Results 4,001-4,020 of 5,098 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: This was Deputy Cahill's question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: One of the questions in this group is in my name.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I do not believe anyone would argue that we do not need public procurement guidelines. The Minister of State did not really answer my question on whether there were purchases that we are not aware of. He said 80% of the equipment was to standard but that still implies a significant risk. I am aware that we went outside the normal competitive process and used negotiated procedure but there...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Does the Minister of State know when he will have the report?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 3. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the remit of the new interim procurement reform board; the terms of reference of the board; if a list of board members will be provided; the stakeholders that will be consulted; the proposed date for the board to publish its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45429/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: There has been concern, much of which has been reported in the media, in relation to public money that was spent on faulty equipment, for example, PPE, arising clearly from failures in due diligence. The Minister of State has announced the formation of a new interim public procurement reform board. Will he outline the terms of reference of the board, provide a list of its members and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: According to the Comptroller and Auditor General, more than one third of our spend on PPE had to be written off. That spend amounted to over €900 million. Much of that PPE was thrown in the bin. For example, hand sanitisers had to be recalled after millions of euro was spent on them. After spending millions on hand sanitiser, the HSE purchased now infamous ViraPro hand sanitiser in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 1. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has given further consideration to amending the public sector sick pay or occupational injury and illness schemes in the context of long Covid; if so, if the estimated cost or estimated range will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45428/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: We know long Covid is a real, serious and debilitating condition from which many people are suffering. I previously raised with the Minister the possibility of amending the occupational injury and illness scheme or public sector pay. He told me at that point that he was aware of the situation and it was under active review. Is there any update in that regard or an estimation of the cost of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I have been contacted by several young women who have been affected and deeply impacted by long Covid. I will recount the story of a woman named Karen who contacted me. She is 36 years of age and a front-line worker who tested positive on 31 December. She was admitted to the Mater Hospital on 8 January and had to be put on an oxygen machine because she had double pneumonia. Although she...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: This woman told me that she is on a couple of new drugs which are used to address long Covid and which cost more than €100 a month. Neither of these drugs is covered by the drug payment scheme. For people who are out of work and cannot afford such drugs, this really is crippling. It can be equally difficult for those in receipt of sick pay who are likely to have other outgoings such...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. We are in a crisis in terms of gas and energy costs. With regard to policy tools that can be used to respond to that crisis, in response to a parliamentary question my colleague, Deputy Doherty, submitted in January 2019, the Minister said VAT rates for household utility bills such as gas and electricity could not be reduced below 12%. I believe this was...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Hence it was not me who put it in, yes.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank the Minister; that would be helpful because it is important when we are in this crisis in terms of energy costs for people to do everything we can. Anything we can do would be essential for those people, who are struggling. I want to talk about the corporation tax issue. I do not want to talk about the specifics of the two-pillar system or the negotiations under way. My...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Go raibh maith agat. I was not asking for the Minister's opinion on that; I was just hoping he could give an indication. Second, the Commission has said it will legislate through a directive for Pillar 2 of the OECD inclusive framework proposals. Regardless of whether this State signs up or does not sign up to the final agreement, would the Minister agree it does set a significant...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I want to go back to the question of the energy crisis, as well as the energy costs crisis. I am sure the Minister is aware that, by the end of the decade, data centres are set to consume around 30%, and from figures that have been talked about, it will be 29% by 2028, in seven years. We know that as a result of increased energy usage from those already in operation, as well as issues in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: We can argue the point on another occasion. I want to double check something. In regard to Pillar 2 and corporation tax, the Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar, said that any potential higher tax rate would only apply to companies with a turnover of €750 million or higher in Ireland. Is the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, saying the Commission has not approved this?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: For clarity, and maybe it is that I am slower to pick this up, that means there would be two levels. Hypothetically, this could be 13%, so what did the Tánaiste mean in that regard? I am slightly confused.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: At this moment in time, the text says that there is this difference. At this moment in time, whether we enter or not, according to that text, as the Tánaiste understood it and portrayed it, that would mean it would be separate and it would only be for those who are in the process.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2022 Scrutiny (Resumed): Minister for Finance (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I fully understand that and I understand that the Minister is involved in those negotiations. However, the point is that, as it stands, that is what it would mean. It would mean that those that are below that €750 million could have the 12.5% and the others would not. I am not suggesting the Minister is entering or not entering, but as the text stands now, that is where it is at.