Results 4,441-4,460 of 5,627 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I welcome the motion that has been brought forward. It is very important we have an overarching autism strategy that brings all the different services and supports under the one umbrella to ensure that children and adults get the supports they need. I know the Minister of State is very much aware of this, but I question how many times we have to bring forward motions, Bills and discussions...

Rental Sector: Motion [Private Members] (19 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Budget 2022 did nothing for renters and I cannot say that is surprising. This place does nothing for renters, be they students, families or pensioners. The Minister told us not to judge him hastily. He told us to be patient. He told us Housing for All, which is the grand policy and his grand plan, would be the means to turn things around. It is hard to tell when exactly Eoghan Murphy's...

Rental Sector: Motion [Private Members] (19 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I am sorry to tell the Minister the ECB forecasted inflation would increase as economies opened so I do not think it came as a surprise to anyone. In fact, at the exact same time as he was planning to link rents to inflation, his own Minister for Finance was planning on indexing the tax bands on the basis inflation would rise, so he obviously saw it coming. What about all those people who...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (19 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 103. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent increase in patients on trolleys at Galway University Hospital, a trend which is expected to continue through the winter due to staffing shortages; his plans to address these staffing shortages and capacity requirements in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50615/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (19 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 748. To ask the Minister for Health when respite services in County Galway will recommence in full, given that such services have resumed in other counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50513/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank the witnesses. I was very interested to read Professor Murphy's opening statement and to listen to both speakers give their views on the different questions. It is important that we are discussing this legislation today. Both witnesses have clearly outlined the importance of openness and transparency in lobbying, the role that the current Act plays and how it can be strengthened....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Professor Murphy made a very good point on the need to be able to react, which is what our Bill is doing. It is reacting and trying to strengthen the legislation. It is essential to have public confidence in political and public life. As Mr. Devitt said, this along with other Bills will seek to increase transparency and accountability. I am interested in the witnesses' views in regard to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Thank you. That is very interesting. In his opening statement, Professor Murphy stated: Moreover, it also brings into question the situation whereby people receive privileges by virtue of their former public employment, whether as TD or adviser, such as an access pass. There seems to be no adequate or even plausible reason as to why this remains the case and the question should surely be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: That was my last question. It is something I have concerns about. I have written to the Ceann Comhairle on this, not in regard to former Members in general having access but people who are moving towards lobbying, as Professor Murphy outlined in his opening statement. I have not seen a response yet but it is something I will be keeping an eye out for.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Ms Perreault for her opening statement and for appearing before the committee. It is very interesting to hear what the witnesses have to say. My first question relates to the Act in its current form. Is the commission constrained currently in enforcing the regulation of lobbying, more generally speaking, and specifically with respect to the cooling-off period?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: More generally, will this amendment Bill provide workable and practical solutions, which would strengthen and make easier Ms Perreault's job of the regulation of lobbying? She might answer that question and then I have two more specific questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: My other question is one I raised with the witnesses at the earlier committee meeting. Professor Murphy mentioned it in his opening statement, which I am not sure Ms Perreault saw. It relates to former Members who, when they move to a lobbying firm, still have that access pass and have access to the so-called corridors of power where decisions are made. There are concerns about their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I will ask a broader question on the definition of lobbying. It is something I raised with the previous witnesses. I would be interested to hear the witnesses' views. At the moment, lobbying is when one is communicating directly or indirectly with a designated public official, DPO, on a relevant matter, the communication is not specifically exempted and one belongs to one of the detailed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim míle buíochas leis na finnéithe. Those are all my questions for now.

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: To be clear, my time is being eaten away. You might think of that in the last few seconds.

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Tá mé ag iarraidh cúpla rud a rá. Tá an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht fágtha in áit na leathphingine le €6.3 milliún agus gan ach €1 milliún dó sin mar mhaoiniú caipitil. Níl aon tagairt do choistí cobhsaíochta a bhí geallta do choláistí samhraidh Ghaeltachta atá i mbaol. Níl aon...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: They need to catch up.

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: For this Government the golden rule is that he who has the gold makes the rules. It is time for a new Government which follows the rule of the people, by the people and for the people and that delivers budgets which can deliver the transformative change that will fix the socioeconomic problems we face. This will ensure our political system is responsive and capable of responding to the...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: When it comes to addressing some of the most fundamental aspects of the cost of living, the Government's measures seem, at best, ineffective and, at worst, to be exacerbating the problem. This Government is basically telling us that it is sorry but that it cannot deal with housing, healthcare or childcare. It is giving us a couple of quid and suggesting that we all forget about it and move...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Politics is about choices and rarely is that clearer than on budget day. A Government's budget is a fiscal expression of its policy priorities. Does it tackle sky-high rents? Does it tackle unaffordable childcare or a health system bursting at its seams? It does not. The crises we face in each of those areas did not come about through some act of God. They were the direct results of...