Results 1,881-1,900 of 7,412 for speaker:Neasa Hourigan

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Before we begin, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege in the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, today's...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Mr. Johnson and that is a very useful overview.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Does Mr. Johnson wish to respond?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Thank you. I call Deputy Mairéad Farrell.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: No. You have some more time.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I have some questions for Mr. Johnson. I must be honest. I am slightly intrigued by his outlining of indexation in terms of the politically acceptable way of increasing certain rates and his description of the fuel tax and its failure to increase in line with inflation. I will be honest. The reason some of us here are interested in this issue is because during our budgetary cycle, welfare...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: One of the things we have been looking at in detail is which metric we should link indexation to. We have been examining what other countries have done. From my perspective, many countries that have had indexation operating for some time began by linking it to a consumer price index of some sort but are now moving it more towards wages. What has been the debate on this in the UK? The UK is...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Mr. Johnson. That was illuminating. Something that we have not considered in any great detail during our sessions is the question of how indexation would interact with regulated prices. Mr. Johnson spoke at length about student loans. We do not have that same scenario, but issues like rail and energy would be of great interest in this regard. Both of our countries are...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: That brings me to my final question. It might not be in Mr. Johnson's wheelhouse, but I am trying to get a sense of what aspects of indexation are British Government policy and which are set down in legislation. My assumption is that, while elements like the triple lock are legislative and binding, we have established that much of indexation can be largely set aside or varied at the behest...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Mr. Johnson. I do not see any other members indicating. We are nearly at the end of our session. I will ask Mr. Johnson a final question. Considering the leeway it still allows, in Mr. Johnson's estimation as a professional in the sector, is indexation a worthwhile set of benchmarks to provide to governments?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Mr. Johnson's is the third of four sessions and we will write a report at the end of this process. We will issue a copy of the report to Mr. Johnson. I thank him very much for his time. It has been an absolutely fascinating discussion to get the experience of our nearest neighbour on this. We really appreciate it. Again, I thank him for his time; I know he is busy.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Nuclear Waste (10 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: 315. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a military risk analysis has been undertaken in relation to the legacy dumping of nuclear waste in the State’s south-west waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7269/22]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Activities (10 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: 316. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a risk analysis has been undertaken in relation to the threat from military activity of other states in Ireland’s exclusive economic zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7270/22]

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I want to address the issue of seclusion. There is a recommendation that there be no reference to criminal prosecution of doctors. Will a witness unpack that for me and outline concerns about it? One matter raised in the opening statement is that people can be criminalised for simply filling out a form wrongly. Is that a serious concern? Will somebody outline that in more detail?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: For clarity, the issue is not the criminal aspect itself, because doctors and medical professionals have liability if they are found to misuse the responsibility they have. The UN recognises seclusion as a possible form of torture if misused. Nobody is suggesting that is what is happening, but there is a criminal aspect to this. For clarity, Dr. Doherty's first point is that the...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I am sorry to cut across Dr. Doherty. I am trying to get a correct sense of this. Obviously, the Medical Council is not a court. Where there has been a breach that has had a serious impact on somebody's human rights, physical well-being or mental well-being, that can become a criminal matter. I am not speaking specifically about this jurisdiction, but we have seen medical professionals...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I take that point, although considering how long we have been waiting for the report on the Tánaiste I am not sure I believe the Garda will be looking at dates on particular forms. I wish to discuss the use of the phrase "chemical restraint". The phrase "chemical restraint" may suggest perhaps not malicious intent but that it is not about the best care of the patient but about the...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Feb 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Are there other jurisdictions where physical restraint has largely been phased out? Are there statistics reflecting the impact of that which we could look at? I get the impression that the medical community works on an international best-practice basis.