Results 7,721-7,740 of 9,368 for speaker:Verona Murphy

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Chapter 7 - Oversight of Funding for the European Capital of Culture 2020 (25 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: I can imagine. I assume that Covid has hampered matters but that the trial run at least is there. I thank the witnesses.

Covid-19: New Measures: Statements (24 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: In the first days of Covid, in February 2020, we were a country gripped by fear of a pandemic for which we were ill-prepared. The scenes from Europe alerted Government in Ireland that we did not have a plan to deal with a pandemic. The Government decided that to prevent the spread and allow it to prepare, time and money was needed. We locked down, private hospitals were taken over to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Work Permits (24 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: 180. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department sought access for employment permits to address the critical shortage of skills as part of the recruitment resolution to delivering home care support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57700/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fishing Industry (23 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: 187. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of inshore drift and draft net fishing licences that were relinquished in the 2005 decommissioning scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57063/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fishing Industry (23 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: 188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of inshore drift and draft net fishing licences that are still retained by licence holders as of the October 2021 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57064/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fishing Industry (23 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: 189. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a follow-up stock study has been carried out to ascertain if fish stocks for drift and draft net fishing licences have reached levels to allow fishing to resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57065/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fishing Industry (23 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: 190. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department will reintroduce the buy-out scheme in view of the fact that many continuing drift and draft net fishing licence holders are approaching retirement age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57066/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fishing Industry (23 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: 191. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the 16 years of inactivity will be included for pension purposes in view of the fact that those who retained their drift and draft net fishing licence have not been subsequently allowed to restart their fishing activities and earn their living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57067/21]

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: I welcome Dr. Quinn. On the aspect of microfinance there was a review of the Microfinance Ireland, MFI, loans between 2012 and 2021. Only 45 of those businesses availed of the second loan, to the tune of €56 million. A portion of the firms were recorded as having no employees. It seems that category reflected what were 770 firms that had ceased trading. When did they cease...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: Will Dr. Quinn check that and come back to the committee on it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: I thank Dr. Quinn. It is 22%, which is a spectacular figure overall.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: I appreciate that, but I am interested in where it says they had no employees. At what stage would that have been recognised? That is what I am interested in.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: Okay. It is just to have an overview and an understanding of it. Another issue, which probably is not to do with the accounts, relates to page 23 of the Department's Covid-19 and Brexit planning document, specifically the permits section of the Department and delivering employment permits. I understand the Department concentrated on the health sector, which I very much appreciate, and any...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: I would ask Dr. Quinn just to focus on the future plan.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: Does Dr. Quinn know, in her experience, whether the issue in regard to HGV driver permits is that the Department is hindered by the Department of Transport when it comes to the Road Safety Authority, RSA, clearing the actual licence requirement? Does her Department find that difficult?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: The Department deals with EU regulations. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: Spain, Italy and Portugal, for instance, have recognised the driving licence for drivers from Ukraine. We have an EU driving licence system, yet we cannot seem to get the RSA to make a move on that. What I have been hearing from colleagues, Deputies and people within the sector is that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has no difficulty granting the permits; the difficulty...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: I greatly appreciate that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: I appreciate that because ultimately it will fall back on the Exchequer and the economy if we end up without drivers.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes (18 Nov 2021)

Verona Murphy: It is, and it is very important for the country.