: Supports for Business (9 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank the witnesses and the Deputy. I call Deputy Doherty.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Reopening the Economy: Supports for Business (9 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: The next party group is Solidarity - People Before Profit but as there is not a member here, we will move on to the Regional Group and Teachta Matt Shanahan, who has five minutes.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (10 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I agree with much of what Deputy Pringle stated about meeting our energy demands. Have we done so? Did we import energy in the relevant timeframe? We need to be realistic. We are building an interconnector with France. Are we going to say that we could not countenance producing nuclear energy in Ireland but we have no problem importing it from France or even Sellafield? We have...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Before talking about Shannon, which is the primary issue that I wish to discuss tonight, I join with Deputy Connolly in calling for some clarity about when the islands will open, and whether they will open for family members, which is most important, for people who have a holiday home there, and for tourism. They are all important but to different degrees. Some clarity is required as all...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: On 19 March 2020, this House gave the Minister draconian powers. We debated aspects of them. Like all draconian powers, they were circumscribed and limited to specific circumstances. They were, by order, to declare an area or region in the State to be an area where there is known or thought to be sustained human transmission of Covid-19, or from which there is a high risk of importation of...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I appreciate that. We are disincentivising people from working in an area in which we need more people.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Perhaps the Minister could reply by correspondence if there is no more time.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: We are joined this morning by Dr. David Nabarro, World Health Organization Covid-19 special envoy, by video link from Geneva. I advise the witness that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I call the next speaker, Deputy Matt Carthy, from Sinn Féin. He has a reduced time of eight minutes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Thank you. I call Deputy Barry, who I presume is substituting for his Solidarity-People Before Profit colleague.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I have in front of me a document, "Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance", published by the World Health Organization on 5 June 2020, which is only six days ago. It is divided in two - there is advice for healthcare workers, both those dealing with Covid-19 patients and those not dealing with them; and, there is advice for decision-makers on the use of masks...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: The WHO official guidance is more equivocal than Dr. Nabarro's own view.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Dr. Nabarro has been helpful. I have one last question regarding commuters. Dr. Nabarro said it was reasonable for commuters to wear masks or face coverings. Does he think it is also reasonable for staff such as bus drivers, attendants etc., to wear a mask for their own protection or would he go further?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Nabarro and Deputy Collins. I call now Deputy John McGuinness.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: World Health Organization: Public Health Advice (11 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I call Deputy Donnelly.