Results 841-860 of 3,113 for speaker:James O'Connor

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (25 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: Thank you very much. I ask as well that we add the Department of equality and integration to our list for later in the spring, and Inland Fisheries Ireland. Is that agreed? That completes consideration of the work programme.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (25 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: Yes, Chair. Of course we had our meeting with Uisce Éireann some time ago. I asked a number of questions about its vaccination programme for workers. Given the work Irish Water does, it can be highly dangerous work in terms of contaminated water and wastewater. During that meeting we received some information which I believe to be factually incorrect around Irish Water's vaccination...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (25 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peace Commissioners (25 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: 18. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Peace Commissioners can sign all passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3391/24]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: 65. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an overview of the passport service for Cork applicants in 2023; how many passports issued to applicants from Cork and how this compared to 2022; the number of outstanding applications for passports currently awaiting processing for Cork applicants at the end of 2023 and how this compared to the end of 2022; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: 102. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for an update on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in Cork. [3383/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (24 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: 110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to review correspondence (details supplied); if she will address the issues outlined and provide an update as to when this school will receive the ICT grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3118/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: 113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected timeline for a decision on an application for capital funding, under the additional school accommodation scheme, from a school (details supplied) for special class accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3153/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (23 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: 185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the issues outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2843/24]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Archaeological Sites (23 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: 229. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will carry out an assessment of a recorded archaeological monument in County Cork (details supplied); if this structure is suitable for a future planned works programme owing to a decline in the structure of same; if it would be possible for the local authority to apply for funding under the community monuments fund for repair...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: I welcome everyone here this morning and this afternoon. The first question I want to ask is about the overpayments. Looking through the file and chapter 15 on the rising social welfare payments, there seems to be a consistent issue where around €100 million to €125 million has been paid out. It is put down to further evidence being gathered and people owing money back. I...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: The Department has accrued a debt then of €495 million, which is what is owed in outstanding welfare payments and overpayments. One could argue the point that those who are in receipt of it are also in most need. It is regrettable that such an issue should occur in the first instance because, obviously, we see it in our constituency meetings with constituents where this type of...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: It is €25 billion; I apologise. That is why it does annoy me. I think the euro is very cruel. I know we have to draw a line somewhere, but it keeps coming up. If you go through the representations from Members of the Oireachtas and how many responses have been sent back - a single euro - it is so mean. It is wrong.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: I will accept that-----

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: One of the most breathtaking statistics of 2022 was around immigration and payments for Ukrainians. I know it has been a difficult task for the Department but there is one irreconcilable statistic, which is that the EU average for the increase in migration from Ukraine from September 2022 to September 2023 was 7.2% while in Ireland, it was 72.1%. I think Elaine Loughlin of the Irish...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: It is relevant to talk about our distance from Ukraine. Obviously Poland and neighbouring countries have taken in huge numbers and we acknowledge that.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: We have to be realistic here. The financial incentive is also something that is worth asking a question about.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: One of the reasons I am raising it is because it is deeply disturbing to see the rise of the far right and the political and social effect this is having. What has happened for the past couple of months is not in our nature. Obviously it does not relate to the 2022 accounts. What does relate to them is that staggering increase from September 2022 to September 2023 and, for want of a better...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: Were there discussions within the Department when this amount was being settled on - that it was too high or too low? How did the Department come to that decision in terms of advising the Minister and, ultimately, Cabinet? What was the background to that discussion?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (18 Jan 2024)

James O'Connor: What is happening is that bypassed accommodation is coming in to replace it. We have had instances in some constituencies. It is concerning when tensions are so high. I wanted to ask the questions because it is important that they are asked.