Results 1-20 of 31,928 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: In 2021, a whistleblower revealed that the Department of Health was holding secret dossiers containing information on children with autism whose families were taking legal action against the State to ensure that the children's rights were upheld. On the other side of these challenges was the Department. When the scandal broke, it was claimed that there was nothing untoward in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Is the Government's position that the Department did not break the law?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: That is shocking. There is clarification required. Is the Government's position that the Department did not break the law because, obviously, the Minister has decided not to apologise on this occasion? I would like clarification.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: These are the facts.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Every single year since the Tánaiste has been a Minister in this Government, there have been fewer gardaí.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: What is the Tánaiste going to do? The talks need to go ahead and it is hoped we will get a resolution.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: What is the Government going to do to support the work of the Garda by increasing numbers and by moving members of the force off non-core duties?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Mar atá a fhios againn uilig sa Teach seo, chímid go bhfuil líon na ngardaí ag titim anois bliain i ndiaidh bliana agus ag an am céanna an méid nach bhfuil á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas i leith an ama seo. Chímid nach mbaintear na spriocanna earcaíochta atá ag an Rialtas amach bliain i ndiaidh...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I acknowledged the work the Garda does in our communities keeping people and our communities safe, and particularly in regard to the operation in the south during the week. However, Government needs to support that. The facts are very clear. Since this Government has been in office, every single year, there has been a reduction in the number of gardaí in this State. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 64. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in light of yet more new evidence emerging regarding the 1973 killing of a person (details supplied), he will make the family's desire for a public inquiry clear to the British government; to outline the steps that the Irish Government is taking to aid the family in their quest for justice; and if he will make a statement on the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome both Ministers to the committee. In relation to the spending rule, on 15 June, the Minister for Finance stated the following in response to a parliamentary question: The spending rule is calibrated on the basis of ‘net’ spending i.e. spending net of discretionary taxation measures. Accordingly, the expenditure ceiling would be different – higher or lower...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: If the Government does not do discretionary tax raising but does do discretionary tax reductions, as outlined in the plan, is it not the case that the core expenditure increase and the tax package have to be added to give the net spending rule under the Minister's own criteria and therefore it is a 7.5% increase?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: That is definitely one way of looking at it if the Minister wants to make the numbers work for him in that way. The Minister is not suggesting the €1.1 billion package is discretionary. Is that correct?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Okay, I am not going to go any further with this. I thank the Minister for his interpretation of his own rule. I assume the Minister is sticking with the parameters of €2 billion additional expenditure on new measures or non-allocated measures and €1.1 billion on tax. Is the Minister still on that or is he going to change these numbers in two weeks' time?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Let us look at the €2 billion envelope. This is just for budgetary oversight and to try to get an understanding of policy and what the numbers mean. The €2 billion number refers to the expenditure measures to be allocated. Must the public sector pay deal, when it is negotiated and struck, come out of that €2 billion? I assume it does and the Minister has confirmed...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: How will that be dealt with? Will it be clear? Obviously negotiations are ongoing so if it is a 3% split over two instalments, it could be close to €500 million. If it is 5%, it could be €750 million. Is the Minister just going to settle on a figure?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Let us deal with the other known unknown, for want of a better expression. I am referring to the health overrun. We will require a Supplementary Estimate for the health budget this year. I am not going to go into the rights or wrongs of that. I am just dealing with how we are accounting for this. For 2024, I assume that a portion of the health overrun for this year is recurring and needs...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I appreciate that and I know the discussions are ongoing. The Committee on Budgetary Oversight has in its terms of reference scope to deal with this matter. We are 13 days away from the budget and there is an overspend of €1.1 billion. I am not asking the Minister to give me a number but to give me a range to within a quarter of a billion euro or even half a billion euro. Is it in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I do not want to get into a spat about this but that is completely unacceptable. The Minister has a unit within his Department that monitors health spending. The fact that the Minister cannot tell the Committee on Budgetary Oversight whether there is €1 billion or €500 million overspend that needs to be provided again next year is not acceptable. I think the Minister has an...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Pearse Doherty: It also states clearly: "With a reduced level of real expenditure now expected out to 2025, the actual delivery of specific projects will be lower than originally planned under the NDP.” Two weeks out from the budget, the Minister is planning to deliver less than originally planned under the NDP.