Results 23,701-23,720 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Order of Business (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: The programme for Government referred to new thinking and new approaches to politics. A feature of past Governments has been a very centralised, managed approach to matters. Today the Taoiseach organised a briefing for the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. The Technical Group comprises one third of the Opposition. We have made it easy for the Taoiseach and Ministers to make a...

Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: And not the Technical Group.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Canal By-laws and Naomh Éanna: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: My constituency is Kildare North and both the Royal Canal and Grand Canal flow through it. I am familiar with Hazelhatch and Sallins, in particular. Sallins is the obvious location in the context of the number of boats moored there almost constantly. I am less concerned about the numbers and more about the principle, which is the key issue. The one-size-fits-all approach will not work....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 170. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons he is aware of who have been transited through Shannon Airport in the custody of agents of other governments, and who are being detained in an extrajudicial manner in violation of international law; if he has requested and exercised the right to inspect any aircraft which transit through Shannon...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 174. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the initiatives his Department is taking to try and better inform Irish citizens who emigrate to popular destinations about the realities of the employment market, cost of living, accommodation and social welfare arrangements in those countries; if his attention has been drawn to a problem of homelessness amongst Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Unfinished Housing Developments (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 244. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will indicate, in relation to lands and property assets held by development companies for liquidation, and where developments are not completed to the planning permission, do the assets transfer to protected creditors, his Department, the State solicitor or another agency; if any proceeds are made available to complete public services in incomplete...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 653. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the result of the tendering process for independent planning expertise in the setting up of inquiries into certain planning decisions (details supplied); if any contracts or appointments have been made in respect of those conducting the proposed inquiries; the timeframe he expects the inquiries to follow; if terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 681. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, in respect of the proposed housing assistance payment, an estimate of rental top-ups currently being paid has been factored into the calculations on the new payment arrangements that will be introduced; if he will further indicate that the staffing allocation in the pilot areas for the HAP scheme has been increased...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 682. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, in respect of the proposed housing assistance payment, he is concerned that the new system is being fully tested if it is only being rolled out in local authorities with low staff to population ratios; if extra staff will be assigned to assist local authorities who are presently struggling to cover existing services...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Land Issues (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 697. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, in relation to lands and property assets held by development companies for liquidation, and where developments are not completed to the planning permission, do the assets transfer to protected creditors, his Department, the State Solicitor or another agency; if there are any proceeds made available...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (25 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 1287. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for substantial delays in the issuing of driver licences to persons who have passed their test; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many people are having to persuade insurance companies to issue successive temporary insurance cover policies to enable them to operate their vehicles during their waiting time;...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Consultants Recruitment (13 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: The improvements are tiny in comparison with the need identified. It is shameful. When one looks at the return from being smart and helping people to rehabilitate in order that they can play a more active and, possibly, complete role in society, it is mind-blowing that our ambition is so limited. It is not just about counting the cost of appointing specialists; it is also about outcomes...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Consultants Recruitment (13 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I am very pleased this subject has been selected. I doubt the Minister for Health or any other Minister can be satisfied with the situation that pertains in regard to neurological services. We have just seven rehabilitation consultants in the country and we are ranked second worst in Europe. If we increased this figure to 50, we would still be ranked second worst in Europe, and if we...

Gateway Scheme: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Just before the previous Government left office, Deputy Ó Cuív introduced a scheme that was quite similar to JobBridge. There were screams of disapproval from the Labour benches at the time as a result of the way that scheme was introduced. Essentially, they voiced their disapproval on the basis that individuals who were unemployed would not be given a choice with regard to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Supporting the Irish Community: London Irish Centre (12 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I thank Mr. Barlow for his interesting presentation. Like others, I have family members scattered all over the world, including in London. Mr. Barlow has mentioned that the centre works with people in London who present as homeless in securing housing. I presume it does not work directly with them in that regard but does so through the authorities in London or other parts of the United...

Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (12 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I will confine myself in the main to homelessness. I welcome a debate on housing policy although I wish we had a little more time to deal with it. There has been a major legacy left to this Government - I completely acknowledge that. The Minister of State has displayed an understanding of the issue. I do not doubt her sincerity but I doubt the sincerity of the Government to give the kind...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (12 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: The site resolution process does not deal with estates not categorised as category 4 estates. This is my point. There is no site resolution on this estate of 300 houses. The local authority picked up the €25,000 tab left by the developer, but the estate cannot get into the resolution process unless it is recategorised from a category 3 estate to a category 4 estate which means it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (12 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 3. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that public lighting was recently abruptly turned off in an estate (details supplied); if, considering the severity of the problem and the extent of unfinished estates around the country, he will consider a re-evaluation of which estates may fall into category 4 estates to remove...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (12 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: This question pertains to unfinished estates that are not designated as category 4. The public lighting in one estate in my constituency was switched off last week because the builder had gone into receivership and there was nobody to pay the bill. I am concerned about the public safety issues arising from the loss of lighting and how estates can transfer from category 3 to category 4 when...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (12 Mar 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Some of these estates were categorised for the property tax last year. The number of estates will increase as companies are liquidated, and they require a mechanism to transfer from category 3 to category 4 to allow them to leverage funding. In the case of the aforementioned estate, approximately €200,000 is needed for the wearing course on the road and to finish other aspects of...