Results 1,481-1,500 of 2,283 for speaker:Matt Shanahan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Electrical Contracting Sector) 2021: Discussion (1 Dec 2021)

Matt Shanahan: I have two quick questions. Like others, I welcome the sectoral employment order. I think it is a good step. It may be out of step with where the market is at the moment regarding construction. There is certainly a great lack of electricians and a great lack of tradespeople in general. I ask Ms Coogan to outline one of the statements in the briefing note, which is that the sectoral...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Electrical Contracting Sector) 2021: Discussion (1 Dec 2021)

Matt Shanahan: Just on the point of bogus self-employment, as Ms Coogan described it, there are some reasons why people would prefer to be self employed coming onto a site, particularly for a short-term contract. They might decide to do this, depending on their relationship with the Revenue Commissioners. They might be operating as a sole trader and therefore they are coming onto the site. They might...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Electrical Contracting Sector) 2021: Discussion (1 Dec 2021)

Matt Shanahan: Apologies, I lost the last part of Ms Coogan’s contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Electrical Contracting Sector) 2021: Discussion (1 Dec 2021)

Matt Shanahan: The last thing I will add is not a question but a statement. I welcome the work the Department has done on this. It is progressive and we should endorse it. Hopefully the Minister will sign it. One issue that arises for smaller contractors going on to sites is how they are being treated by general contractors. This pay floor will obviously mandate that a smaller contractor must offer...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (25 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: That is no problem. I ask the Minister and Minister of State to look at the issue of adequate and proper funding of Irish Water. It is a significant disruption at present to the development of housing in this country, particularly to smaller scale rural developments. Another area that others have touched on is the availability of skills, particularly the wet skills such as...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (25 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: I am pleased to be part of this debate, which is about amending large-scale residential planning and development. I hope what the Minister proposes will streamline the planning process, which is required if we are to affect the current lack of supply in starter homes in the country. I welcome the Minister's decision to dispense with the strategic housing development policy. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (25 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: 213. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the administrative process and computational method of allocating funding to specific airports with respect to the €126 million aviation package announced on 12 October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58136/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (25 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: 214. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the €126 million aviation package is for the furtherance of the ongoing capital works at Cork and Dublin airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58137/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (25 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: 215. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeline with respect to various approvals within Departments in respect of the current €40 million capital project being undertaken at Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58138/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: 59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if clarity will be provided in relation to antigen testing in schools and the way it is to be implemented within the school setting; if antigen testing will be used within both primary and secondary settings; the current protocol for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57036/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Minister for coming in and for the continuing support she offers to my office. My question is in regard to whether greater clarity will be provided in regard to antigen testing in schools, the way it is to be implemented within the school setting, if it will be used within both primary and secondary school settings and what protocol will be operated for same.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: The Minister might not be aware but I actually brought antigen testing to NPHET in April or May 2020 and I am somebody who has been promoting this technology for quite a while. The antigen test for infectiousness is very important and we are probably being too slow about rolling it out given the way we are proposing to roll it out. I accept it has limitations in terms of its effectiveness,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Minister. I accept that response as the Minister has given it but, as I said, I do not think we are doing enough. I heard the CMO on radio the other morning and, basically, he was not gushing in his praise for what antigen testing can do. I think that is a mistake. The other thing I would point out to the Minister is that there is a significant cost differential between PCR...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: Can the Taoiseach put our minds at rest that the recently announced €126 million aviation package, of which €40 million is allocated to Cork Airport, will not count as state aid? Some €40 million was recently spent on runway works in Cork Airport on what was described as the fastest capital project in the State, having been green-lighted soon after the Taoiseach took...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: The issue is money for Waterford.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: However, the Government is withdrawing €350,000 at present.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: Some €126 million versus €350,000.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: 82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps her Department is taking to prioritise reducing construction costs and timescales into the future given the expansive school programme within the revised National Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57041/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: 104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position in relation to the availability of substitute teaching; her plans to allow retired teachers return in a substitution capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57039/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Nov 2021)

Matt Shanahan: 105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the detail of the agreement reached with representatives of school secretaries; the way and when these new arrangements will be implemented; if they will be retrospective; if they will apply to all school secretaries; if there are further agreements to be reached in relation to issues such as pension entitlements; and if she will make a...