Results 41-60 of 134 for speaker:Tony McCormack

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Official Engagements (29 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: 33. To ask the Minister for Finance for a report on his attendance at the at the 2025 ILCU Conference. [27988/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (29 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: 53. To ask the Minister for Finance when the five-year strategy for the credit union sector will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27989/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (29 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: 114. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he agrees that it will be necessary to make choices and prioritise investments in sectors and programmes that boost our economic growth and competitiveness, while providing value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27986/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (29 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: 121. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if total capital investment to date in 2025 is on profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27987/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (29 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: 236. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the work of the Government Trade Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26985/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (29 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: 193. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any recent discussions with European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefcovic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26986/25]

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Uisce Éireann: Future Work Programme (28 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the witnesses for attending. I am the last person to ask questions today. Many of those I wanted to ask have already been asked, so I will try to go through the ones I have left. I hope I will not repeat questions that have been asked already. Capacity issues were mentioned in terms of various towns and villages across the country. If we look at what is happening in my own...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Uisce Éireann: Future Work Programme (28 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: There is a great deal of work being done within the Government to try to get people around the table in order to cut out bottlenecks and anything else that slows down the progress. We have to understand that housing is the number one infrastructure that needs to be delivered. Everything is being done within the Government to do that. The Government is listening to Uisce Éireann,...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Uisce Éireann: Future Work Programme (28 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: Are there temporary measures we can put in place? For instance, can builders put tanks in the ground for waste?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Uisce Éireann: Future Work Programme (28 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: This brings me back to value for money, which is very important to us as a Government but also to the public. We have seen situations where we did not get value for money. The fact that Uisce Éireann is looking for an extra €2 billion means it has more money in the coffers, but it will still only have the same number of suppliers or contractors doing the work for it. How will...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Uisce Éireann: Future Work Programme (28 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: Contractors will say they are making single-digit profits but sometimes it is probably a bit more than that in real terms. We will not get into that. Big salaries and so on. The project to take water from Parteen as far as Dublin is huge and very much needed. My ask is about the spurs relating to Tullamore and Mullingar. Uisce Éireann mentioned Mullingar. It is absolutely...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Uisce Éireann: Future Work Programme (28 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: The reasons for the issues with TB is because of moving soil and badgers’ dens. Badgers that have TB move around. When they do so, the disease spreads. That is what is happening. We have experienced this a lot with, for example, the installation of the greenways. In the 12 months after a greenway is installed, people in the relevant area would have had problems with TB. It will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: I welcome the Government's plans to make it easier and quicker for new teachers to become permanent - that is a positive step - but I ask the Government to also look at bringing in a rule that new permanent teachers must wait five years before taking a career break. Principals and teachers I have spoken to in County Offaly are very clear on this. Early career breaks are causing problems...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: I wish to highlight one example which reflects the broader issue. I refer to the sharp decline in the number of young farmers. Farming is still the backbone of rural life, in particular in Offaly, yet fewer young people see it as a viable future. They face high entry costs, housing challenges and limited local supports. This is not just about agriculture, it shows how rural Ireland is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: 72. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to address rural depopulation and encourage young people to remain in or return to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25970/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: What steps are being taken to address rural depopulation by encouraging young people to remain in, or return to, rural areas?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: The continuing loss of young people from rural areas like Offaly is deeply worrying. The truth is that we are educating our children to live elsewhere. We equip them with the skills, ambition and drive but the jobs, housing and services they need to build a future in the locality are not in place. This trend is affecting everything - from school enrolments to local businesses and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: 69. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the strategies being implemented to combat rural isolation, especially among the elderly population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25971/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the Minister for his response. I acknowledge the valuable progress made through initiatives, such as the Local Link service which has provided vital transport connectivity for rural communities and older people in particular. Rural ageing, however, must be placed more centrally within the Minister's Department agenda. Rural Ireland is ageing at a faster rate than urban centres...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Tony McCormack: Following up on this, I wish to highlight the decline of rural services such as shops, post offices and pubs has done more than hurt the local economy. It has deeply affected the social fabric of rural life. These were not just businesses but gathering points and places where older people in particular had a chance to interact, feel valued and maintain a sense of belonging. This role has...