Results 1,841-1,860 of 2,283 for speaker:Matt Shanahan

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: On behalf of myself and the Regional Group, I would like to wish the staff of Leinster House and the Ceann Comhairle a happy Christmas and new year. Just over a year ago, as a political outsider, I stood outside Leinster House with Hand on Heart campaigners. We delivered thousands of petitions to the Tánaiste's then office as Taoiseach on the funding issues around University Hospital...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: As I said, the Taoiseach said in recent days that this was not a resourcing issue but that this was to do with academic allegiances, reviews and all of that. I am saying to the Tánaiste that this is a political issue. We have six cardiac rescue centres in the country, two of them in Dublin. The only one to serve the 600,000 people of the south east is constrained to a 39-hour working...

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Two of the issues that faced the European Council in recent days must go down as seismic events in recent European history. I refer to Covid and Brexit. It is not unfair to say that the Union was already challenged with defending the impacts of Brexit before the body blow of Covid arrived. The Covid story is probably taking centre stage now, given the upheaval it has created both...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: 294. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that research has concluded that persons with Down's syndrome are five times more likely to be hospitalised with Covid-19 and ten times more likely to die as a result of Covid-19 than the average citizen; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the provisional vaccine allocation groups document...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Introduction of Statutory Sick Pay: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: The conversation has probably moved on. I am sure we would all like to see a statutory sick pay scheme for all workers in the State. Covid has shown in recent months the kind of precarious employment that exists, but we must also recognise the precariousness of employing. I ran a small business for a number of years and I get very frustrated when I read some of the input coming from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Introduction of Statutory Sick Pay: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I will make a point to Dr. Bambrick that she herself has made. She said that where companies are unable to pay, they could take out insurance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Introduction of Statutory Sick Pay: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I will go back to ISME's statement and the proposal which has just been discussed on the solidarity tax of 3% on high earners to give equality between the PAYE sector and the private sector. What is Ms King's take on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Introduction of Statutory Sick Pay: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Would the employee not make an additional-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Introduction of Statutory Sick Pay: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I asked Ms King about the proposal of 3% on the PAYE component of that levy-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Introduction of Statutory Sick Pay: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I understand that. What I am asking Ms King is whether she would support that proposal, considering the amount of money it would garner, €314 million per annum?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Introduction of Statutory Sick Pay: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: While I might find agreement with Ms King, I think somebody earning €100,000 could afford to pay something, and the employers who are able to pay that money definitely could. This brings us back, however, to the disconnect from the smaller people in the private sector. It was said that about two thirds of private sector companies do not offer any kind of voluntary sick pay scheme....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Introduction of Statutory Sick Pay: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I will go back to the substantive point to which I do not think anybody here would object, that is, the rationale for a statutory sick pay scheme across the board. I have concerns around competitiveness. We have to remember that we an export-led economy and that feeds into the more indigenous economic rationale. The issue of insurance has been discussed. Has anybody looked at funding a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Minister for his reply. I acknowledge that we have met on this issue and I look forward to doing so again. There has been an almost 40% growth in the university sector over a 20-year period. Much of that was financed by the European Investment Bank, EIB, to the national universities, funding of which the institutes of technology cannot avail. The Minister mentioned capital...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I remind the Minister once again that WIT is the top-performing institute of technology in the country, with three of the top-performing gateways garnering the most EU research funding within the sector. The Minister will understand our frustration. I assure him that I certainly would welcome his political patronage on this issue, as would all the people of the south east. The most...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: 36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that approximately €1.7 billion has been spent in the university sector and that less than 1% has been delivered to the south east, which accounts for 10% of the student population; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the south east has experienced a pronounced decline in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (15 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Approximately €1.7 billion has been spent on the university sector and less than 1% has been delivered to the south east, which accounts for 10% of the student population, in the past 20 years. The south east has suffered a pronounced decline during that period. Is the Minister satisfied that capital allocations are fully fair, transparent and equitable?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (15 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: 408. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the technological university resources will now be rebalanced to align with the aspirations of Project Ireland 2040 to support regional growth given that the university sector has grown by 40% since 2000 and the institute of technology sector has grown by 3% which is feeding the perception that Dublin, with its multiple universities, is...

Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I hope the Government will be generous in reciprocating what Deputy Mattie McGrath is proposing. This is an issue that needs to be aired. Sulky racing is seen as a cultural activity for many. It is important we do not conflate the difference between trotting ponies and people who keep ponies for recreational use, drawing carts and sulky...

Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: From one Waterford representative to another, I would like to remind the Minister of State that the Government accepted the recent Regional Group motion on mental health. One of the key requests called for a national lead on mental health issues. I hope the Minister of State can implement that as soon as possible. I also wish to highlight the significant deficiencies in mental health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (10 Dec 2020)

Matt Shanahan: 419. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting lists and duration on the list for procedures (details supplied) in University Hospital Waterford in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42644/20]