Results 11,001-11,020 of 26,465 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: We can conclude this part of the meeting. Senator Conway-Walsh, you can continue then with Deputy McGrath. You are free to leave, Minister. Thank you very much.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: We may have a drink for free the next time, now the witness has mentioned it here in public session.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (20 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: 146. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) will be assessed and granted immediately. [31273/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (20 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: 215. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in arranging an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason an appointment arranged by Waterford Regional Hospital in a letter was not acted upon; the reason the numerous letters written by the person's general practitioner were not acknowledged; and if he will expedite the matter. [31221/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Staff (18 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: 125. To ask the Minister for Health the targets in place for child and adolescent mental health service teams staff levels in CHO 5 in 2017 to bring them closer to the target set in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30660/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (18 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: 197. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the lower rate of VAT is not being applied to the hire of suits, dresses, costumes and so on, as the hire is classified as a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30811/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (18 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: 251. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the huge disparity in school costs which exists form school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents in having to provide funding for a free primary education system, as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million. [30551/16]

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: Budget 2017 is a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. The money has been spread too thinly across the economy and citizens have not really gained that much financially. The other shocking part about the budget is that it makes no effort to deal with the structural issues we all face in constituencies and which are, therefore, faced by citizens. The €5 increase in social...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Joint Committee (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: I open the meeting by setting our decision on EU proposals for noting on the public record. The committee has agreed that COM (2016) 461, proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulation (EU) No. 345/2013 on European venture capital funds and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds, warrant further scrutiny.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Election of Vice Chairman (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: I propose Senator Gerry Horkan for election as Vice Chairman of the joint committee. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: Today, we are dealing with the further scrutiny of EU legislative proposals and a review of the methodology for calculating national economic output employed by the CSO. At its meeting on 29 September, the joint committee agreed that EU legislative proposals COM (2016) 551 and COM (2016) 557, relating to the collection of statistical data on social issues, including gender violence,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: In addition to discussing the CSO's reservations on the EU legislative proposals outlined above, the joint committee agreed to engage with the CSO on the methodology it employs for calculating national economic output. I welcome Mr. Pádraig Dalton, Director General of the CSO, to today's meeting to discuss these topics. Before we begin, I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: And votes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: I want to go back to a point raised by Senators Horkan and Conway-Walsh on the insurance industry. Insurance Ireland tells us it holds a significant amount of information on the industry, which is available. Is it within the remit of the CSO to conduct a survey on issues relative to motor insurance, including the reasons for the hike and the type of claims being made, including the 70% on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: What gives the CSO the right to take the transport sector, write to everyone involved in transport and ask them to fill in the information?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: The CSO feels it might not have that order regarding the insurance industry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: If that order were in place, it would enable the CSO to engage with brokers, insurance companies and insurance houses. It would be able to do all of this and collect the data that would give us the information on the claims settled by going to court, without going to court and so on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: The regulator in this case is the Central Bank, and it does not have the information. We have not been able to extract the information from all of the players who came before the committee to discuss insurance. The hard data that are required to influence policy on this or to be able to put information out into the public domain for those who might want to enter the market to analyse, are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: That is the point I am making. We are told there are databases in the control of Insurance Ireland that would be helpful to the ministerial group of which the Central Statistics Office is part and this committee. The Central Statistics Office, as a reputable organisation, is the appropriate body to carry out such an analysis which should be general. The questionnaires sent to businesses are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

John McGuinness: Ultimately, the CSO cannot do it because it is not within its remit to do so. Is that the position?