Results 921-940 of 2,486 for speaker:Patricia Ryan

Drugs Policy: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I also thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin and the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. Over the past 25 years, almost ten people a week have died in the State as a result of drug taking. Along with Sweden, Ireland has the joint highest rate of drug-induced deaths among those aged 16 to 64 years in the European Union. Deputy Martin Kenny already mentioned that. The harmful...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I thank the witnesses. I want to start by asking about the most recent survey by the Central Statistics Office. Its focus was income and living conditions. It suggests that the number of people in Ireland suffering enforced deprivation has risen sharply from 13.8% last year to 17.1% in 2022. What action does Mr. Barnes feel is necessary to negate the effects of rising energy and food costs?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: If I could follow on from that, in the context of the budget, we talked about permanent measures that are there to benefit middle and high earners, more so than the temporary measures which were primarily targeted at low-income households. Does Mr. Barnes think we will need more supports for lower earners in the coming months? If so, where does he feel they should be targeted, or can he...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: What is the best way to mitigate against the depletion of the rainy day fund due to inflation? Would it make more sense to spend it on more long-term projects?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: It is my fault.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I will finish with this because we are against the clock. The council previously recommended that multi-annual budgeting would be of significant benefit in the context of medium-term planning. Are there any examples of best practice in that regard in other countries?

COP27: Statements (29 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: The war in Ukraine has brought home the risks of dependence on volatile fossil fuels. The floods in Pakistan, the drought in the Horn of Africa, and European heatwaves and flash floods, have given us a glimpse of what the future looks like if we do not make significant progress. The Government must take bold action, reduce energy poverty and wean the country off fossil fuels and it must be...

Forestry: Statements (24 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: Like many policy areas, the crisis within the forestry sector has increasingly worsened under this Government. We have a target to achieve 18% forest cover by 2050. While the Government set a target of 8,000 ha of new forestry each year, it has only achieved 25% to 30% of the target each year to date. COFORD advises that 16,000 ha of annual afforestation is required to achieve our...

Abuse at Certain Educational Institutions: Statements (24 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: Over 230 people have made allegations of abuse against 77 Irish Spiritans in ministries across the island and other countries where the order operates. A large proportion of the allegations were from pupils of Blackrock College. Further allegations of sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders, including Castleknock College, have emerged in recent days. I commend the survivors on...

Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: Otto von Bismarck said that politics is the art of the possible. We saw what was suddenly possible during the pandemic when the rule book went out the window and hospitals were effectively nationalised. It was suddenly clear to the Government that it was not possible to exist on the basic rates of social welfare. While I welcome recent discussions around linking social welfare rates to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I asked a parliamentary question in June about the number of dentists accepting medical cards. The answer I received was that just one dentist in Laois is accepting cards. This is one public dentist for a county with a population of 90,000 people. In Kildare eight dentists have left the scheme over the past year with just 28 submitting claims in May. I am inundated with people looking for...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I apologise for being late. I welcome our guests. I was in another meeting. I will ask two consecutive questions because I am aware of the time constraints. My constituency is blighted with dereliction. If we look at any of the towns like Portarlington, Athy, Rathangan or Monasterevin, there are buildings that have been derelict for more than 20 years. I really want to know about...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: To be fair, the housing crisis is so bad at the moment that bringing any houses that we can into use is vital. That is why I am asking whether the members of the IFA are up for doing all of that. I take on board what the witnesses are saying and thank them both, but we need to see some houses. That is the current problem.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I thank both witnesses.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I will attend the next session online.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I thank our guests. I will ask a pair of consecutive questions because I am aware of the time and the Chair has not had an opportunity to ask questions. The guest and accommodation tax was introduced and ring-fenced for the maintenance and development of cultural or tourism sites. Would the witnesses from the IHF and ITIC agree with such a measure? The other question relates to the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: Does Mr. Fenn support the introduction of a site value tax in place of commercial rates?

Declaration of a Housing Emergency: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I see the Minister of State got the short straw again this evening. It seems to be a common thread. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is missing every time I talk about housing. The dogs in the street know the Government is presiding over a crisis in housing. Whether we call it an emergency, a crisis, a mess or a disaster, it all adds up to the same thing. In the words of President...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Patricia Ryan: I thank Ms Kavanagh and Ms Aspell for being here. It is lovely to see them. Like the Senator I will ask my questions consecutively to save on time. Well done to the officials for achieving their targets, which admittedly are relatively low. I wonder how much more the council could deliver given the right tools. What would it need to deliver them? I have been approached by landlords...