Results 1-20 of 860 for speaker:Johnny Guirke

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Engagement with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (1 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I thank Mr. Coffey, Mr. Conroy and Dr. Bergin for their presentation. When you have a strong economy, it is about choices. Deputy Neville mentioned our overspending. I would suggest we would not spend it on super junior Ministers at this stage when the economy is strong. The average household spends more than €3,000 per year on groceries and it has just been announced in the past...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Engagement with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (1 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: The report mentions that the cost of missing climate targets could be €26 billion. What specific measures should the Government take to avoid these costs and where does the figure of €26 billion come from?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Engagement with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (1 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: The report mentions infrastructure lagging behind. In County Meath there are large infrastructural deficits, specifically when it comes to water, wastewater and sewerage. If the Government is to meet its housing targets this will need to be addressed. How would the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council advise the Government on the spend on infrastructure?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Engagement with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (1 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: How would additional tariffs affect this report?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Oireachtas broadcast workers are calling on the Government to end their low-hour contracts and poor working conditions by integrating them into the Civil Service. The team of around 20 manages the live broadcasts of all Dáil, Seanad and committee proceedings, ensuring they are all accessible to the public. However, the team says they are currently paid half the standard industry rate...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Can this be looked at again and these changes be considered?

Presidential Voting Rights: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I welcome the Minister of State's work on reciprocal driving licenses. I know he is committed to it, so I thank him for that. Sinn Féin has long called for the extension of voting rights in presidential elections to all on the island. It is about equality and shared identity as Irish people. In 2013, the constitutional convention recommended that Irish citizens living outside the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I thank both Ministers for coming to the committee. Some 70% of people are worried about the cost of living. If there is a balance of €8.7 billion at the end of this year and €6.3 billion next year, why is a cost-of-living package not being considered? The price of groceries alone adds an additional €3,000 a year in costs for the average household.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Regarding bank bailouts, I learned this weekend that the banks had paid back most of the money given to them by the State but they had not paid back any of the interest. Is that true? The total is €7.5 billion. Are there plans to chase the banks for this money?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: The State put in €30 billion. While the banks might have paid back €30 billion, they did not pay back the interest that cost the State. They claimed at the weekend that that alone was €7.5 billion and the State was still paying back that interest.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: No, I am asking why we are not getting that money back while the banks are making huge profits. Why is that money not being paid back to the State? While we come out and say that the banks have paid back the money they were given, they have not paid back the money it cost the State to borrow that money.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: How does the Government plan to ensure that economic growth translates into improved social inclusion and reduced inequality for people?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Given the unpredictable nature of global markets and events, how flexible is the current economic strategy in adapting to sudden changes in the international environment?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I thank Ms Barry and Mr. Bowes. I have a couple of questions although some may have been asked. How can the two-year cohabitation requirement for a partner to be a qualified cohabitant be justified? What evidence is there to suggest that this duration adequately reflects the emotional and financial independence that may exist in shorter relationships? On the transition period, given...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Will there be a public awareness campaign on this to make people aware of the changes?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Effect of Child-related Benefits on Child Poverty and Deprivation: ESRI (18 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I thank the witnesses for coming in. How many children in Ireland are in poverty now? How many children would a second tier of child benefit lift out of poverty? What are some examples of in-kind child benefits mentioned in the report and how do they contribute to reducing child poverty? Why do the authors suggest that tracking at-risk-of-poverty rates based on household income, including...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Effect of Child-related Benefits on Child Poverty and Deprivation: ESRI (18 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Would the witnesses like to see a situation in the context of child benefit where there was a certain budget that could go a lot further? I refer to a situation where child benefit was means-tested and an awful lot more being available for the people who need it the most. What is the witnesses' opinion in this regard?

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (11 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I thank the Minister and his staff for giving us an update. I will raise a couple of things. We all know pensioners are struggling to make ends meet but I always felt a single pensioner was under an awful lot more pressure than a couple. Could something be done in cases where single pensioners need a bit more? They still face the same bills for rent, electricity and heat. The only...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I forgot to raise one or two issues earlier. One relates to access to social welfare for the self-employed. It seems to be much harder for them to get anything if they are off work. They do not qualify for injury or illness benefit unless they have the required PRSI contributions. In many cases, social welfare benefits work out better for the rich than the poor. Benefits should be more...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (10 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: 1191. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be provided in Budget 2026 to deliver a community neurorehabilitation team for the midlands and north east, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to complete the rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter....