Results 101-120 of 5,560 for speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Taxi drivers do not pay rates.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I accept that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I accept that but the taxi drivers themselves stated that most of those did not apply to them. It is something that would need to be looked into. It happens to many groups, when necessary blunt instruments are brought in, that they can fall between stools. We need to look at that. I just want to know if it is on the Department's agenda. The stimulus programme announced this week is only...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: They spoke about that as a necessity to survive but their costs were still running in many cases, and we have dealt with some of those. They also spoke about the fact that it is incredibly difficult to get protocols on safety and security. As a result of rules relating to insurance and such, they cannot put in screens in cars or whatever. That is another issue they believe needs to be...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: That is all vital and I accept it. The sooner it happens the better.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I agree. The unfortunate thing is that not everyone is always reasonable. I will finish up on the green list, which came up this week. I accept some of the commentary from the officials on the fact that they would be looking at putting the passenger locator online, which would allow for a greater level of authentication. I assume they are talking about stronger protocols in respect of...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I agree there should be nothing other than essential travel. Unfortunately, there are people travelling and there are people travelling to Ireland from places in the US where there is an absolute disaster as regards Covid-19 outbreaks. It is about ensuring that we can mitigate against the worst excesses.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I thank the witnesses for what they have done today. I accept the difficulty in the situation we are all dealing with. The big thing is that we give people as much clarity as possible and ensure that we put the best procedures possible in place. As we open up more, even in respect of all elements of this economy and society, we need to ensure that we have the capacity and ability to move...

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: What I am about to say has all been said. It is straightforward. The Bill will fail to do what our Bill would have done, that is, to protect families, as my party colleague, Deputy Ward, stated. We needed an extension of the legislation as it existed. We needed to ensure there was a moratorium on all rent increases and that there would be no evictions, but we do not have that. 12...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Brady. What steps will the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade take if the threatened Israeli annexation of part of the West Bank takes place? It could be argued that, in reality, certain parts of these lands are already occupied. That is the reality and that is what the dispossessed people of Palestine have been dealing with. They have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Even prior to formal annexation, the settlements, which the Israeli Government has promised to maintain at all costs, obviously constitute a de facto annexation. History has shown that Israel has taken different approaches at different times. Will the Minister give us any answers he has received to the questions he has posed to the Israeli ambassador and the Israeli Administration? The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I welcome what the Minister says. My only difficulty with all of this is the fact that the Israeli Government does not particularly care what anybody else thinks unless pressure is put on it, and the EU is willing to put on the required pressure, similar to what was done regarding Russia and Crimea. I welcome the fact that he has requested a list of actions by the EU. These need to happen...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: UN Security Council (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: This question is to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland's membership of the UN Security Council will be used to defend, advocate and give voice to those persons who are voiceless and dispossessed around the world. To some degree, this is a follow-up to the previous question. We are very disappointed that the programme for Government did not include such positive...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: UN Security Council (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I may have allowed my own disappointment with the fact that the programme for Government does not endorse the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 to cloud what I said. I accept that we have a positive role to play. On the role we play, I would like to ensure we are going to be there to represent and advocate on behalf of people who have been dispossessed. Based on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: UN Security Council (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I welcome what the Minister says. I accept the logic of looking to particular issues where we have capacity and credibility. As such it is vital that we choose where we can make an impact and a positive one. I welcome the conversations the Minister has had already. I know he cannot go into specifics but what positives, if any, has he taken from his dealings with either the Israeli...

Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: The PUP was a necessary blunt instrument at the beginning of this crisis. We hoped that a number of the problems with it would have been rectified but this has not happened. Some of my colleagues have spoken about the weaknesses in the payment such as those relating to those of pension age. There are difficulties now that the rate has been cut. There are problems for particular sole...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 777. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons facilitated at the special Covid-19 self-isolation centre at a hotel (details supplied) from 1 April 2020 and 1 July 2020; the number of nights per person; the cost of the accommodation from 1 April 2020 and 1 July 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18412/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Offices (29 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: 8. To ask the Taoiseach the timeframe for the establishment of the shared island unit; and the status of the process to date. [17264/20]

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: An awful lot has been said. We welcome some parts of these proposals. Obviously, we need to get as much stimulus as possible into the economy, which has been absolutely hammered. As has already been said by many previous speakers, it is very difficult to look at a stimulus programme while dealing with reduced pandemic unemployment payments. The pandemic unemployment payment and the...

Perjury and Related Offences Bill [Seanad] 2018: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Jul 2020)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I will follow up on the comments of my colleague, Deputy Martin Kenny. I welcome the motion. I thank the Regional Group. This legislation is one of the pieces of the jigsaw that we need to deal with the whole insurance fiasco we have in this State. I accept what others have said. If somebody goes before a court and perjures himself or herself, whether in respect of a false claim or...