Results 4,541-4,560 of 5,629 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

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.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 20. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied with the process of Government appointments in light of the recently aborted appointment of a former Minister to a UN position; and his views on whether the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004 needs to be amended in this regard. [45415/21]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the contracting authorities are conducting an appropriate level of due diligence in view of recent public procurement audit failures associated with Covid-19-related purchases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45418/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for small school status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45647/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered the reintroduction of an allowance for teachers on offshore islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45648/21]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ethics in Public Office (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 210. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the current state of public ethics and standards in Irish political life given recent events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45430/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 238. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the assistance being put in place for persons who are harvesting seaweed using traditional methods who wish to apply for a seaweed harvesting licence given that the window to register traditional seaweed harvesting rights on folios is drawing to a close (details supplied); if he plans to offer assistance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (23 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 318. To ask the Minister for Health his plans in moving forward with regard to Covid-19 testing sites as testing and tracing efforts remain a key part of a response to the pandemic; if there are plans to expand testing in any capacity to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45769/21]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2022 (22 Sep 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 49. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the €51.8 million from the National Training Fund is treated as normal Government expenditure for the purposes of budget 2022; if it will impact the deficit and General Government Balance; the way this expenditure will interact with the budgetary process; and if the same applies to the Social Insurance Fund. [45455/21]