Results 241-260 of 6,115 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (23 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 486. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the backlog of join family visa applications; the work his Department is undertaking to decrease waiting times for Irish citizens to reunite with their families in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50321/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Inquiries (23 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 490. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether a third level student who is resident in Ireland on a stamp 3, and is required to do work placement to complete their college course, must have the right to work in Ireland generally; how they go about getting this; if he will advise on an individual case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Budget 2026 (23 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 579. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in Budget 2026 to provide for Belimumab for those with lupus who are in urgent need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49580/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (23 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: 623. To ask the Minister for Health the number of security staff hired directly and through agency in Galway University Hospital; the number that are hired directly, and through agencies; the overall cost, from 2020 to 2024, per year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49925/25]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I am under a bit of time pressure because I have an interview at 12 noon. I thank the witnesses for coming to the committee. It is always interesting when the ESRI and IFAC are here. I would like to use my time to understand a few things. We have heard a lot in the media - it was mentioned in IFAC's opening statement and report - about the idea that the Government budgeted for a €3...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: There is no transparency as to where this overspend is coming from.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: This is not the first time this has happened. How many years has this happened in a row?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: For the job the IFAC is doing and the job we try to do in the committee, the numbers we get on budget day are not the reality. Either there are miscalculations or incompetence, as was said.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: We are just not being honest as to what we are spending.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I understand it will not be perfect but we are talking about €4.6 billion. Obviously there will be pressures. Everybody understands that could happen but this is six years in a row. €4.6 billion is a significant amount. During previous budgets, it was often said specifically regarding the health budget that it was not calculated correctly or they were just not being honest,...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: New measures that are trying to tackle something that is imminent and we need to do something about are different. I wish the Government would do it with the housing crisis, but it seems utterly incapable of doing so. What I am trying to get to the bottom of is that the figures announced on budget day are just wrong.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I have one final question but before I finish with this point, I have read with real interest about expanding the role of the fiscal council and the EU directive. Does it have any more information about that matter that it could send to the committee?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I saw that and I was interested. I would be interested to see what is firm. I am conscious of-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: If that is all right.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: That would be great. I am conscious of time and I have to do an interview. I am trying to understand an issue. Will the witnesses explain it? When a report states that one in five children are living in poverty, the next line is always that it is the case if we include housing. Surely all children have to live somewhere so I do not understand that line. I am interested, because there...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Dr. Keane. I understand that now statistically. Sometimes to the public, when we say "if housing costs are included", it seems one way, but everyone needs to live somewhere.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Dr. Keane. That was very helpful. I have to run off, but I will be back.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I ask that people to turn off their mobile phones or put them on silent. Before we begin, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the House with regard to references that may be made to other persons in the witnesses' evidence. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means they...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: Go raibh míle maith agat. Bhí sé sin thar a bheith suimiúil. I open it up to members to ask any questions. Glaoim ar an Teachta Nash.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2025)

Mairéad Farrell: I want to pick up on the issue of child poverty. The ESRI was in with us earlier. One of the questions I asked, because I genuinely want to understand it, related to a recent report which says that one in five children is living in poverty, with the tag-on line that this is the case if housing is included. Obviously every child has to live somewhere, so that made zero sense to me. I feel...