Results 19,181-19,200 of 26,053 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: European Stability Mechanism (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: I am not disagreeing with the Minister. The point is-----
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: European Stability Mechanism (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: We are at cross-purposes here.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: European Stability Mechanism (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Actually, we are.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: European Stability Mechanism (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Let me clarify the point and the Minister can answer it. The point I am making is very simple, namely, it was necessary to borrow taxpayers' money. The promissory note deal arose and there are major savings to the Irish taxpayer but over a long period of time, effectively the Central Bank bonds will be released onto the market and will be held by third parties. I am not taking from this...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: European Stability Mechanism (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Yes, but over time it is.
- Topical Issue Debate: Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times (8 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Minister. I welcome the fact the SDU’s indicator is calling for additional bed capacity at UHL in the accident and emergency department. A number of interim measures are required. First, the Minister should examine the existing hospitals in the network, including Nenagh, Ennis and St. John's, to see what additional capacity exists. I understand a 20-bed unit in St....
- Topical Issue Debate: Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times (8 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Minister, Deputy Varadkar for being present to take this matter. He is fully aware of the difficulties. I have had discussions with him in recent weeks on a particular issue related to the gross overcrowding at the University Hospital Limerick. An interim solution is needed to this problem. We know a new state-of-art accident emergency department will not be ready and open to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: That is the net figure.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is that a function of the fact that the percentage of short-term unemployed is falling while the long-term unemployed, for whom it is more difficult to re-enter the workforce, are becoming a higher percentage of the overall number unemployed? Is that a contributing factor? The people who are short-term unemployed are taking up jobs and are being re-employed much more quickly whereas it is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: There must be a reason the participation rate is falling.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Instead of three or four part-time jobs coming on stream, one full-time job does. Is that what Ms Weymes is saying?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to ask a broad question. With the projected growth rates for the economy, when will more be taken in than will be spent? We must meet the 3% target by the end of 2015. Let us, therefore, consider the projected growth rates. When will we balance the books?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Correct. We were in surplus prior to paying interest. Am I correct in that assertion?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: There is a primary surplus also. Am I more or less correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: When?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Mr. McCarthy has told me that he expects it will happen before 2018.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: What would be a sustainable growth rate for an economy?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is that figure based on the construction sector accounting for no more than 10% of GDP?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: Let us look at the figures. We have seen huge growth in investment this year, but it has not filtered down into a massive growth in consumption. Obviously, companies are investing and jobs are being created. Also, we are coming from a very low base in 2013 in terms of investment.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2015: Department of Finance (7 Oct 2014)
Kieran O'Donnell: The figure for 2015 is probably more sustainable because the figure for 2014 has been healthy. Is it fair to say we will still have a deficit in 2014 and 2015? What does the Department expect the deficit to be by the end of 2014 and 2015? We have had very healthy growth in the economy, but there are still very high debt levels.