15. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 2 of 13 February 2025, the analysis to establish the impact that US tariffs will have on the economy; the preparations being made to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15673/25]
Sentiment score: -0.07
I do not think I can agree with Deputy Geoghegan on Europe being a shining light of the application of the rule of law but that is not for now. I understand there is uncertainty. I have read the ESRI report on how it will affect our exports and jobs. It is all being debated here this morning. I have listened to the debate and I have heard what the Minister has said. Long term we absolutely need to diversify. Obviously we need diplomatic efforts now, and we need various steps, but in the medium to long term we need to diversify our economy. We have been warned for a very long time about the urgent need to do this. Coming from Galway city I am acutely aware of the value of the big pharmaceutical and medical devices companies based there, with almost 12,000 people working in them. They have significant implications for the city in terms of spending power. We need to diversify. We need to put a big emphasis on indigenous industries.
Sentiment score: -0.00
98. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 13 February 2025, for an update on the Coirib go Cósta project; if the design options have now been developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16249/25]
Sentiment score: -0.07
My question relates to the urgent need for flood defences in Galway and specifically an update on the Coirib go Cósta project. Have the design options been developed? I understand from a previous question that they are now out, but the Minister of State might just clarify that, and the status of the project given the appalling delays that have taken place up to now.
Sentiment score: -0.12
I wish the Minister of State the best in his job. Forgive my frustration. Maybe I should not use the phrase "appalling delays", but rather the absolutely unacceptable delay. I sat on the council. Like many people here, I was very familiar with the CFRAM programme and the necessity then following that to have flood defences. I think I am on my fourth Minister; it could be the fifth. Everyone took a hands-on approach. Planning originally was to be September 2023. Then it changed to July 2025. Then it became July 2027. The construction was to commence in October 2025, then June 2026, then December 2027. The completion date was to be September 2027. The next completion date was 2029, and March 2031 is now the completion date. We have had one public consultation. I know there will be another walk-in consultation in June this year. With regard to the figure of 312 properties, the city council knows that as well as the engineers from back in 2021. The project has gone from €9 million to €50 million.
Sentiment score: 0.02
I hope the Minister takes a hands-on approach like his previous colleagues. I live in the Claddagh. I know the area; I have a vested interest. Besides that, however, it is a very important project. From day one there was a misunderstanding with regard to a once in 100 years event. That is what they were planning for when it was quite clear, and we witnessed the recent storm, that this was going to be a frequent event. Of course it is complex and I understand all that. We need to bring the public with us. If there is structure going up, the public need to be with us. There has been one public consultation, which was years ago. There will be a walk-in consultation to look at the plans and then down the road there will be a further consultation for the options. That will be really important. The project cost has gone from €9 million to €50 million. Finally it has dawned on the establishment that this is a very serious and complicated project and it will take time but we need somebody to drive it. I am asking the Minister of State to drive that given just some of the dates that have slipped. The project was going in one direction and then there was an argument with the consultants over the price, and I understand that. However, all of this should have been foreseen. At this point, I just want a commitment to a hands-on approach with regard to this and that there will be no further slippage in dates.
Sentiment score: 0.08
They helped to---
Sentiment score: 0.00
That figure was from 2021.
Sentiment score: 0.00
No, no, just the-----
Sentiment score: -0.53
104. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 13 February 2025, for an update on plans to review and strengthen the ethics in public office legislation following the completion of the review of the statutory framework in December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16248/25]
Sentiment score: 0.01
Could the Minister give me an update on the plans to review and strengthen the ethics in public office legislation? The review of the need to change it was done and we are into our third year now since December 2022. Could the Minister give us an update on the specific plans of the Government?
Sentiment score: 0.11
I am glad it is in the programme for Government. However, the Minister did not provide any dates whatsoever. There are very serious issues here. These are being raised not just by me but also by SIPO, year after year, in its annual report. SIPO has highlighted the gaps that exist and its lack of power. Will the Minister display some sense of urgency in relation to the issues that have arisen regarding insider information? Examples in this regard relate to the disclosure requirements, on which nothing has happened, and to the commission itself. There are members who are working full time in other areas. That needs to be looked at. The resources need to be looked at. There is also a need to look at what we do when we leave the Dáil, for example, where we go and the conflicts of interest that may arise. We also need to look at an independent Vote for SIPO. On every level, we need to strengthen SIPO and recognise the gaps that exist and that it has raised year after year. When is that going to happen?
Sentiment score: 0.03
I thank the Minister. I appreciate that he is making this a priority. I also appreciate he cannot give me a date, but there has to be recognition that the existing legislation is totally inadequate and that SIPO has repeatedly pointed out a range of difficulties in terms of its lack of power in the context of ensuring that the highest standards in public office obtain. We know that. I am not going to go into individual issues, but there has to be a sense of urgency. The review of the framework was completed in December 2022. It is now 2025 and there is going to be still more consultation and more policy. I cannot understand how the Minister cannot introduce legislation and then amendments could be made along the way. There has to be an urgent recognition that we have failed to update SIPO in order to give it adequate powers to ensure the highest standards in public life. We all have made mistakes in our lives; none of us is perfect. We need an organisation that holds all of us to account to the highest standards. We need to empower and resource SIPO, but most of all we need recognition from the Government in relation to it.
Sentiment score: 0.05