Results 7,461-7,480 of 8,745 for speaker:Verona Murphy

Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: The introduction of the property tax and its predecessor, the household charge, has been controversial; most obviously, around the time of their respective introductions. It perhaps ranks alongside the universal social charge as the most controversial of taxation measure in recent times. Those things were introduced in a time of financial crisis. Unfortunately, we may be at the beginning...

Long-Term Residential Care: Motion [Private Members] (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: I thank Sinn Féin for moving this motion, which gives us the opportunity to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on nursing homes. There has been repeated reference in recent months to the nursing homes scandal, which became evident during our response to Covid-19. We have heard the number of deaths and, as Deputies have stated, over 2,000 nursing home residents are considered to be in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: The issue is capacity when the numbers start to grow. We have had an average of approximately 600 cases per day over the past week. When we had 234 contact tracers, we were seeing 1,200 cases per day. I appreciate that officials were able to handle what happened in Dungarvan with the test, trace and isolate system. I am asking about what happens in future, when we get above 1,200 cases...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: 34. To ask the Minister for Health the current capacity of the Covid-19 test, trace and isolate system; the number of contact tracers currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37673/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: Will the Minister detail the current capacity of our Covid-19 test, trace and isolate system, state what number of contact tracers are place and give us details on these matters?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: I thank the Minister. On 8 May 2020 I requested from the Tánaiste a road map for testing and tracing. He was acting Taoiseach at that time and said he would indeed ask the HSE to produce a road map and on 14 May we saw the road map. He said: Our mission is to get people back to work, get businesses open again and get the economy humming so that we have the resources we need to build...

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: I am. Can you not see me, Chairman?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: I thank to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board representatives for appearing today. I am not in line with Deputy Carroll MacNeill's questioning simply because, as Mr. Gunning said, his focus is to deliver the hospital. My focus as a member of the Committee of Public Accounts and as an elected representative is to try to make sense of it from the perspective of the public...

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: There are no competitors.

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: The question I asked Mr. Gunning was about the reasoning behind it. The difference is that there are no competitors. This is about public information, accountability and transparency for the spending of public moneys. As Mr. Gunning is going to persist in not giving me an answer, I will not persist in asking him on that basis but I believe there is an absolute obfuscation in respect of the...

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: Has a chairperson being appointed?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: Does Mr. Gunning believe that is inhibiting the ability of the board to perform on this project?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: Mr. Gunning is happy that the board has the critical skills and expertise to deliver. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: The moratorium Mr. Gunning spoke of was due to expire in June. Has that been extended?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: The problem I have relates to the actual effect of Covid-19. How long was the lockdown on the site?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: I am interested to know how it transpired that it led to a 14-month extension of the project.

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: Will there be any penalty to the contractor? If the shutdown is for seven weeks and the contractors did not return for 15 weeks, is there a penalty incurred by the contractor?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: My initial question about commercial sensitivity over public accountability should have been directed to Ms Prendergast. How is the Department able to balance commercial sensitivity with public accountability?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: Does Ms Prendergast believe that commercial sensitivity, even where there are no competitors, is trumping the fact that we should be able to be transparent about public expenditure in this regard?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Verona Murphy: I do not accept that. I will move on. The HSE, on behalf of the Government, commissioned a report from PwC to conduct a review to comprehend the reasons for the cost escalation associated with the children's hospital construction project. In the report, PwC identified a number of residual risks that if not managed could lead to additional costs. One of those risks was inflation. I am not...