Results 13,101-13,120 of 36,748 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 184. To ask the Minister for Health if a letter of complaint sent to Letterkenny University Hospital by a person (details supplied) was received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40093/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Services Card (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Will the Minister outline why his Department insisted that a second form of access to the national childcare scheme be dropped, leaving parents with only the public services card as a means of accessing this scheme?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Services Card (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: It is not very convenient for parents.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Services Card (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister has been a cheerleader for the public services card. He has encouraged people to avail of it as a means of access to other public services in the areas of transport, passports, and many others. We have heard of the willingness to spend public money on promoting that idea. The Minister is, however, in a sticky situation. The Data Protection Commissioner has expressed in three...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Regulations (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his Department has issued guidance notes or made provision for the exclusion of economic operators in procurement procedures for public contracts in circumstances in which the economic operator has shown significant or persistent deficiencies or failures in the performance of a prior public contract; and if he will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Regulations (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Our public procurement system is in need of urgent reform. We need a system that is green, promotes social justice and facilitates local wealth building. We need a procurement model that avoids the spending scandals that we have seen under this Government, most notably in relation to the national children's hospital and the national broadband plan. What provisions has the Department of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Regulations (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Earlier this year, the construction firm, Western Building Systems, was awarded a contract to deliver a 60 bed modular ward extension at University Hospital Limerick. This same construction firm was found to be responsible for structural defects in many of the 42 new schools that have been built in recent years. In August, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, said that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Regulations (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: This should simply never have happened. We have a company here which was involved in serious deficiencies in building schools where our children are educated. It went on to bid for and was awarded a contract to build a modular extension to University Hospital Limerick. The rules are very clear. I have read them aloud. The European Union (Award of Public Contracts) Regulation, which was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Expenditure (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I am a bit taken aback by the Minister's response. As stated, I am not looking for details in respect of the specific measure or the final figure; I am looking for a ballpark idea of his thinking on the level of investment needed for a no-deal Brexit. This would normally be set out in the summer economic statement or the spring economic statement, and the Minister is telling me he has not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Expenditure (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 69. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the additional expenditure that will be committed for sector-specific mitigation measures in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39626/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Expenditure (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: The recent proposals by the British Government to impose a belt of customs checks on either side of the British border on our island is testament to the disregard they have for the peace process that has been built on this island but it is also probably a sign of their disregard for other matters. It is a wake-up call to businesses, given the impact on the economy and jobs as a result of a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Expenditure (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I am aware of all that. As I said, I am not asking for the Minister to itemise the measures or to give figures down to the cent. However, sure to God, despite the fact there are negotiations ongoing, the Minister can tell us whether the Brexit contingency fund he proposes to announce this day next week is in the region of €100 million, €200 million, €300 million,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Carbon Tax Implementation (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 67. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projected additional expenditure that will be committed to climate action measures; the way in which it will be ring-fenced for that purpose from an increased revenue from carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39625/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Carbon Tax Implementation (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Next week's budget, which is being brought forward by the Government and Fianna Fáil, is on course to increase carbon taxes on households. Research has shown that this tax is regressive. I am sure the Minister will not dispute that. Research has shown it will hit families on the lowest incomes hardest without effecting behavioural change. In next week's budget, how much additional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Carbon Tax Implementation (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I am glad the Minister is aware that the tax he is proposing is regressive. Let us remind ourselves of what the ESRI's June report stated in the context of carbon taxes. The author stated categorically, "Carbon taxation is found to be regressive, with poorer households spending a greater proportion of their income on the tax than more affluent households." The report goes on to state that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Carbon Tax Implementation (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: If the Minister is talking about ring-fencing this tax, does he have the necessary statutory instruments to allow him to do so? It has not been done before. Hypothecation is not done in the context of the tax code. We have heard the Taoiseach talking about how the money is going to be ring-fenced. Is it going to be ring-fenced? Does the Minister have a statutory instrument to ring-fence...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Carbon Tax Implementation (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Carbon pricing can play a very important role but only when the alternative is there for citizens to actually change behaviour. The problem is that someone from west Donegal or Gaoth Dobhair, where the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is from, does not have the alternative of jumping on public transport - either a bus or a train - and travelling to the capital city or other parts of the county. We...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Properties (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I have already asked parliamentary questions on this matter. The replies are clear that Green REIT will not pay the 6% stamp duty on this transaction. Instead, it can avail of a loophole in the tax code that will allow it to pay 1%. The latter means that the taxpayer is being screwed over to the tune of €67 million on foot of this one transaction. This is a structure which does not...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Properties (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the rent paid by the Office of Public Works for the rental of properties (details supplied) in each of the years 2014 to 2018, inclusive, and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39622/19]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Properties (1 Oct 2019)

Pearse Doherty: The Office of Public Works, OPW, has paid Green REIT €10.5 million to rent 85 to 93 Lower Mount Street and €5 million to rent a property in Harcourt Street since 2014. Given the lenient tax structure and treatment, which is backing up this international investors group, which is pricing families and domestic businesses out of the market, I ask the Minister why the Government,...