Results 1,461-1,480 of 8,678 for speaker:Verona Murphy

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: Would external solicitors be involved in these things or is it just HR that is dealing with it internally?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: It was €130,000.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: If the Department saw a proposal that was costed at in or around €200,000, it would be happy enough.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: That is the development cost. I asked what would value for money in this regard be. Is the Department in agreement with that amount quoted in respect of value for money?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: Is there no consideration at all in the Department whether we get value for money?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: We saw where that got us now with the OPW paying €442,000 for a prefab.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: How does the Department look at it? Where do its representatives go to look at it?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: How is this figure for the development cost established? Does a developer just come in and say it is costing €200,000? I would probably have a good insight on the basis of it being a fact that once we go up in densities, etc., it is costly. At the same time, however, the Department has turned down a project priced at €130,000 per bed.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: I am sorry, but I do not understand. That would have been value for money then.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: Unfortunately, that is why we are where we are. It is the students who are being penalised.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: University of Limerick
Special Report No. 117 of the Comptroller Auditor General: University of Limerick Property Acquisitions in Limerick City (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: Well-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: I apologise but the bell is ringing here in my office. Regarding the Department of Education, if we are looking to discuss school transport, which I absolutely am, can we have a representative from the Department of Transport, so that we can have proper engagement on this? Ultimately, it is tendered to Bus Éireann, so we cannot have proper engagement without having both of bodies in....

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: No, thanks.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: 118. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if community employment sponsors must set aside reserve funds to cover redundancy payments, whether statutory or enhanced, as a contingency in the event of the project becoming insolvent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39567/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: 119. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department assesses the financial viability of CE sponsors to cover redundancy costs before signing annual contracts with the sponsor; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39568/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (2 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: 138. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the specific timeline on the completion of the wastewater scheme for Ramsgrange, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39347/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (2 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: 249. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on capital funding for the approved 97-bed ward extension at Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39348/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Hospital Facilities (2 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: 261. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the progress of the new Wexford campus of SETU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39349/24]

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Budget Statement 2025 (1 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: Having delivered a one-for-everybody-in-the audience-style budget in the short term, I have no doubt that people will appreciate the spirit and bona fides of the Minister's belief that it is to combat the cost of living. There is no doubt that it will be short-lived, however, because now that I am experiencing my fifth budget, I know that most of what has been announced will not be...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community:

I welcome our guests. I remind people of their privileges and that they cannot participate if they are outside of Leinster House, etc. Those giving evidence have to be physically present within the grounds of Leinster House and should not criticise or make charges against any person, or identify him or her by name or in such a way that makes him or her identifiable. I think we all understand that.

I propose that we publish the opening statements from our witnesses. Is that agreed? Agreed. I suggest that we invite our witnesses to speak for five or ten minutes and that we allow members to ask questions and make comments for approximately five minutes. Members may ask more questions after everybody gets an opportunity to speak.

The committee is looking at Travellers' experience of the justice system. Today we will focus on Travellers in prison. The committee has already visited Castlerea Prison, Mountjoy Female Prison - the Dóchas Centre - and Oberstown Children Detention Campus. Travellers represent less than 1% of the population yet we make up 8% of male prisoners, 16% of female prisoners and 21% of children detained. The committee looks forward to hearing from our witnesses about this very important subject. We would like to hear about the experience of Travellers dealing with the justice system, including prison, and how we can make things better.

We are grateful to our witnesses for coming here today. They include representatives of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, the Traveller Justice Initiative, the Traveller Mediation Service and Barnardos.

Our witnesses are all very welcome here today.

It is very important for us as a committee to examine the justice system and, most importantly, why there are so many Travellers in prison in this country and what supports we need for Travellers. I am sure we all know the answers but it is important we document those answers and that this committee has a responsibility to work with the Traveller community.

We will begin with one quote a young man said to me in 2020. It was his first time to be in court and he was very nervous. I said to him he will be okay and that everything will be fine. He said, "No Eileen, I am already guilty." I said no, he would not be and that was up to the judge. He said, "I am guilty on the basis of being a member of the Traveller community." I want us all to be mindful of that before we start.

I will open it up to our witnesses. I ask Ms Saoirse Brady to begin.

(26 Sep 2024)

Verona Murphy: I welcome the witnesses. They have been here previously but not regarding the C and AG's report. I have been listening in on the meeting and have one question. It is not often we ridicule people on the basis of their profitability, particularly as a utility of the State. I assume the setting up of Irish Water is essentially equivalent to that of the ESB.