Results 5,561-5,580 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Semi-State Pensions: Discussion (25 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: Ms de Buitléir said most are affected by it. Is a certain grade of staff affected?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Semi-State Pensions: Discussion (25 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: I ask the question because my father was a bus driver and he got the old age pension and a tiny pension from CIÉ but I believe the grades above him - inspectors and so on - did not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Semi-State Pensions: Discussion (25 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: It is not a grade issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Semi-State Pensions: Discussion (25 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: A number of points jump out from the witnesses' presentations, such as that one fifth of the pensioners are on €12,000 a year. The statistics are startling and indicate a level of income poverty that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Semi-State Pensions: Discussion (25 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: Mr. Kelly made a startling comment, which is that having a freeze on one's pension for ten years is a big chunk of one's life when one is a pensioner. One does not have that many ten years left.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Semi-State Pensions: Discussion (25 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: If I could make one last comment, somebody said there has been lobbying on behalf of the companies and the employers' organisation. That is written all over this. I do not like to separate myself from the witnesses but the pensioners need to start lobbying harder and making their voices heard because these statistics and facts are stark. I echo what Deputy O'Dea said at the end of his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Semi-State Pensions: Discussion (25 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: What the witnesses have presented to us has been very useful and I thank them.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Film Industry Tax Reliefs (25 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: 19. To ask the Minister for Finance if the granting of section 481 status for film productions and his Department's role in sanctioning such production will be examined in view of concerns that budgets have been overestimated to avail of the scheme; the safeguards in place to ensure this does not happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39808/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: I wish to ask Mr. McCarthy if his report and the consideration relating to it were framed prior to or after the publication of the report of the International Panel on Climate Change, IPCC. I imagine that both were framed prior to the emergence of the latter report. What thoughts does he have on the impact of that report on his Department's activities, plans and targets? It has shocked all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: The opening statement refers to grants to applicants to provide home insulation services. I am only responding to the statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: It is up to Mr. McCarthy to say it does or does not apply.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: I am conscious of that too so I hope this last few seconds will be taken into account.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: I will also ask about the involvement of communities and the development of renewable energy. Does Mr. McCarthy have any thoughts on the idea of energy democracy, which is a widespread philosophy, as a way to engage local communities? Anybody who was looking at events surrounding the motion on plastics in the Dáil yesterday will realise that communities want to be fully engaged in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: I will rephrase the question. I probably did not make myself understood. Is there any possibility that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht can talk to each other and join the dots and make sure that whatever happens is in the interest of rural affairs and heritage? It seems to me there is a salami-type approach to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: Go raibh maith agaibh. That was very interesting. The OPW is undertaking a serious piece of work. I would like to ask the witnesses add-on questions and to look a little into the study the OPW has done on CFRAM. The first question I will ask them is the same one I asked the representatives of the previous group before us, namely, the Department of Rural and Community Development. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: What impact do the witnesses think that report will have on this programme? Does it ratchet up the seriousness and urgency of the investment proposed and the development of what the OPW is trying to do here, which is really interesting and worthwhile? I imagine that the report rang alarm bells that the OPW needed more investment and needed to do more, and sooner. I would like the witnesses...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: I did ask the question so-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: Can we measure that per scheme in overall or approximate terms? In other words, it would be a very good argument to make for increased investment if we can show that each investment saves us in the long run, both financially and otherwise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: In terms of the 118 schemes, is that cost analysis in terms of savings written down somewhere?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2018)

Bríd Smith: I thank Mr. Adamson.