Results 1,481-1,500 of 4,399 for speaker:Martin Browne

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: On a related issue, there are concerns about EU cohesion funding and agriculture spending, in particular, a conflict of interest with regard to the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. The European Court of Auditors has cited its concerns about the identification of conflicts of interest and stated that self-declarations are not necessarily the most reliable way of achieving full transparency....

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: Yes, and self-declarations of conflicts of interest.

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I thank Ms O'Reilly.

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: Today we are meeting with Ms Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman, on her annual report for 2021 and and other related matters. I wish to explain to witnesses some limitations to parliamentary privilege, and the practices of the Houses with regard to references they may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present, or who give evidence from within...

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I have one or two questions after which I will let other members come in. Will Ms O'Reilly explain to the committee and to the public what happened with Qatargate? In her opening statement, she referred to the exploitation of the European Parliament by "bad actors". Qatargate is a case in point. How poor is the ethical framework that exists, which can be exploited by those bad actors?

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: Following the investigation into the FOIs concerning the text messages between Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer, are the recommendations Ms O'Reilly drew up enforceable? Is she confident of that?

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: Does the witness get many frivolous complaints? Looking at the annual report, there are 1,400 complaints that fall outside the European Ombudsman's mandate. Some 40% of those complaints come from just three countries, namely, Spain, Poland and Germany. What types of complaints were they and why do 40% of them come from just three countries?

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I thank Ms O'Reilly. As there are no more questions here, does she wish to make any final comments?

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with European Ombudsman (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: Just going back to that, this committee has had changes. We have asked at the start that people leave their political allegiances outside the door. To be fair to all the members, they have done so. That is why we can work so well together, because there is none of that political bias. I thank Ms O'Reilly on behalf of the committee for appearing here today. It has been highly beneficial...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: Next on the agenda is the consideration of public petitions. We have three petitions for consideration today. Petition No. 36 of 2022 is titled "Re-open Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s emergency departments, and is from Ms Noeleen Moran. This petition is submitted on behalf of the Mid-West Hospital Campaign group and demands the upgrading of the three hospitals to model 3 level, as...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I suggest that we write to the contact in the HSE regarding the responses from Professor Cowan, who states the following at the end of her letter: We welcome the recent significant investment and bed capacity provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it does not sufficiently address the well-documented bed capacity shortcomings in the Mid-West region, nor does it adequately...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I have no problem with that. While I know we will submit this matter to the HSE, we received an email from the Parliamentary Questions Office during the week indicating that responsibility for parliamentary questions about disability services has been transferred to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It may also be appropriate for us to contact that...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: If a family pays for an assessment, it should be reimbursed. I have met the Darmody family. One of its concerns is that the mother has suddenly become a full-time 24 hour carer which, if it were a full-time job, would work out at €1.25 per hour. That is what the carer is getting. We will pass the petition on the relevant bodies and see what comes back. The response will then be...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I am looking forward to receiving his reply to the Department's correspondence. I agree with the other members of the committee.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: That is agreed. That concludes our consideration of public petitions this afternoon. I invite members of the public to submit petitions via our online portal, which is available at petitions.oireachtas.ie.A petition may be addressed to the Houses of the Oireachtas on a matter of general public concern or interest or on any issue of public policy. The final point on the agenda is any other...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (23 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: As always I also want to be associated with that comment. The amount of work that is done by the staff is unreal and makes our job easy.

Reform of Carer's Allowance Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (22 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I thank Deputy Harkin and the Independent Group for bringing forward this motion. As a result of the policies of this Government and the previous Government, we are living in an age where carers can be classified as underpaid or very badly paid. Despite the fact that carers take the pressure off the hospital system to the tune of €20 billion per year, the best they can expect from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Strategic Direction of Bord Bia: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I welcome the guests. I will refer to the mushroom and horticultural sector, because we have a big mushroom sector down in County Tipperary, as does Deputy Carthy in County Monaghan. The witnesses have noted the increase in energy costs, the challenges facing that sector and that there has been a decrease by 23%. Is that because the sector is producing less or is there less demand for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Strategic Direction of Bord Bia: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: I have a last point on sustainability. It is on an upward trend as an influencing factor for consumers because there is a greater awareness of climate change and environmental impacts, as well as government regulation pushing consumers to seek more sustainable products. However, are consumers being made aware of the additional costs to the sector? Are the retailers and processors even...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Strategic Direction of Bord Bia: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Martin Browne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cathaoirleach.