Results 1-20 of 629 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: An Post was in the news this week, and thankfully it has clarified that its financial position is better than previously reported. The real issue here is the closure of post offices throughout the country. Since 2015, 34 post offices have closed in Cork county and 257 post offices have closed nationwide. As we know, a post office provides much more than just a service. It is core part of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: 16. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the safeguards that are now in place to ensure large-scale public infrastructure contracts are completed on time and within budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40074/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the Minister for taking this question. What safeguards are in place to ensure our large infrastructural projects come in on time and on budget? As we are about to embark on an ambitious national development plan review involving significant capital funding, it is timely that we set out the safeguards in place to reassure the public that we are managing the situation as effectively...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I recognise significant work has been done in this area. We are about to embark on the national development plan. The current plan involves €165 billion and there will be additionality on that, which is very welcome. We will be spending significant money on water infrastructure, energy, transport, health, housing and more. It is important we rebuild public trust in our management...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I accept the Minister's point on balancing the process. We cannot become too risk averse. I fully understand that. Delivery of large-scale infrastructural projects is critical but we have seen examples of large-scale projects that were 100% over budget. It is critical we do not repeat that. I sit on the Committee of Public Accounts and listened to the national children's hospital...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Participation in Education: Department of Education and Youth (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the witnesses for coming in. I can see from their engagement and their answers that they are passionate about this area. It is very welcome to see that that extra input and effort is there on their part. Like Senator Rabbitte, I advocated for them to come in because education is critical when speaking about the Traveller community in order that a sufficient number of members of the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Participation in Education: Department of Education and Youth (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the witnesses. It sounds as though they are very well aware of it and are trying to develop strategies to deal with it. They mentioned educating teachers and that is important. Equally, educating fellow pupils on Traveller culture is very important. There is a different culture, different backgrounds and a different way of life. It is very important that students understand that....

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank all the witnesses for being here. I do not want to repeat everything that has been said but there will be some repetition, for which I apologise. I recognise the difficult job HIQA has. It is not easy to be in a policing role. There may be many successes but it is the failures that are highlighted and I do understand this. HIQA's role is not only policing, as it also has a lot of...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Does that amount to approximately 100 out of a staff of 450?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Out of a staff of 450, approximately 120 are actively involved in inspections. This is a small number of the overall staff count, given the role HIQA has and the importance of inspections in fulfilling this role. Do the witnesses agree?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Some of these are in administration support, as opposed to inspections.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: What percentage of HIQA's overall budget is involved in the inspection role?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Mr. Hynes. I believe it was said earlier that more than 80% of HIQA's visits are unannounced. Is this correct? Will the witnesses briefly walk us through what happens when HIQA makes an unannounced visit to a nursing home? The inspectors walk into a reception and state they are from HIQA. What happens then?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: This is what I am getting at. Do the inspectors wait at reception for five minutes while somebody comes to meet them or do they get straight into it? Word will spread faster than the speed of light, I would say, that there are inspectors from HIQA. How the process is carried out is very important.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: This brings me to my next point. "RTÉ Investigates" uncovered what it did through undercover tactics. Is this something HIQA has ever deployed?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Is Ms Cliffe saying that HIQA is legally not allowed to carry out undercover work?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: This is the crux of the issue. RTÉ uncovered what it did because the reporters were undercover. Nobody knew who they were and they witnessed first-hand the behaviour towards residents in these nursing homes. For HIQA to really fulfil its role, it has to carry out the same type of tactics as RTÉ. What needs to happen for HIQA to be able to go in undercover and witness first-hand...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Sorry for interrupting but it was not only about documents. It was the absolutely inhumane treatment from human to human. HIQA will never see this unless people do not know it is there. This is the reality. HIQA can make unannounced visits and, as Ms Cliffe said, the phones are pinging as the inspectors are walking down the corridor. Nobody will treat a resident in that manner in front...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I respectfully suggest it is something that needs to happen. It is the only way that people will have full trust in the inspection system for nursing homes. It was mentioned earlier that HIQA has a duty or requirement to visit nursing homes once a year. Is HIQA fulfilling this duty? Has every nursing home been visited in the past 12 months?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2023: Health Information and Quality Authority (17 Jul 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I ask Ms Cliffe to repeat this.