Results 2,521-2,540 of 5,216 for speaker:Mick Barry

Covid-19 (Mental Health): Statements (4 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: I want to put on the record my serious concern about the impact of the leaving certificate crisis on the mental health of the nation's 17- and 18-year-olds. The leaving cert is stressful in normal times, which is one of the reasons I am in favour of the abolition of the exam. We are told that 50% of teens normally feel nervous when they think about exams and 25% feel physically unwell....

Household Utility Bills Support: Motion [Private Members] (3 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: The Dáil is debating the issue of fuel poverty. From time to time the Dáil has debates of this kind. Usually, they do not generate much passion or many column inches in the newspapers, which is perhaps not surprising because very few Deputies and few enough journalists suffer from fuel poverty. That is not the case, however, for many people living in this State. It is a scandal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (3 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: 586. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the training undertaken by members of An Garda Síochána who are armed in dealing with persons facing mental health emergencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5657/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (3 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: 724. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider regulations in relation to the recognition of PCR Covid-19 tests by airlines and at the Border by Irish officials; if it will be ensured when drafting these regulations that tests issued by competent bodies in public health systems are recognised, that passengers will not be obliged to take a test with a certain private operator tied to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: How does the Minister justify a salary of €292,000 for the new Secretary General of the Department of Health when the Director General of the World Health Organization is paid €199,000 per annum?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: Does the Minister accept that an observer looking at those two figures, €93,000 a year more for the Secretary General of the Irish Republic's Department of Health than the Director General of the World Health Organization would scratch his or her head a little?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: I hear where the Minister is coming from -----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: I would like to pose my second question. The Tánaiste said that the huge pay increase for the Secretary General of the Department of Health will inevitably result in knock-on pay claims from other senior civil servants. Does the Minister accept that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: It is early days.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: In his introductory remarks, the Minister laid a certain emphasis on the fact that the new Secretary General of the Department of Health will be coming into the position at a time of great challenge with the pandemic, etc. There are other public sector workers who face very difficult tasks and challenges in doing their work at this point in the pandemic. One such group, for example, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: Sure

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: Despite all the points the Minister has raised, the fact remains that it is a 1% increase for a nurse and a 40% increase for the Secretary General of the Department of Health. I do not think this is a position the majority of ordinary people would support. In fact, a significant number of them would share my view that it is outrageous. I also think the Tánaiste is correct that, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: -----but 1% is not that. I would encourage them to reject the deal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Mick Barry: I do not disagree with either of those comments.

Response of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to Covid-19: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Mick Barry: Deputy Boyd Barrett has spoken about SHDs in Dublin and I want to talk about one in Cork at the old Ford distribution site in the marina, which is part of the Cork docklands site spanning 146 ha. This represents a real opportunity for public housing to be built on public land, both social and affordable housing. There is a large number of publicly owned sites at Cork docklands including the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jan 2021)

Mick Barry: Yesterday, the Tánaiste told leaving certificate students that clarity on the exams will be provided within the next few weeks. This comment went down like a lead balloon among students who are already feeling a real strain on their mental health. This strain on 17 and 18-year-olds is being caused by both the continuing uncertainty and the continuing threat of a forced leaving...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (27 Jan 2021)

Mick Barry: Earlier this month, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties wrote to GSOC. Its correspondence included the following words: "In today’s globalised world we cannot ignore the international resonances of a police shooting of a black man." Ireland is not immune to the phenomenon of the over-policing of minority communities. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties observed that "the pain...

An Bille um an Seachtú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cearta Geilleagracha, Comhdhaonnacha agus Cultúir), 2018: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jan 2021)

Mick Barry: Some 136 constitutions globally refer to the right to work. Some 133 included the right to healthcare and 81 include the right to housing. The Irish Constitution refers to the right to private property. This has been used to deny union recognition. One has the right to join a union but not to be recognised. It has been used to weaken anti-eviction legislation and so on. It would be a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (27 Jan 2021)

Mick Barry: 464. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, under the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, schools have no scope to offer discretionary places to potential pupils who do not meet the criteria for admission; if she will consider a review of this for certain hardship cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4102/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (27 Jan 2021)

Mick Barry: 640. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on commitments for a scheme to regularise undocumented migrants; when such a scheme is expected to commence; the criteria that will apply to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4123/21]