Results 1,901-1,920 of 3,777 for speaker:Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 4: Re-allocation of Voted Funding (22 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Whatever about "more austerely", what jumps out at me is the proximity as regards time. The Supplementary Estimate was made within days of this. Did we not have sight of the request for the virement such that it could be included within the Supplementary Estimate and have everything shipshape and above aboard?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 4: Re-allocation of Voted Funding (22 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: We have a remit of almost retrospective oversight of spending whereas the sectoral committees can do that in real time. That is where the Supplementary Estimates come in. It just gives a transparency to the Oireachtas. We all accept how difficult and rapidly changing the environment was, particularly as regards broadcasting. However, as a member of other Oireachtas committees, I would...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (22 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 114. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider a reduction in VAT to zero on heat pumps, similar to the treatment of VAT on solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29886/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Policies (22 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 153. To ask the Minister for Finance if, in light of the Taoiseach’s plans to organise a half-day seminar to review the outcome of the Wellbeing Framework, led by the Department of the Taoiseach, his Department has considered creating an additional dimension within the Wellbeing Framework dealing with language and culture, as has been done in New Zealand and Wales; and if he will make...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Engagement with An Taoiseach (22 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I am representing the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands. The Cathaoirleach, Deputy Naughten, is not available today and I am delighted to appear on his behalf and on behalf of the committee. I will start first by referencing the long-awaited policy on the islands that was released recently. It is a substantial piece of work that was...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Before I call on the Minister to open the debate, I remind Members that there are two separate motions being debated, namely, the motion regarding the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the motion regarding the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. The motions will be moved separately, but will be debated together and decided by separate questions. There is an amendment...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: That amendment cannot be dealt with until the Sinn Féin amendment is dealt with.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Deputy Ó Ríordáin may speak to it. If the Sinn Féin amendment is unsuccessful, he will be asked to move his amendment.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: We return to Sinn Féin. I call Deputy Martin Kenny.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 40. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the recruitment of in-house expertise at the OPW to ensure a full complement of competencies in ecological, botanical, horticultural or biodiversity-related roles; whether a gap analysis has been completed across the organisation; whether a biodiversity officer has been appointed at a level which enables...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I might take the prize for longest question of the evening. I ask the Minister to outline the position regarding the recruitment of in-house expertise at the OPW to ensure a full complement of competencies in ecological, botanical, horticultural and biodiversity-related roles; whether a gap analysis has been completed across the organisation; whether a biodiversity officer has been appointed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the Minister of State. That was certainly an answer to a question, as they say, but not to this one as far as I can ascertain. I asked about gap analysis and whether the appointment of the biodiversity officer was at a sufficiently senior level that it could make a difference with the organisation. There is absolutely no doubt that the OPW, if it engages fully on this, stands to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Somebody is being appointed at the assistant principal followed by two ecologists and one clerical officer. That is within an organisation which as the Minister of State pointed out, deals with 780 national monuments, 300 plus hectares of parklands and 1,700 staff. It feels a little thin on the ground to me. I refer in the brief time I have to two recommendations in particular from the...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I will be addressing more or less the same broad themes referred to by Deputy Gannon, namely, the nature restoration law and migration. I noted that the letter of invitation to the EU Council meeting sent by President Charles Michelle refers specifically to the recent tragic shipwreck in the Mediterranean and what he termed our European migratory approach. It has been difficult over the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Strategies (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 56. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of the development of an evaluation approach for the carbon capture of OPW-managed peatlands, woodlands, wetlands and other semi-natural habitats compared with the carbon footprint of delivering OPW services in heritage, property and flooding, as outlined in action 4. 6 of the Biodiversity Action Strategy 2022-2026;...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (27 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 258. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the legal obligations on the civil and public service to assist residents in Ireland to access State services through the provision of translation and interpretation assistance, where those seeking to access services do not have English or Irish as a first language; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank everyone who presented. It is helpful. As the Chair alluded to, what we are discussing is provided for in the Standing Orders for committees. This is the first time the committee has had a good run at nailing down the areas we and the Departments we are shadowing are responsible for. Social protection is an interesting case study in that is it probably the headline issue and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I will turn to Ms Bennett. The report Social Justice Ireland does each year is a really important and powerful waymarker in terms of making sure that attention is drawn to progress on the sustainable development goals. There are a few ways of looking at it. I note that Social Justice Ireland respected that we placed ninth overall out of 14. On the positive side of it, I note Ireland's...