Results 1,321-1,340 of 5,573 for speaker:Paul McAuliffe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: We are meeting to discuss the local and European elections in 2024 and the subsequent general election. From the Electoral Commission, we are joined by Mr. Art O'Leary, chief executive, Mr. Carey, head of electoral operations, Dr. Mary-Clare O'Sullivan, head of electoral integrity and research, and Ms Karen Kehily, head of corporate services. From the Department of Housing, Local Government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I note it is Mr. O'Leary's second appearance at the committee in two weeks and I believe he was also at another committee the previous week. He is doing his best to stay in the room and is always welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: The first slot is Fianna Fáil's, which I will take. That is not an abuse of the Chair but our standard rota. I see the Chair arriving; he might take a seat and I will continue. After decades of the Electoral Commission being spoken about, many members were very pleased that this was one of the first legislative items we dealt with. It is very welcome and gives us an opportunity to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I ask witnesses not to abuse the time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I thank Mr. Ryan. I call Mr. O'Leary.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: As we conclude proceedings, I wish to take a second to acknowledge the shocking incident that took place today in Dublin city. I know the thoughts of the Members and staff here in the House are with those involved, their families, the emergency services and the hospital staff who came to their assistance.

Report of Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Motion (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: As no other Members are indicating, the Minister of State has ten minutes to close the debate followed by the proposer for ten minutes.

Report of Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Motion (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Let the Minister of State speak.

Report of Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Motion (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: It was an accident. The Minister of State still has five minutes. I apologise.

Report of Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Motion (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I apologise to the Minister of State for that. I am sure she has no objections if Deputy McGuinness takes additional time.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I thought I was after the Independent Group but I am always happy to speak on a €2.3 billion package. That is what is before us. It is worth acknowledging the scale of the intervention in terms of the social welfare budget. There will always be criticism in this House about political priorities. Yet, the ESRI is a respected body and even its independent analysis states that the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: As our party's spokesperson on social protection, I am proud of the roll-out of the hot school meals programme and in particular the roll-out to DEIS areas. As the Tánaiste will know, until September, special schools were not included in the hot school meals programme. While expressions of interest were extended in September for 111 special schools, we have yet to see a full roll-out....

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I apologise to Dr. O’Reardon. I was at another committee, so I am in great danger of asking him questions someone has already asked. It will just give him the opportunity to answer them better the second time. I wish Dr. O’Reardon well in the Department. The establishment of a Department of higher education was a key demand in our negotiations on the programme for...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: That would deal with the accounting error.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: My concern is that there is an emerging deficit, one that might in some way be linked to student numbers. If so, it would be worrying. One would have thought that the amalgamation of several bodies would lead to some degree of cost savings and to them using one another’s resources. However, it now appears that we have an increased number of staff and reduced student numbers.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I understand. As Dr. O'Reardon says, it is an ongoing piece of work and something to which we, as a committee, will return more directly with the HEA. For a Department that is promoting higher education, a reduction in numbers of students would be disappointing, particularly in an institution that was more than well placed to take advantage of the technical universities legislation at a...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I heard that point.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: There is a key role in trying to promote apprenticeships. As a spokesperson on housing, I can say we absolutely need more availability in that pool. Given there is such a vocational base in that college, it might be that it experiences a reduction if there is a greater flow of people into the apprenticeship pool. That is something for us to keep an eye on. I know TUD has a...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Nov 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I agree with Deputy O'Connor's proposal to invite the FAI, the Department and Sport Ireland to a meeting. I am particularly interested in exploring the issue of the Covid resilience funding. There is very much a feeling at club level that this funding never filtered down. I would like to explore some of the details as to how the Department ensured that the Covid money was distributed. If...