Results 4,861-4,880 of 7,412 for speaker:Neasa Hourigan

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: To finish this point, regarding mitigating cost increases and delays, what can we do in this context? Language is used regarding an effort being made to mitigate cost increases and delays. Is it envisaged that it would be the contractors doing that themselves? The Department is not necessarily working on speeding up supply chains or anything like that because of the nature of the costs.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Okay. I thank Mr. Kinnane. I have a quick question about the SWITCH system. We talked a little about this today and good examples were given of the various groups included in this context. We are in an incredibly volatile moment. I wonder about the Department's confidence in the SWITCH system's ability to respond to situations of particular groups. I am thinking specifically about child...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: It is calibrated.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Mr. Cullen wishes to come in.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Yes, I know it does not. This is my point.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: The point I wish to make is this. During the last Government, this committee did a piece of work on gender equality, of which the witnesses are aware. There are well-being indicators in the programme for Government. Both these initiatives are worthwhile. The witnesses have all done work on this and I know they are aware of these aspects. The Departments have done excellent work on this,...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I am aware this is not only in the sphere of these two Departments. We are relying on sectoral Departments to do the work and almost report back. The witnesses could encourage them to do that. Ms Callaghan wants to come in.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I take that point. I am not denying that work goes on. My question relates to that process of the budget and what we end up talking about on budget day. I have found that what gets measured at the core of things is often what gets changed. It is noticeable that on budget day what we talk about often is the switch model and not necessarily gender equality budgeting.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: It is always the marginal changes that make the headlines.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: After we have our own session, perhaps we can get back to the witnesses and have some thoughts on that. As there are no other speakers, it only remains for me to thank all the witnesses for giving their time. It is late in the evening and I appreciate they being here. The select committee will meet in private session next Wednesday and we will meet officials from the Department of Public...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Recent Cost-of-Living Measures: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I have a final question. I am aware we are already in the budget 2023 cycle. As we move further into that process, I presume all the witnesses are working very hard on the cost of living issue. It is very volatile and there is much social pressure, both political and worldwide, to address it. This committee will be working on the issue of tax expenditure in the next few weeks. With the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I will stay with the issue of "clinically appropriate", if I can. I would agree with Deputy Shortall that what we need is something that relates to the actual documentation. Correspondence between the committee and the Minister and his officials would not be something that in 200 years or 150 years will be laid before a court as legally binding. I am incredibly disappointed by the phrase...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I do not mean to cut across the Minister but it is not only religion. The institutions of the State, in the Department of Health and in the HSE, have also let down women. I understand the idea of listening to clinicians but Savita Halappanavar died under clinical care. Therefore, it has to be more than locating this in religious ethos.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: No, I am sorry, I just want the Minister to accept the point that there is enough ambiguity in the term to pose a problem in the long term for governance. Is there a way for the Minister now, without delaying the project, to bridge that gap in order that he can provide people with some kind of confidence that is not the case? This should be more than what is there right now, because what is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: We have heard a number times in this session already that some of these phrases appear a number of times throughout the documentation. However, I want to move onto another------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: We need something that is included in the deal, in the documents and that has legal standing. A correspondence to this committee does not bear that kind of legal weight, as far as I am aware but I am not a legal professional. It would have to be something that in the 298th year they can still point to. I want to move on to the business case. I am aware that the business case is still...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: That is still an extra €300 million or €400 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Okay, but can the Minister accept that the figure of €800 million is floating around? A contractor who knows that this project will be coming out for tender and will know that the actual costs of the construction build for the building at €5,000 per square metre will be €275 million. We have now inflated and almost doubled the cost of the hospital ourselves before we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Is it correct that the decision has not been taken at Cabinet level but we have moved ahead with the car park and we have spent the €50 million?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (11 May 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Would it be normal for a Department to bring such a large project to Cabinet without the business case being signed off on?