Results 121-140 of 21,238 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (11 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: 194. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the plans to address parking charges in hospitals, especially for those who attend hospital regularly due to ongoing treatment; following the receipt of recommendations of the HSE review group on same; the next steps that will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15785/24]

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

Denis Naughten: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the legislation. It concerns the use of some of the surplus we see coming in through taxation for future long-term investment. This year, we are looking at a budget surplus somewhere north of €8 billion. The intention is to spend 0.8% of our GDP on investment in this fund. That is approximately €800 for every man, woman and child...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Members are required to participate in the meeting remotely from within the Leinster House precincts only. I welcome the witnesses. Wtinesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentations they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute privilege against any defamation action in respect of anything they say at the meeting. However, they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I thank Mr. Moynihan and invite Dr. O'Connor to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I thank Dr. O'Connor and I now invite Ms Kavanagh to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I thank Ms Kavanagh very much. I will now open it up to members. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, the Leas-Chathaoirleach, was first to indicate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Deputy. We will go to each of the groups. I ask witnesses to try to keep their responses tight because we have three groups and there are a number of questions members wish to raise. I will take Mr. Moynihan first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I remind witnesses that we have five other members who wish to contribute and we have a time limit on this. I ask the witnesses to try to keep their responses tight if they can.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I thank Senator Wall. We might ask Age Action Ireland to come in first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I ask Deputy Collins to be brief as we have three other members who wish to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Mr. Moynihan might come back to the committee on it because we are about to produce a report on this. We can incorporate that response into it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Does Deputy Collins have any other questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Deputy O'Cuív is next. Deputy Ó Laoghaire has a supplementary question as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: The law has been changed of course in relation to that now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: Plus it was the "shower up in the Dáil" that changed it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: The biggest problem is that the medical card income thresholds have not been reviewed in 20 years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: The difficulty is the social welfare rates are now over the medical card rates. If one takes it based on social welfare, then one is over the limit for a medical card at the moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Means Testing on State Pension and Other Social Welfare Schemes: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Denis Naughten: I wish to make one final comment and I will allow everyone to make a final brief comment. As this committee is due to finish at 4 o'clock we have a tight schedule. One of the clear issues to arise this morning is the call to reintroduce information officers within the Department of Social Protection. That was a tool that could provide advice right across the system but that is not there...