Results 4,141-4,160 of 5,627 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas as sin. I have a question arising from a question Deputy Tóibín asked in the previous session. I took a quick look at the audited financial statements of Premier Lotteries Ireland. It was a brief look so I am open to correction if I have got this wrong but, from what I can see, PLI paid no tax in 2019. It actually got a refund of €100,000. It paid...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Ms Boate. It just seems unusual for a company that is profitable. I understand that this does not fall within the regulator's brief. We are under time pressure so I will move on. In respect of the distribution of funds to good causes, the regulator is concerned with proper administration. An issue that has been raised with me is that, under the model in England, an entirely...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Extension of Notice Periods) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: There is a scenario which has become far too prevalent. Let us imagine a context where a landlord has issued a notice to quit. Anxiety would set in as the people concerned desperately search for somewhere to live. It may prove impossible, however, to find anywhere affordable. The housing assistance payment, HAP, may not be sufficient to cover the rent of any of those places which are...

European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I wish the raise the case of Julian Assange again. Last Friday, it took just nine minutes for the British magistrates to uphold an American appeal against a district court judge's ruling that Julian Assange should not be extradited. That judge had accepted in January that hell on earth was what awaited Julian Assange and that extradition would mean he would likely take his own life. On...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (14 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 82. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the ownership structure of National Broadband Ireland and a company (details supplied) respectively with regard to the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61538/21]

Regulation of Tenderers Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I am fed up of coming in here and being told the Government wants to work with the Opposition but the Opposition and Sinn Féin do not give the Government any ideas and do not do anything. Every time I come in here with any kind of a Bill, all I hear from Government is that it will kick the can down the road for nine months, it will not engage on it, it disagrees, it will not bring the...

Regulation of Tenderers Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” Táim chun m'am a roinnt le mo chomhghleacaithe. I am delighted to speak alongside my colleague Deputy Patricia Ryan on the Second Stage debate of our Bill. I might say a few words on what motivated us to table it, why it is necessary and how it will improve the regulation of tender bids for capital works. We are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Commissioner Designate (9 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Mr. Deering makes an interesting point because people who regularly make FOI requests would say that there are differences in how different public bodies respond to such requests. I will not name these but this is something that is very much seen as a given. One other thing that Mr. Deering said there is that there is the culture of champions championing the importance of FOIs, which is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Commissioner Designate (9 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Mr. Deering. My concern is that we are adding to the hoops that people who are making protected disclosures have to jump through. They cannot go directly to a Minister. I appreciate that Mr. Deering wants us to have a think about it but I wanted to add my concerns so that they can be included in the thought process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Commissioner Designate (9 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I, too, congratulate Mr. Deering on his nomination for the position. I heard and read his opening statement with real interest because I am interested in this subject myself. Mr. Deering said that "public services are not always as good as they could or should be ... and information is not always furnished". Does he think that is due to an internal culture or is it due to a lack of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Commissioner Designate (9 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I have one final question on the protected disclosures legislation mentioned by Mr. Deering, which is something that we have been dealing with in this committee and that I am particularly interested in. I have heard concerns from whistleblowers and academics and from transparency campaigning organisations that certain provisions in the Bill on public service disclosures could lower existing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cúrsaí Oidhreachta (8 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 56. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government cén t-eolas atá aige faoin obair a bhí ar siúl le déanaí i bPáirc Náisiúnta Chonamara i mbaile fearainn an Mhaoilinn ar shuíomh a bhfuil tábhacht ar leith ag baint leis ó thaobh na seandálaíochta de; cé a bhí i mbun na hoibre sin; cé hiad na...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as teacht os comhair an choiste. This has been quite an interesting discussion so far. IFAC noted in its recent fiscal assessment report that we have stayed within the fiscal rules, but it notes elsewhere the risk of GDP declining in the medium term due to changes in the international tax regime. Do the witnesses believe that if the fiscal rules...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Mr. Barnes. If the rules were to remain the same or unchanged, it could be an issue of concern-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: The finance committee has been considering the issue of the fiscal rules because, as Mr. Barnes said, the review is being conducted. Both committees are working in this regard. At a meeting of one of the committees, we heard a deficit percentage of 3% was simply plucked out of the air at the time in question. France, for example, had a deficit of 2.6% at the time. The deficit percentage...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas leis. I thank Mr. Barnes. It is interesting to hear that. The reason I asked is that I am a member of two different committees that are very much focused on this matter. It is, therefore, topical and submissions need to be in by the end of the month. The report also notes the Commission on Pensions package of reforms and the council's concern with delays in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I also note IFAC's focus on the pension age and PRSI increases, but there does not seem to be much focus on the significant tax expenditure that occurs on private pensions. Originally, there were concerns raised, even by the troika, that such expenditure is benefiting high earners. I would be interested in the council commenting on why there is a lack of focus on this as well. I want to...