Results 2,941-2,960 of 9,148 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the Governor and deputy governors. I will begin with the Governor on the issue of what is seen as an unprecedented pace of increase in interest rates by the governing council of the ECB. Mr. Makhlouf stated that this was to combat the “unprecedented inflationary shock which has impacted significantly on households’ weekly shop, their tank of fuel and their energy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: It appears to be axiomatic that, if inflation is high or remains high, interest rates will increase irrespective of the impact that will have on households.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Am I correct that, irrespective of the care and concern that the governing council may have, it is axiomatic that interest rates are going to increase if inflation does not decrease?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I wish to raise a separate point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: One of the methods that politicians have for trying to respond to the impact on household incomes of higher mortgage rates is mortgage interest relief. In advance of the forthcoming budget, the Central Bank and the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, have issued warnings to the Government about inflationary measures. What is the Governor's view of, or advice on, the introduction of targeted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Governor is not set against it in principle. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will deal with that issue now. I have noticed in the past number of weeks that both the Central Bank and the IFAC have been more vocal in making comments in respect of the forthcoming budget. What are the bank's concerns? The Governor said that the Government should be hesitant about introducing measures that could add to the inflationary shock. What specifically is he concerned about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: In his statement the Governor mentioned that in Ireland we have one of the strongest growth rates in the euro area. Sometimes we take that for granted. If one looks at other countries, particularly the UK, they are desperate to try to achieve some level of growth and would have huge ambition and desire to have our growth rates. Why does he think we have been successful in achieving these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: That is a fair point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will take on board the Governor's advice to stop comparing us to the UK.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Are our growth rates not higher than those in the rest of the eurozone?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Obviously there is something else to explain it-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Finally, in respect of the failure of the banks to pass on the interest rate increases to deposit holders in accordance with the increases made by the ECB, in practical terms what legal powers does the Central Bank have to do anything about that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Central Bank (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Presumably politicians-----

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Accidents (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 129. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether the Road Safety Authority keeps a record or database of accidents, collisions and incident reports involving powered personal transporters; if so, whether details of such accidents, collisions and incident reports for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40324/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 192. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the pension increases for An Post pensioners, approved by the Labour Court in January 2023, will be approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39650/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 223. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in each county or local authority that made successful applications under the Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme launched in September 2020 to provide loans to SMEs and small mid-caps until 30 June 2022; and the estimated total value of the low-cost loans in each county local authority area, in tabular form....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Policy (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 388. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration has been given to using the Shared Island Initiative to fund cross-Border arts initiatives. [39791/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 646. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether she intends to rectify the anomaly in relation to carers whose periods of care-giving are inferior to 20 years, but which have nonetheless negatively impacted on their eligibility for the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40345/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Assisted Human Reproduction (20 Sep 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 888. To ask the Minister for Health when he intends to introduce legislation regulating surrogacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39540/23]