Results 4,621-4,640 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy Paul Donnelly. Deputy Ó Cuív is correct about mortgage supplement. As practising politicians, all of us have dealt with and used that scheme successfully in the past where families have ended up in desperate situations. In fact, an issue I raised only last night is the issue of the central banks and the burden of interest on families. Even if there is a freeze put...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: That is an interesting point. The professional artists scheme allows professional artists to claim jobseeker's allowance for 12 months while setting up their businesses. The numbers involved are small, with only 100 participants. As such, its cost is small. I hope that the Department is considering disregarding the past 12 months for people on that scheme and rolling that disregard over...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Fourteen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: No, the report is laid out and sets specific recommendations for each committee. Part 1 of the report relates to all committees. In a separate section, it makes recommendations for each sectoral committee. There are two strands of work for each committee, namely, under part 1 and under the sectoral recommendations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Section 9 of the report contains the recommendations for the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks. In fairness, that matter would be more appropriately addressed by that committee rather than this one. We are running tight on time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: That committee will have to make its own decisions on its work programme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: The Senator is a member of that committee. Indeed, we can all be members of any committee. As such, we can attend the transport committee's hearings on this matter. Each committee has been directed to have a specific public meeting to go through the recommendations relating to its sector and to progress them. My suggestion is for the Senator to contribute to that hearing and ensure that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I understand that the four-day working week is being considered by the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. That responsibility would have been our predecessor committee's, but responsibility has been transferred to the Tánaiste's Department. Are we happy enough to proceed along these lines? To address Deputy Paul Donnelly's points, because we are now in a level 5...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Absolutely. I must lay down the caveat that we will only have two hours to discuss the Revised Estimate. I will not guillotine any debate on an Estimate as I do not believe we should do so. This may mean that we may have to revisit the issue. We must have a break of at least 24 hours between meetings to consider Estimates because of the Covid-19 restrictions. I will be far more rigid in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: No, there is a select committee meeting on Monday week and the joint committee will meet in public session on Wednesday, 18 November. I thank members for their time.

River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I wish to share time with Deputy Canney.

River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I welcome and fully support the objective behind the Bill. Having worked with the then Ministers of State, Deputy Canney and Kevin Boxer Moran, regarding the Shannon flood risk State agency co-ordination working group, as some of the State agencies in the group came under my responsibility when I was Minister, I know at first hand the challenges that exist and exactly what the Minister has...

Data Protection Act 2018 (section 60(6)) (Central Bank of Ireland) Regulations 2020: Motion (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: The Minister of State is making the argument for me. I thank him.

Data Protection Act 2018 (section 60(6)) (Central Bank of Ireland) Regulations 2020: Motion (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the opportunity to speak briefly on this matter and to say we will support the amendment the Minister of State has tabled. I understand the complexity here is that the Minister of State has to come back before the House for its approval before the statutory instrument can be enacted. It would be useful if the same mechanism could be used regarding some of the Covid-19 regulations,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: We need to use Irish data to inform Irish decisions and not continue to rely on NPHET advice, which is based on what the EU health authorities are saying. Managing the virus in France and Germany is very different to a rural island in western Europe. The tools used by EU colleagues to tackle the virus may also be very different to the tools that would be used in Ireland that could allow our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: The problem with lockdowns is we do not know which bits work and which do not. While they do contain the spread of a virus, they also impose huge costs on communities, businesses and, most important, individuals. The costs imposed by the recent move to level 5, including a major increase in unemployment, the removal of social outlets for most of us, and the possible permanent closure of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I have no doubt it will improve the marketing position but that will only benefit the processors and not the primary producers. I am not sure how successful this application will be because the only ones promoting suckler beef are the European Commission itself and, disappointingly, not Bord Bia or the Irish Government. On 22 September, the Minister gave me a reply to a parliamentary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: To be clear, I record my objection. I may be a single voice in this regard but it will not benefit Irish farmers and it had the opportunity to do that. The Minister is giving €6 million to Bord Bia, an organisation that advised the Minister's predecessor that suckler beef did not have a resonance in Europe and yet was able to apply for EU funding because it was not prepared to put...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 34. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of plans for specific designation EU protected geographical indication, PGI, status for Irish beef; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33289/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: PGI status was an opportunity to develop a premium price suckler beef product but the goal of the meat industry was to shoehorn as much beef as possible into the PGI label. Now the farm organisations have disappointingly bought into that approach.I believe this approach is the final nail in the coffin of the suckler beef industry here and contradicts the motion that was accepted by the...