Results 2,161-2,180 of 3,712 for speaker:Michael Lowry

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: I ask this question in the context of the national procurement framework. I refer to how this is impacting on small to medium sized enterprises, SMEs, by using the example of Templemore Garda College. There are 600 people on-site serving 2,000 meals a day. Up to now, purchases were made from local suppliers. There are 31 local suppliers from across Tipperary, in places such as Templemore,...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Arising from this episode, changes have been introduced, in particular to the procurement policy of purchasing goods and services. All decisions regarding the purchasing of supply items to the college have been removed from local management. They will now be under the control of the Office of Government Procurement. This is a significant and alarming development for the small businesses in...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: This does not just affect Templemore. The tender documents from the Office of Government Procurement are complex, complicated and impossible for the normal business manager to comprehend or understand. The process is absolutely loaded in favour of the big players in the market.

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: The small to medium sized enterprise has no chance under this new system.

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Contracts from the Government and State agencies are gobbled up by the multinational groups. This is not just happening with food and essential items. It is happening across every sector of demand and supply in the public sector. It includes printing, stationery, mechanical, electrical, engineering, medical, marketing and legal services. The powerful are getting all the business. They...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Government policy is supposed to encourage and increase activity outside the cities and promote regional development and jobs. This procurement framework, which was used for Templemore, does the opposite. It centralises purchases. It makes the rich companies richer and stronger. It is gradually creating an elite number of companies that have dominance and control of the supply chain. The...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: However, when it comes to accessing the lucrative public sector supply chain, they are snuffed out and excluded. Tender qualification criteria need to be reviewed.

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: The rules, criteria, regulations and thresholds governing the competitions make it impossible for a small organisation to be successful in trying to get into the supply chain.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: I welcome the clarity the Minister has given us on a number of issues in the past two days, both in the Houses and here today. I do not see any merit in putting a roadblock in the way of this process at this late stage. I accept there is sufficient oversight and that each milestone has to be approved by the Department officials, the Minister and the Government on the recommendation of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Is it possible for one of the officials to tell us if the remaining bidder is tied into a pricing structure? Is there a danger that, with a sole bidder, the price will escalate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: Are the officials in a position to give an answer to the questions?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol: Motion (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: I have no problem in supporting the Kigali amendment and facilitating the passage of this motion as quickly as possible. I know a small bit about CFCs because it is my business. This has been successful but it is very expensive. Arrangements are in place for the recycling of HFCs. In terms of the cost of this, is there a ballpark figure? The Minister said it would be double the cost....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: 11 o’clock I agree with the Minister's approach. I understand that whatever services we provide in Cashel will help to alleviate the pressure on Clonmel hospital. It is important there would be a high level of liaison and co-operation between South Tipperary General Hospital and Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel. We are all anxious to know in what way and to what extent will the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: 4. To ask the Minister for Health the specific services that will be provided under the new schedule with particular reference to the day hospital, diagnostics, community care and minor injuries units further to his commitment to fully reopen Our Lady's hospital, Cashel; and the timeframe involved in bringing the accommodation and facilities at the hospital back into full use. [6472/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: I appreciated the Minister's commitment on a visit to Cashel to reopen Our Lady's County and Surgical Hospital.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (8 Feb 2018)

Michael Lowry: A task force is working within the HSE against the background of three empty wards in the hospital. That unit is capable of holding 35 beds. It has been refurbished at a cost to the HSE of approximately €13 million, but it is unoccupied. This is happening in Cashel when, down the road in Clonmel, there are trolleys in a corridor. It does not make sense that we are not maximising...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Progress: Discussion (30 Jan 2018)

Michael Lowry: I thank our contributors for the useful and informative submissions they have made. The one factor everybody has mentioned is the extent and magnitude of the problem and the urgent necessity to find short-term, interim and long-term solutions. It is easy to identify the problem but it is much more difficult to identify alternatives and how they would be operated. Professor FitzGerald...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (30 Jan 2018)

Michael Lowry: 219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when instructions will be finalised and issued to ETBI and ETBs regarding the proposed BTEI conversion process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4044/18]

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (25 Jan 2018)

Michael Lowry: I thank the Minister. I welcome that an additional €450,000 is included by the Health Service Executive for the funding in 2018 and 2019. I am sure it will contribute to the enhancement of services, particularly for older people in south Tipperary. I also welcome that consultation and discussions have been taking place with consultants and key personnel in the general hospital in...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (25 Jan 2018)

Michael Lowry: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise an issue relating to medical health care in Tipperary, particularly the position regarding the former acute hospital, Our Lady's hospital in Cashel. The position in respect of Cashel is that many people in Tipperary are baffled and bewildered as to why we have a magnificent building, on which the HSE spent €20 million...