Results 2,101-2,120 of 6,529 for speaker:John Lahart

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: 174. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way that Tusla has responded to the arrival of 36 unaccompanied child refugees in 2021; the supports that were made available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5442/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: 124. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures being taken to combat antisocial behaviour. [5479/22]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I did not have visual contact earlier but I was able to listen to the meeting. One of the findings that has been consistent since we started discussing this topic is that the introduction of a State pension rate that is a percentage of a certain average – one of the witnesses mentioned 34% of earnings - has been regularly discussed since the 1990s and in the initial presentation from...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: That is interesting. It is a notion that I have thought about over the years. Thankfully, for the over-65 age cohort, they are vocal and good at advocating. However, it is interesting to note – not that we want any kind of poverty level in any cohort – that the weight of poverty among the over-65s is significantly less than for other groups under that age group. Now, that is...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: This question may have been answered and if it has I will read through the proceedings. What have been the major resistances to indexing? I think the witnesses referred to that.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: If we were to index link State pensions, is there an argument for connecting the taxation system generally in an indexed way for ordinary salaries pre-pension runs? I may not have articulated that well. If we were to index State pensions to the average industrial wage, or whatever else is connected to that, in the economy, is there an argument for indexing taxes for the ordinary individual...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I get how index-linking State pensions works. How would index-linking tax increases work?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: That wipes out the discretionary element from a political perspective in that the Minister for Finance could not play around with it. We would be fixing it. That would be the political downside. Is that right?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: Could one of the witnesses explain how it would work on indirect tax on, say, a commodity?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: What about VAT?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Indexation of Taxation and Social Protection System: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I have over-egged the pudding. I might come back in at the end if I am still here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: It is good to see the officials again. Before the Chief Medical Officer, CMO, arrived, I was saying that our last session had brought to mind Mark Twain's quote, that "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." We were kind of saying, "Goodbye and thank you", but they are all welcome back. I have five or six reasonably focused questions. First, is this still a pandemic?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: How far off are we from not using that term?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: In relation to the previous pandemic on a global scale, which was the Spanish flu, are there any familiar patterns or any correlations there that Dr. Holohan is able to learn from? They were different times.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: The Taoiseach has favoured the term "evaluation", looking over the past period as opposed to a critical inquiry in the negative sense. I favour that too. There were some popular voices who assisted in the transmission of information and who helped to build up a body of public confidence. The obvious one, I suppose, that comes to mind is Professor Luke O'Neill. It has always intrigued me...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: The evaluation might probe that a little further. I have always been interested in that. Dr. Holohan will not have time to answer this. I do not want him to answer it but I would like a written response. It will form part of the evaluation. I will not call it a change of mind over antigen tests. By the way, I had an experience over Christmas, and many people did, with a particular...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: That is okay. I am only saying that it is something I think will form part of the evaluation but I am happy to hear that. I must limit Dr. Glynn to a brief answer on the children's masks because I have one or two other questions. We will talk about it again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: I refer to the Taoiseach's comments last Friday week when he specifically said that we need to smile again and "we need to sing again". I have had a specific request from a teacher in Firhouse Community College. When will children be allowed to sing again in school?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: Does Dr. Holohan see himself being able to give recommendations to schools looking for specific advice on that, whether it is for musicals, drama, choirs and all of that kind of stuff?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Easing of Restrictions: Discussion (2 Feb 2022)

John Lahart: This is my final question, and I thank Dr. Holohan for his time. I am sorry the time was brief. How would Dr. Holohan characterise NPHET's relationship with politicians over the past two years?