Results 1-20 of 1,237 for speaker:Gerald Nash in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget Process (2 May 2024)

Gerald Nash: 72. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out how he plans to limit the deployment of so-called "non-core" expenditure as he develops plans for budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20050/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget Process (2 May 2024)

Gerald Nash: The use of non-core expenditure has become a feature of budgets in recent years, and the continued use of this device is concerning not only to me and Members of the House but, as the Minister knows, also to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC. Will he explain how he intends to limit the use of this device ahead of budget 2025?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget Process (2 May 2024)

Gerald Nash: I thank the Minister. Nobody is arguing that we did not have a necessity for additional spending in recent years. The issue is the means by which the Government has presented the spending. The Minister will recall the phrase used by IFAC after budget 2024, when it described the way in which expenditure was presented to the House as a form of "fiscal gimmickry". This was a very serious...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget Process (2 May 2024)

Gerald Nash: Nobody is arguing that we did not require additional supports for those who are less well-off and those on modest incomes in terms of battling through the cost-of-living crisis. It is how we have presented it in the House. In recent years the budget has been presented in a very opaque way. Many budgetary items described in recent years as "once-off" have, in fact, persisted. This is the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Schemes (30 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: That is essentially what the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, said to me last week. It seems to me that the only thing standing in the way of including Drogheda in the living city scheme is politics. We meet the criteria for the scheme, which the Minister of State set out. We manifest levels of vacancy and dereliction and higher than average levels of unemployment and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Schemes (30 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: I love my home town of Drogheda. Our small city is really in my DNA and defines me. We have had and still have our problems. Every place does. We always overcome them. We often do so in spite of and not because of Government support. Increasingly, we have had to rely on ourselves to address the problems this Government patently ignores. To give an example, to tackle the social and...

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

Gerald Nash: Labour fully supports the motion for several reasons. With the increases in fuel duty brought in on 1 April and those planned in August and October, the Government is wilfully piling straws on a straining camel's back as working people in this country continue to struggle with the cost of living. The wording of the motion gets it right: "the Government chose to increase the price of petrol...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: 65. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on his plans to transpose the EU directive on adequate minimum wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17054/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: Will the Minister of State provide an update on the plans to transpose the EU minimum wages directive by the end of the year?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: I thank the Minister of State for her response and I noted the engagement earlier with another Deputy on this matter. I spoke about the importance of the national minimum wage, moves to a living wage and setting a higher floor of minimum wage adequacy below which no decent society should allow workers to fall. More important still is the transposition of the collective bargaining element of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: I advise the Minister of State not to rely disproportionately on the efficacy and utility of the JLC system, good and all as it is, for enabling Ireland to reach its obligations under the minimum wages directive, specifically Article 4. The system is important, and I am proud of the role I played in re-establishing its mechanisms, which are important for low-paid workers, but there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: That was an excellent report from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and I advise the Minister to read it. This is not the first time this morning that questions were posed on Fine Gael's commitment to modest adjustments to Ireland's sick leave regime. I note the Minister did not give me a straight or direct answer earlier. It would provide some reassurance to workers across the country if...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: This question is on sick pay.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: There is no doubt that some small businesses are experiencing difficulties at the moment. There will be challenges for businesses to wean themselves off the kind of corporate welfare that has been available over the last few years to maintain the viability of businesses. However, this should not be done at the expense of low-paid workers. We have a problem with low pay in this country....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: The ambition of the new Taoiseach to reset the messaging for Fine Gael and to go back to basics, as some people have described it, is worrying for working people across the country. This is especially the case if it is framed through the lens of worker versus business. That should not be the case. Quite frankly, however, that is how the mood music is being set. This is especially the case...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: 58. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he remains committed to the agreed pathway for the implementation of a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17196/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: First, I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, on his appointment as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, on her appointment, and the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, on his reappointment. Congratulations to all. I ask the Minister if he is still committed to the roadmap and the pathway to a living wage, as set out by the Low...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: I am pleased to speak in support of the establishment and the principle of both the future Ireland fund and the infrastructure, climate and nature fund. It is a principle that we agree with the Government on. The fact we are establishing funds of this nature is something that would have seemed simply beyond us just a few short years ago. Fifteen years ago, the economy of our country was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Prices (10 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: It has to be kept under review. It fact, the Minister should make a clear statement here today that he is actively considering deferring the planned increases in August and October, respectively, which will make the differential between retail prices in the South vis-à-vis the North much more significant. The Minister is quite correct. When people cross the Border from Drogheda or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Prices (10 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: 6. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider deferring the planned excise duty increase on petrol and diesel due for August; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15013/24]