Results 1,981-2,000 of 6,504 for speaker:John Lahart

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I apologise for my delay. I tried to earwig on some of the contributions. One of the things that struck me, and perhaps will have struck a lot of people, is the range of commissions, initiatives, groups, reviews, reforms and frameworks that have been put in place over the past 30 years, and even the raft of things that have happened in the last number of years. Some people are terribly...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: What kind of financial burden is there on the State? I do not mean any other kind of burden, such as a psychological burden. What pension entitlements would many of the migrant workers who might have been here over the past 20 years have, or have taken home with them? Are there any figures on that? What percentage of those who reach retirement age continue to work? It is a while since...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I will finish on this unless the Chair wants to give me a little more latitude. What particular inputs would the Departments of Social Protection and Finance like to see in this year's census? What kind of information would Mr. Lawler be looking out for or like to see harvested that would help the Department?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: The census asks a range of questions and that feeds into the kind of models that the Department of Social Protection builds. What kind of additional questions or what kind of focus would assist the Department in planning for the future? What kind of things that we might not have seen in a census questionnaire previously would Mr. Lawler like to see in it that would assist the Department in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: May I ask one final question, Chairman?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: It is the on funding. The former Minister for Finance, Mr. McCreevy, established the National Pensions Reserve Fund, NPRF. There was €20 billion or €22 billion in that when it came to the crash and it possibly softened the blow. However, it is empty. I believe in a rainy day fund and I believe in that future-proofing of public finances. Is there a scenario in an ideal world...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: Am I correct that all State pension payments come from current resources and there is no reserve fund specifically for it?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: It was stated that the ratio of those in receipt of State pensions to those at work will narrow. On the other hand, we hear that the population is going to rise to 6 million by 2050. This suggests that there will be many births and much immigration, probably for labour reasons. Is it innocent of me to ask whether the figures can be substantiated? On the unknowns, as the delegates were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Oversight of Sláintecare: Discussion (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: Will the committee take my appreciation for the two organisations as read? I have expressed it before so will not take up time. It is not meant to be rude but I want to get into the questions. My first question is on the Sláintecare implementation board. Mr. Watt can take it first and then Mr. Reid. Cynics could be forgiven for thinking an independent oversight board has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Oversight of Sláintecare: Discussion (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I thank the witnesses. This structure has been up and running for a short period. I ask Mr. Watt for examples of how he believes the structure is working.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Oversight of Sláintecare: Discussion (16 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: As we have seen this week, that depends on what happens on the ground, but I think that is for another day. I suppose we can come back to this. I am wondering about Mr. Reid's reach into the depths of the organisation from high up in the structure. That comes to the regional matter. Regarding devolving powers, while I do not want Mr. Reid to answer this because I have a local question,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: 21. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, which was published by his Department on 1 February 2022. [7967/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: 83. To ask the Minister for Health when the 2022 HSE service plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7969/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: 138. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects hospital waiting lists and waiting times to reduce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7970/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Provision (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: 251. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the relevant regulation governing any obligation on private car park operators in areas such as shopping centre car parks to provide disabled spaces and to provide them free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7918/22]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: 295. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason that a community run and operated community centre (details supplied) which has not had an insurance claim over 15 years has seen its premia rise by €10 in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7919/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: 420. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the use of school buildings to facilitate the July provision in the context of the summer provision for children with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7504/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I am interested in this area. I grew up in a generation to which tobacco companies have been discovered to have deliberately and intentionally lied about the contents and ingredients of cigarettes. They have since been taken to the cleaners in many class actions. That whole space left a bad taste in people's mouths, if everyone will pardon the pun. I have just looked at the VAT figures...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: So Ms O'Connell says.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I have some sympathy for the existing smoker who is vainly trying to quit using different methods. That includes some prescribed products, some of which have been withdrawn from the market, which is kind of horrifying in its own way. I am aware of that. Cases of lung injuries and associated deaths in the US are predominantly associated with people who modify their vaping devices or use...