Results 1-20 of 1,978 for speaker:Matt Shanahan

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: The previous day I contributed on this, I said to the Minister of State that he had engaged, unwittingly, in the law of unintended consequences. I understand where the legislation is trying to go and what it is trying to achieve but I believe, as has been highlighted by others, there was not awareness of what exactly was being proposed and the impacts it was going to have, particularly with...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: This issue was brought up with the Minister of State during a previous debate the other night in this Chamber. I was quite surprised how strident he was in sticking to his guns. I echo what my colleagues have said today. I made a point to the Minister of State the other day regarding the kinds of voluntary organisations that are involved in raising money. I specifically pointed out to him...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: When this Government was formed in 2020 there was a post office, a GP practice and an active Garda station in Gaeltacht na nDéise. Despite all the ráméising in this House about protecting our Irish language, having it listed as an official EU working language, mandatory publishing and broadcasting as Gaeilge, the Government supports required to protect our teanga are not in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Chair and guests. I am old enough to have worked in a number of different sectors. I remember when the HSA came on board it was not always seen as a welcome introduction into the workplace. It does important work, however. The figures speak for themselves, in terms of improvement across the economy in the protection of workers. Some of my colleagues have touched on points I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: As I said, there needs to be constant vigilance in the sector, in particular at high stress times and when trained manpower is not available. That is a problem. Years ago, every farm had a farm labourer who had worked there for 20 or 30 years and was quite skilled at what they did. The problem is that farmers are now drafting in children after junior or leaving certificate years for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: I have one final question in relation to the remote working environment. First, does the HSA have any information on whether potential cases are being taken against employers for occupational accidents where people are working remotely? What is the trajectory of that? Second, has the HSA produced any KPIs for workers themselves so they can understand this? If, for example, I am working...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: Recently enough, we have supported the rights of workers to request remote working, but it seems that this is being done in a way in which somebody can look for remote work in their home, but the onus potentially falls entirely on the employer to ensure the suitability of the premises. It would be helpful if the HSA could provide some information on how employees assess their own...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Matt Shanahan: That is okay. As I said, it would be helpful to have clearer guidance on that. Many people, particularly in Dublin, are working in flat complexes, are walking up and down the stairs and are probably carrying boxes and computer peripherals and what have you as part of their work. Employers cannot be responsible for every single aspect of it.

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: This motion seeks that the Government would scrap plans to increase the price of petrol and diesel on 1 August and yet again on 9 October. It also seeks to reverse the price increase that took place on 1 April. The main rationale to the motion is to recognise fuel prices have risen by more than 30% in the past three years and to recognise the significant and pronounced negative effect this...

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: Pardon?

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: Even if the Government did do that I can tell the Minister of State, from people I am talking to that-----

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: I have been down in Waterford and I have seen very few houses that have been retrofitted.

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: I have seen very few people engaging in a retrofitting scheme and everybody who has looked at it tells me it is not affordable for them.

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: Regardless of whether the Minister of State might think it is affordable-----

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: -----I can tell him that for the people I am speaking about, it is not. That is one thing. Second, HVO deployment, which is not really happening around the country to any great extent, would be some way of mitigating the cost of fuels. Beyond that, many people have raised the issue of solar farms in this House. Every farm in this country has some kind of round top or flat top hay barn and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: On accepting high office, the Taoiseach said he would work every day to realise the hopes, dreams and aspirations of all our people. The people in the south east have seen €125 million of public money being put into regional airports that excluded Waterford. We have seen a €2 billion capital programme for Dublin Airport. That is before discussion of the metro boondoggle the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (25 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: 222. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update as to when a school (details supplied) will be included in the new programme of national school meals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18644/24]

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: How will the Government control ISPs that are outside the EU?

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: I note the Minister of State's frustration and I acknowledge that the Bill is on Report Stage, but I think he has conflated some of the issues and it is only right that he should reflect on them and maybe look to change them. A serious problem has been highlighted to him. As for problem gambling, as others and I have spoken about, fundraising for clubs is not where that is occurring. That...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: We are into the realm of unintended consequences here, as other speakers have pointed out. In my own GAA club in Waterford we held a fundraiser last year. Tickets were €100 and the prize was a house in Dungarvan. The draw raised €600,000 and that money is going exclusively into underage sports development. I can guarantee that the people who were buying the €100...