Results 1-20 of 869 for speaker:Johnny Guirke

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2025: First Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I am delighted to introduce this Bill along with my colleagues Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Mark Ward. It gives the coroner the option of recording iatrogenic suicide as a verdict. Iatrogenic is the ending of one’s own life where the effect of medical treatment undertaken by the deceased, including any prescribed medication, is the primary cause of such action. I welcome Stephanie...

Transparency for Supermarket Profits: Motion [Private Members] (9 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: The rising cost of food has been a worry for many families. Food inflation is now running at double the rate of general inflation, with many families being forced to fork out an additional €3,000 per year just to keep food on the table. The prices of the likes of meat, cheese bread and beef have skyrocketed. The cost of a pound of butter has increased by more than €1 in the...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I thank all of the organisations that have come before the committee today for the tremendous work they do for the most vulnerable people in society and the people who need it the most. To return to the cost-of-living crisis, we saw graphs earlier on how it affected the less well-off in society. It has very little effect on the wealthy when the Government provides one-off measures in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (8 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I will follow-up on a point made by Deputy Farrell. Most Irish people are unaware of the Central Bank's involvement in facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds. Stopping the sale of these bonds is a concrete tangible action that Ireland can take in the stand against-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (8 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I know, but maybe Mr. Madouros can get the answers for us.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (8 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: It is the Central Bank that is dealing with these war bonds. It is important that I can ask the question. If they have to come back to me with the answer, that is fine. It is important because of the scale of what is happening in Gaza that we ask these questions. We cannot shy away from this. Whether it suits people or not, we have to ask these questions on behalf of the people of Gaza....

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (8 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: As most of the talk is about tariffs, I can see the weaker dollar is hurting many businesses in Ireland at the moment. Where does Mr. Madouros see that going in the next 12 months? Will the dollar strengthen or weaken? It is bringing in tariffs into the country in an indirect way, but it is still having an effect on businesses here.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (8 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: The biggest issue I see with small businesses is accessing finance for building homes. That is to the detriment of house building in the country. Where does Mr. Madouros see access to finance for small construction companies?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I have a question the Minister should be fairly familiar with. Many parents and families have contacted me in the past few days wondering how they are going to pay their children's student fees and rent. People are beginning to see through this Government. The reason it decided to put a halt to the promises made to students and not to include a cost-of-living package in this year's budget...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Engagement with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (1 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I thank Mr. Coffey, Mr. Conroy and Dr. Bergin for their presentation. When you have a strong economy, it is about choices. Deputy Neville mentioned our overspending. I would suggest we would not spend it on super junior Ministers at this stage when the economy is strong. The average household spends more than €3,000 per year on groceries and it has just been announced in the past...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Engagement with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (1 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: The report mentions that the cost of missing climate targets could be €26 billion. What specific measures should the Government take to avoid these costs and where does the figure of €26 billion come from?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Engagement with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (1 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: The report mentions infrastructure lagging behind. In County Meath there are large infrastructural deficits, specifically when it comes to water, wastewater and sewerage. If the Government is to meet its housing targets this will need to be addressed. How would the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council advise the Government on the spend on infrastructure?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Engagement with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (1 Jul 2025)

Johnny Guirke: How would additional tariffs affect this report?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Oireachtas broadcast workers are calling on the Government to end their low-hour contracts and poor working conditions by integrating them into the Civil Service. The team of around 20 manages the live broadcasts of all Dáil, Seanad and committee proceedings, ensuring they are all accessible to the public. However, the team says they are currently paid half the standard industry rate...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Can this be looked at again and these changes be considered?

Presidential Voting Rights: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I welcome the Minister of State's work on reciprocal driving licenses. I know he is committed to it, so I thank him for that. Sinn Féin has long called for the extension of voting rights in presidential elections to all on the island. It is about equality and shared identity as Irish people. In 2013, the constitutional convention recommended that Irish citizens living outside the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: I thank both Ministers for coming to the committee. Some 70% of people are worried about the cost of living. If there is a balance of €8.7 billion at the end of this year and €6.3 billion next year, why is a cost-of-living package not being considered? The price of groceries alone adds an additional €3,000 a year in costs for the average household.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: Regarding bank bailouts, I learned this weekend that the banks had paid back most of the money given to them by the State but they had not paid back any of the interest. Is that true? The total is €7.5 billion. Are there plans to chase the banks for this money?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: The State put in €30 billion. While the banks might have paid back €30 billion, they did not pay back the interest that cost the State. They claimed at the weekend that that alone was €7.5 billion and the State was still paying back that interest.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Annual Progress Report 2025: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Johnny Guirke: No, I am asking why we are not getting that money back while the banks are making huge profits. Why is that money not being paid back to the State? While we come out and say that the banks have paid back the money they were given, they have not paid back the money it cost the State to borrow that money.