Results 3,241-3,260 of 5,098 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: I am happy to hear Mr. Cassidy say that. It is what I have been trying to say and sometimes shouting at the television. It is sometimes frustrating to hear about inflation and to hear people saying that we need to increase interest rates. It is nearly a reflexive reaction that people say without examining matters. I am delighted. I will quote Dr. Cassidy at length whenever I get the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: Apologies, I have audio issues. It can be difficult listening and speaking at the same time. I thank Dr. Cassidy.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: I have one more question. A piece in The Irish Timesrecently stated that energy industry figures here were predicting that Irish electricity prices will rise by 40% to 50%. Obviously that is attributed to external factors and as Dr. Cassidy noted in his opening statement, supply-side issues. Russian gas supplies, from what I can see, have actually been increasing rather than decreasing and...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: Finally, may I ask one very quick question?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: It has been a very interesting conversation. Something that popped up today is the petrodollar. I am sure the officials saw Saudi Arabia is considering selling oil to China in Chinese yuan. That would obviously be a departure from the petrodollar. I saw something in the news today about how Russia is demanding - how it will actually work out is another matter - that Europe pays for gas in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: I thought Dr. Cassidy would give me the direct answer straight away and we would be able to say that is it and we know what it is now.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: Of course.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: Of course. The reasoning behind it is interesting in itself. It will be interesting to see how other countries would want the dollars. The US may even allow Venezuela in. It will be interesting to see. Hypothetically, leaving aside Russia and the situation in Ukraine, what of that whole move away from the dollar? That would be a really interesting development, as I am sure the witnesses...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny (Resumed): Central Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: That is fair enough. I thank the Chairman.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: This has been a very interesting process for us all. We will all remember what those people who came before our committee had to say with their own lived and personal experiences and how it had impacted them. There is strengthening now in the making of protected disclosures and I and my colleague, Deputy Buckley, have also tabled amendments to the Bill. We are happy to do anything that can...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: Could the Minister speak to this section, please?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: I move amendment No. 3: In page 13, to delete lines 6 to 11 and substitute the following: “ “(3) For the purposes of enabling the making of reports, all employers shall establish, maintain and operate internal reporting channels and procedures for the making of such reports and for follow-up (in this Act referred to as ‘internal reporting channels and...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: I understand the Minister's perspective on this and where he is coming from. I still have concerns and think that it would be beneficial to lower the threshold. I think it is still important to make this amendment. We are coming at it from two different points of view. I take the Minister's points on board but I am still concerned, so I will press the amendment.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: Taking on board the views of all the people who have contacted us, we all can be in agreement that it is extremely important that the legislation be retrospective. We know from the discussions we have had here and, as I mentioned, the harrowing stories people have, how important it is for this to be retrospective and how much people have lost as a result of doing work in the interest of the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: These are technical. We have no issue.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: We have no issue with these.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: I move amendment No. 22: In page 23, to delete lines 15 to 29. It is no secret that when people blow the whistle what generally ensues is a long protracted process that can take years. We have discussed the real-life impact it can have on people and their families. There can also be a reflexive reaction on the part of the employer to circle the waggons. We have seen cases where they...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: A considerable amount has been said. This amendment is about the deletion of lines 15 to 29 where we see the words, "emergency situation or a risk of irreversible damage". Realistically, most protected disclosures are made in such situations. It is very difficult for people and we have seen the significant impact it has had on them. Putting this in is regressive. Making anything more...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Mairéad Farrell: These are technical amendments so we will be supporting them.