Results 5,261-5,280 of 7,412 for speaker:Neasa Hourigan

Public Accounts Committee: Mental Health Services - Financial Statements 2020 (10 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I know I am out of time but, just to be clear, the Department has no concerns about the procurement process, the spending of capital assets where there is no planning permission in place and the closure of a functioning facility?

Public Accounts Committee: Mental Health Services - Financial Statements 2020 (10 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: There is no accountability between the Department and the HSE for such a decision. The Department will not hold the HSE to account. Is that what Mr. Hempenstall is telling me?

Public Accounts Committee: Mental Health Services - Financial Statements 2020 (10 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: The building is no more unsuitable than all of the other buildings in the area. There is no rhyme or reason for closing Owenacurra and spending huge amounts of money on other congregated settings which are absolutely in contrast and contradiction to our national policies. If the Department will not hold completely opaque decision-making of the HSE to account, who will?

Public Accounts Committee: Mental Health Services - Financial Statements 2020 (10 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: The answers do not add up. Where is the accountability? Will the Department hold the HSE to account?

Public Accounts Committee: Mental Health Services - Financial Statements 2020 (10 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: This is not in their best interests.

Public Accounts Committee: Mental Health Services - Financial Statements 2020 (10 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: That is their view. From the point of a rights-based provision of care, their view is very important as it happens.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: 78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the forms of assistive technology available to students sitting their leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12676/22]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Apologies have been received from Deputy Pearse Doherty. To limit the risk of spreading Covid-19, the service encourages all Members, visitors and witnesses to continue to wear face masks when moving around the campus or when in close proximity to others and to be respectful of other people's physical space, and they are also asked to adhere to any other public health advice. Before we...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Dr. McQuinn. I now open the floor to members, beginning with Deputy Patricia Ryan.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank the Deputy. I call Deputy O’Donnell.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I am mindful we scheduled the meeting with the ESRI before the Russian crisis and Ukraine war truly began. Inevitably, the conversation has moved that way and I apologise for that. It is something that is out of our control. Deputy Healy-Rae had it right when he said it is very difficult to talk about anything else at the moment because what we are seeing on screens and on our desks is so...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I understand this may be forecasting beyond what we can do, but if we were to see that kind of impact, what would our guests estimate the type of impact on interest rates would be? I know interest rates are currently at an historic low. What percentage rate would they expect to see resulting from that kind of impact?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: A state default rather than any other type.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Professor McQuinn. That kind of sets me up for my next set of questions, which relate to interest rates. I have another question before we move off the topic of Russia. I am not an economist so it might be a slightly stupid question, but if there is a state default, will firms such as those in the IFSC necessarily default? Will they have to cease trading or do they not necessarily...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Dr. McQuinn for clearing that up for me. I want to ask about interest rates. Dr. McQuinn's opening statement referred to the significant cost of the pandemic and the Government's stated plans for expenditure levels. Dr. McQuinn mentioned a paper by Furman and Summers, which I went away and read. Obviously, it is an American paper. I am not an economist, but from what I can gather...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: Based on that, Furman and Summers suggest the debt-GDP ratio standard we have had can be a bit misleading. I am not sure if the ESRI or the Furman and Summers paper itself gave the example of borrowing for a mortgage and accruing equity in a home. The suggestion is we need a new conversation about investing to accrue assets and value.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Dr. McQuinn for that. It outlines it really well for me. I understand the level of disruption the Ukraine situation brings to the debate. Leaving aside the level of disruption and uncertainty war brings, if we see a corresponding change in interest rates, does Dr. McQuinn believe that would negate that thesis or will it simply be a temporary effect and over time interest rates will...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Stability Programme Update Scrutiny: Economic and Social Research Institute (9 Mar 2022)

Neasa Hourigan: That is very helpful. I thank Dr. McQuinn. Page 4 of the submission reads, "Preliminary estimates from the ... (ECB) indicate that the conflict could reduce economic output in the Euro area by up to 0.4 per cent this year." I am interested in the next sentence which reads, "Previous modelling work done using ... the largescale macro-econometric model of the Irish economy ... indicate[s] a...