Results 3,301-3,320 of 3,336 for speaker:Kate O'Connell

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I thank my constituency colleague. I hope I do not repeat anything that has been said already but I wish to return to the issue of the 26% growth rate. I am assuming that a unique or bespoke Irish calculation is necessary so that we as a country can have accurate data with which to plan our future. In terms of the surprise element of it, was any consideration given to the fact that...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I would like to refer back to the gender pay gap. The witnesses mentioned the effect on one's career of the amount of time one spends out of work. Do they have any data on the amount of time people spend out of work?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I assume the point is that the amount of time taken out is relevant. A few weeks might not be relevant, but I am sure the effects of taking time out kick in at some point.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: Has the ESRI done research on the bias that can occur when people are employing a woman and a man? Maybe that is not a suitable question for this committee. I am always making the point that the woman is generally considered, rightly or wrongly, to be a greater risk to the employer. It is believed that as women - unlike men - can get pregnant, they are more likely to leave the workforce...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: We often hear about the squeezed middle and the average industrial wage. We are told it is more likely that women will fall into this category. Do we have data to show whether this is the case? I think the average industrial wage is €37,500. Does Professor Barrett have graphs showing the distribution of pay between men and women as they move up the pay scales? Does he have such...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I hate to mention the massive increase in GDP. Reference has been made to a real growth rate of 5%. We often used to hear officials from various Government Departments saying that Sweden spent various percentages of its GDP on child care and health, etc. Can we make the assumption that all of this was wrong? If the GDP figures were not necessarily right, can it be said that our goal of...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I am really asking whether the data is okay.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I wish to ask another question before the witnesses reply. I do not want to waste their time. Is any other country in the OECD modifying or making up a new algorithm or sum? Is Ireland the only country doing this? I am sure outside companies that are investing in Ireland, and putting their trust in Ireland as a country, look at all the data. Will it not look really bad that we have our...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: Dr. McQuinn is saying it is better to have good data that is accurate.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: On the pension issue, personally, I would consider the direction of money accruing from the universal social charge to the pensions area to be a good idea. Professor Barrett said earlier that this would negate the need for tax incentives for pensions. In that regard, is he suggesting that a limit be imposed on how much money people can save in their pensions? Ordinarily, people in the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I had intended to ask Professor Barrett about the risk concerning defined benefit and defined contribution and the time bomb coming down the tracks in that regard in the context of other countries having moved towards defined contribution schemes, but when he made his comments about the USC it got me thinking about how the two would mesh together. I am sure that working that one out will...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Analysis of Economic Forecasts: Central Bank of Ireland (6 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: Following on from what Deputy Calleary asked about VAT and income tax, Mr. Quinn was answering and mentioned that perhaps there was no need to start worrying yet. At what point does one get worried? It seems coincidental to me. In my personal life, I do a bit of trade with the UK and it seems to be very clear to anyone operating a business with the UK that there has been an immediate...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Analysis of Economic Forecasts: Central Bank of Ireland (6 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: We should be looking at quarterly data before we-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Analysis of Economic Forecasts: Central Bank of Ireland (6 Sep 2016)

Kate O'Connell: Thank you.

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I have worked for many years as a community pharmacist. I welcome the Bill, but I agree with Deputy Louise O'Reilly that it addresses only a tiny piece of a far greater problem. I do not see it as fixing anything in a great way, but I also do not see it as doing major harm. In my south Dublin pharmacy I have a file for forged prescriptions. It is a serious issue. As somebody working in...

Select Committee on Health: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Kate O'Connell: I just want to mention the awareness and the education. I have a sister who is ten years older than me who is a psychiatrist. I remember when we were young at home her showing us brain scans of people with drug dependency. That fairly educated us. There is huge scope to inform younger people at a very early stage of the effects of drugs but also to inform them that these drugs are not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Legal Aid (12 Jul 2016)

Kate O'Connell: 173. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of a reply received by a person from the European Commission on 30 November 2015; if she will confirm that Ireland has no national regime on legal aid for companies and companies cannot access legal aid here at all; and her views on whether Ireland may be in breach of its fundamental obligations under Article 47, if it forces...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Development (7 Jul 2016)

Kate O'Connell: 31. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she will take to support the film sector; the benefits arising from the increase in the section 481 tax relief; her views on the success of a number of Irish films in recent times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19848/16]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Budgets (7 Jul 2016)

Kate O'Connell: 40. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the percentage of her budget in 2016 that is allocated to the arts and culture sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19847/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Reductions (6 Jul 2016)

Kate O'Connell: 92. To ask the Minister for Finance if there is a domestic or European Union barrier to addressing the value added tax rates on injections and vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20013/16]