Results 7,041-7,060 of 7,412 for speaker:Neasa Hourigan

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: Apologies have been received from Deputies Canney and Doherty. Before we begin I remind all of those in attendance to ensure their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off. From the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council I welcome Mr. Sebastian Barnes, Dr. Martina Lawless, Ms Dawn Holland, Professor Michael McMahon and Dr. Eddie Casey. I thank them for making themselves available to the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: We can, yes.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: Yes, we can hear Mr. Barnes.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Mr. Barnes. I will begin our first round of questions with the primary speakers from each party who have nine minutes each for answers and questions. I call Deputy O'Donnell.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: I have some questions. I will take the Green Party slot. I want to come back to the non-voted expenditure, which Mr. Barnes said is approximately 20% of spending. He will forgive my ignorance but when it comes to something like commercial semi-State bodies, which I presume are bodies such as ESB, he indicated that there has been quite an increase over the past period. Could he unpack that...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: One of the reasons we wanted to have this session today was because we are carrying out a review of how budgetary oversight works and we are trying to put in place a fully verifiable and robust structure for that. The idea that we could have a 20% spend like that one, particularly by commercial semi-State bodies, and not fully understand where those decisions are being made and where it is...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank Mr. Barnes. In answers to numerous questions from Deputies, we have discussed the issue around debt targets and GNI*, which is GDP. It sounds to me that Mr. Barnes is recommending that our Government set a domestic debt target. That is so much about our borrowing and debt management in conjunction with our EU partners. How does that interact with our EU commitments? What does Mr....

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: That is interesting. We have heard the idea of the standstill scenario time and again in our work in the past few months. I have another question but I will open the floor to the other Deputies first. Has Deputy Patricia Ryan a second question?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Post-Budget Analysis: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (8 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: We could stay here asking questions for a long time because it is a fascinating area but we are at our two-hour limit. I thank Mr. Barnes. Dr. Lawless, Ms Holland, Professor McMahon and Dr. Casey for attending here today. I hope we will be in close contact with them over the next few months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (3 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: 294. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the restrictions that exist to prevent universities unilaterally without prior notice or agreement increasing fees for students who have already commenced a course of study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40795/20]

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Support Services (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: 26. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the face-to-face employment support services available to the Roma community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40581/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: 85. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the face-to-face social services available to the Roma community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40579/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Traveller-Roma Integration Strategy (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: 94. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the face-to-face services available to the Roma community during Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40580/20]

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: I welcome the position from the Minister that all new contracts should be Sláintecare contracts. That is a positive development. I will go back to the Supplementary Estimates. I will bounce around a bit so I hope that is okay. On section 4.3(7), overseas treatment, there was a €74.1 million overseas treatment estimated spend and the current Estimates have a €32...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: Are we rolling the money over?

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: Okay, great. Section 4.2 of the briefing document relates to Brexit preparation. The Minister will excuse my ignorance. I am trying to get to grips with these Supplementary Estimates. My interpretation of the wording is that the section implies there is a pot of money to look at things like ports and airports, to which the Department has contributed €7.116 million along with other...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: Is that physical infrastructure?

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: I understand. Given that there are some shared treatment services across the island, I wonder if there is a separate fund dealing with some of those issues. I guess the one I am particularly thinking of is the human milk bank in Enniskillen, which is one of the few examples of a shared-island service that really works. They supply 22 neonatal units across the country. They organise an...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: Yes, I would welcome that. Palliative care is covered in the briefing document. We have all probably been contacted by constituents who, unfortunately, have been unable to be with their loved ones as they pass away, some due to Covid and some due to whatever conditions they have as normal. The once-off funding, as outlined, is hugely welcome and is desperately needed. That is fantastic....

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2020)

Neasa Hourigan: Might we see that rolled out to hospital settings in 2021, although not that specific funding?