Results 6,481-6,500 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Aggressive Begging from a Public Order Perspective: Discussion (3 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: I welcome our guests. This issue has arisen a number of times in my constituency, particularly in Malahide and Swords. The witnesses all have a great deal of experience of the issue based on their submission that I have just flicked through. I missed the contributions from some of my colleagues. However, based on the references made, there is a clear need for an evidence-based approach to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Aggressive Begging from a Public Order Perspective: Discussion (3 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: One of my frustrations is the reluctance of gardaí to do anything. Over the past almost four years I have had perhaps half a dozen complaints specific to my constituency - I have had others over the operation of what are commonly known as "chuggers". The aggressive element I came across on Mountjoy Square in August 2011 was a particularly difficult set of circumstances, involving a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Aggressive Begging from a Public Order Perspective: Discussion (3 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: ----- if the Chairman and the Government would allow it. As part of any alteration to existing legislation, would the witnesses propose any additional items not contained in the 2011 Act which could be introduced to assist businesses, particularly pubs and restaurants, which at the end of the day, are the ones suffering most?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Rate (3 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: 6. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on introducing additional legislation or a ministerial order on or before the revaluation date for the local property tax for the purposes of ensuring that Dublin and regional cities are not overly burdened with property tax in view of the prices in the capital and regional cities rising at a far higher rate than the 15% discount available to local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: 107. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on allowing Irish Water to fall under the remit of the Commission for Energy Regulation for the purposes of handling customer complaint referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40944/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Child Care Costs (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: 173. To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the high cost of child care facing many families throughout the country, his views on implementing tax relief for those faced with these costs; his plans to assist those who are struggling with these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45815/14]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tax Exemptions (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: 235. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on limiting the exposure of State supported schemes, such as the early childhood care education scheme, to the rates system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45814/14]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Farrell: 295. To ask the Minister for Defence the amount of funding provided to the Office of Emergency Planning in preparation for winter; the way this funding is being administered within the Office of Emergency Planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45816/14]

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: It must be worth saying one of the main purposes of the Bill, other than bolstering the authority of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, is to alleviate much of the uncertainty and concern in the public domain about An Garda Síochána. Unfortunately, the public perception of the force has been damaged in the past couple of years. We are familiar with the...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I welcome the contributions from the previous two speakers which I consider to be constructive and the Minister can speak for himself in that regard. It is heartening to hear Members being constructive on issues such as this because the purpose of this Bill is to attempt to reduce insurance premia so that the figures which Deputy Finian McGrath outlined of 250,000 leaving private health...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (27 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: 52. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way she will address the situation whereby young persons aged 24 and under, whose parents earn over the threshold, are ineligible to receive jobseeker's allowance, therefore cannot avail of Government supported work experience schemes and subsequently cannot gain employment due to their lack of experience; and if she will make a statement on...

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: The Deputy will have an opportunity to make another contribution as the proposer of an amendment.

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: Could Members leaving the Chamber please do so quietly?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: Given that we were aware of this at this time last year when preparing the Estimates for 2014, did we not put the figure in the budget for this year? Were we aware of this? That is a question in itself

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: The additional vehicles have to be welcomed. I am aware from the Minister’s responses to parliamentary questions and statements in the Dáil that continuous funding for additional vehicles to cater for the demand is absolutely necessary and welcome. The 400 vehicles mentioned in the explanatory note under A.5, pertaining to transport, are for 2015. Is the supplementary budget...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: My question relates to the income generated from GoSafe. I wish to know the total cost and the additional expenditure. If these figures were available, they would be helpful.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I have a question on foot of what the Minister has just said. If one uses the Green Schools initiative as a comparison and with which the Minister will be familiar from her constituency, I presume she is referring to something along those lines, whereby the SEAI direction and assistance is being provided to work toward savings in respect of insulation and so on, that is, the small things-----

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: -----that home owners would know all about.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: I am pleased that the Minister referred to the arbitrary number of 13,000 gardaí. I am not aware of any study, independent or otherwise, of the optimal number. To put it bluntly, the figure of 13,000 is probably more political than for any other reason. When it is available, I would very much welcome an opportunity to debate the Garda Inspectorate's report to which the Minister...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Farrell: That is correct. I am addressing that subhead. The ICT side includes HR and payroll functions. I accept that the sum of approximately €40 million will form a separate budget next year. Have additional moneys been allocated as part of the subhead within Vote 20 to begin the process and does it include payroll costs?