Results 1-20 of 21,189 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Common Travel Area (25 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: 249. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the impact, if any, of Ireland's opt into the EU Migration Pact on the common travel area with the UK; if she will outline the dates and detail of her conversations with Home Office Secretary of State (details supplied); if she will outline the dates and detail of her officials meetings with their counterparts in the UK Home...

Support for Carers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: By moving this motion, we want to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of half a million carers around this country and give them some small recognition for the valuable work that they are doing by replacing the current system with a non-means-tested scheme for the carer's allowance focusing solely on care needs. Yesterday, I had a conversation with the mother of a child called Willow....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: 107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 814 of 9 April 2024, the corresponding number of recipients of carer's benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18233/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: 108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 814 of 9 April 2024, if she will provide a breakdown of the numbers and primary payments received by recipients of the half-rate carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18235/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Apologies have been received from Senators Murphy and Gavan and Deputy Paul Donnelly. Members participating remotely are required to do so from within the Leinster House precinct only. I welcome the witnesses. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentations they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I thank Dr. Whelan and invite Dr. Boland to make his opening remarks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I thank Dr. Boland and call on Dr. Ray Griffin to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I thank Dr. Griffin. I thank all four of the witnesses for their opening statements, which were very interesting. Taking into account our own perspective and the evidence we generally hear in relation to these issues, our guests have provided us with a different perspective on many of the challenges. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh is first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I actually agree with you. Deputy Ó Cuív will probably also agree that it is a very apt metaphor. We all hope that it does not fall over-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I ask the witnesses when responding not to repeat something someone else has said, unless they want to disagree with it. This will make it easier for us to move through the discussion. I will ask Dr. Dukelow to go first because a specific question was directed to her. Dr. Griffin, Dr. Whelan and Dr. Boland can contribute after that because a broader question was also asked.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: That is why we have invited in the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I do not know which of the academics is an expert on sheep farming but it raises a broader point, which I raised here last week. I gave an example of a sheep farmer who came in to me, and we were doing the means test. They were knocked off a scheme wrongly because the Department of Social Protection inspector did not understand sheep farming. The difficulty is that more people are moving...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Who wants to take that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Does Dr. Boland want to comment on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Particularly in an economy where we have full employment, we need to be conscious of that. The current social welfare system, as it is presently structured, is taking people out of the workforce whom we need, such as the cases Deputy Ó Cuív has spoken about. At the other end of the spectrum - this is part of the work that is being done in the north east of the country with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: We have exposed that academics are not experts in sheep farming.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I call Dr. Whelan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: No. Nowadays it is the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Does Deputy Ó Laoghaire have anything else to say?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on the Social Welfare System: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Can I ask a couple of questions? As soon as the Minister sits down in the House, I will have to go, so I might have to look at the Official Report later for the responses. First, Dr. Griffin mentioned this debate between right and left. As we know there is a toxic atmosphere beginning to emerge in this country, particularly on the extreme right. One of the points they would raise...