Results 4,221-4,240 of 5,627 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Withdrawal from Irish Banking Market: Engagement with KBC (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank the witnesses for attending and for their engagement with the committee. I propose we suspend briefly before beginning our second session to discuss the review of the EU economic governance framework.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I welcome members and viewers who may be watching our proceedings on Oireachtas TV to the second part of this session of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. We will now discuss the European Commission’s review of the EU governance framework. I welcome to the meeting the economist, Dr. Dirk Ehnts. The format of the meeting is that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Dr. Ehnts. I will begin with my own questions initially. I wonder about the origin of the fiscal rules and how they came about. There is the 3% debt-to-GDP rule and the 60% public debt level rule. I wonder if those figures are supported by any evidence. If not, why were those particular figures chosen? What are their implications for economic stability and development?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: That is quite interesting about how that figure of 3% came about. Dr. Ehnts mentioned climate in his opening statement. I am worried about the chance of implementing a Green New Deal, GND, given the current rules. I am also sceptical that it would be enough to increase the debt ceiling to 100%. The majority of financing for the Green New Deal will have to be done at a national level....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Often in the conversation around money creation, I worry that there is a lack of understanding of the process of money creation. Does Dr. Ehnts think that is the case and that, if there was a deeper understanding of how monetary operations work, there could be a different view of fiscal rules?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: My last question follows on from that. The fiscal rules set targets around debt and deficit levels but not around employment levels or emission targets. Would these be better metrics to strive for?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: A Senator had indicated a wish to speak but now appears to have left. Senator Higgins can ask her additional questions and I will intervene if the other Senator returns.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Do many other countries have fiscal rules? I am interested in hearing the global view of the rules. I am aware that the New Zealand Government still has the old fiscal rules in place but, interestingly, the Green Party there is quite against them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I note Senator Higgins has indicated. I will allow her in but I ask members to be mindful that we have to conclude at 4.30 p.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I had a final question, but I note Deputy Durkan is indicating so I will allow him. I remind everyone that we need to conclude in the next two and a half minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Dr. Ehnts for attending today and for his engagement with the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Withdrawal from Irish Banking Market: Engagement with KBC (1 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: They have given KBC Ireland long years of service. That needs to be remembered as well. That is extremely important. These are people's real lives that we are talking about and, in some ways, playing with. It will be very interesting to see what comes out of those discussions, which I hope will conclude soon. The reality is this is a huge stress on people's lives. We cannot forget that....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Nov 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I echo the words of my colleague, Deputy Martin Kenny. This really is a capacity issue. While budget after budget outlined the additional capacity that would be added to our hospitals, the reality is people in Galway having to leave their granny overnight on a trolley in Galway University Hospital as so many families have had to do in recent weeks. That is just not good enough. They need...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (30 Nov 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Covid-19 has shown that we need capacity and bed numbers to keep patients safe and away from risk. Sadly, this is not the case at present. Galway University Hospital has long had an issue with capacity, which means that, as the Minister of State knows, most families in Galway have had a loved one stay on a trolley rather than in a hospital bed. Indeed, it was this capacity issue that left...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (30 Nov 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 235. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he plans to classify more LEAs in Galway and across the west as rent pressure zones given that rents are increasing at a rapid rate in coastal areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58441/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (30 Nov 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps that are being taken to curb large rent increases in Conamara and across the west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58442/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (30 Nov 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 649. To ask the Minister for Health if he has plans to provide additional PCR testing centres to rural areas such as Connemara given the increased demand for tests and rising case numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58829/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (30 Nov 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 650. To ask the Minister for Health the advice for those who need a PCR test who do not have access to a car and live a significant distance from their nearest testing centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58830/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (30 Nov 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 755. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he can take or is examining to ensure the sustainability of all fish stocks in waters around Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58692/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ferry Services (30 Nov 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 772. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has plans to improve the accessibility of the ferry service to the Aran Islands for passengers with disabilities and in particular for passengers who use wheelchairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58318/21]