Results 10,961-10,980 of 19,749 for speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: When people voted for the Minister's party they thought they were voting to protect social welfare payments. She promised to protect the core payments but she has not done so. The programme for Government promised to protect the vulnerable but this budget is, once again, going after the vulnerable. We outlined our alternatives but the Minister rejected them. Many others have made...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I did not say there would be a reduced rate. I said it would be reduced in that the criteria will not imposed on a person. Why did the Minister not keep the State pension transition where there was no obligation on a person to seek work? All the Government is doing is removing that.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: All the Government is doing is removing the obligation to seek work. Why not introduce a State transitionary pension once again for those who are aged between 62 and 66 which would be a recognition-----

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: There is no State transitionary pension because it was only for one year. Why does the Minister not introduce one instead of having a different type of jobseeker's benefit for those aged 62 and upwards, which we will announce today in case the Minister does not know?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I would welcome it if the Government addressed it properly and gave people forced at that age onto jobseeker's payments a higher rate to reflect the pension rate to which they should be entitled and to which they would have been entitled in the past. Section 18 announces pension trustee discretionary powers. This gives board discretionary powers to pension scheme trustees which would...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: When I was trying to structure my comments on this wide-ranging Bill, I tried to figure out where to start and where to finish. It is normal for the social welfare Bill that is introduced following a budget to cover many areas. I am mindful of the context in which this legislation is being introduced. Last week, the Government Chief Whip promised to provide adequate time in future for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I will be very brief. I apologise in advance as the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill will start after the Order of Business and, as spokesperson, I have the difficulty of trying to be in two places at once. I might have to disappear. This has been a useful exercise. I thank everybody. Yesterday, right across the board we had a good airing of the same issues that have come up today. That...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: One was about the temporary certificate and the other was for Dr. Crowley.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: 232. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be awarded home help. [45345/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: As I was asked to keep my first comments brief, I kept a few questions back. Has account been taken of Austria's decision that there cannot be a requirement to divorce? I believe Germany has followed suit. That happened back in 2006 and 2008. Ms Ryan has stated there are differing views on how to address this issue. They would not be considered the most progressive countries with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: On the same matter, we all hope progress will be made on this legislation but if the provision remains as it is, it would be open for somebody to challenge it. Given that discrimination cannot happen on nine grounds at the moment and the Constitution protects marriage, it is one of the problematic provisions within the Bill that could force a couple to divorce. In an ideal world we would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I thank everybody who has attended. It has been a useful exposition of some of the issues relating to the Bill. I have taken an interest in the past year or so to try to address a shortfall in our law. It is interesting how the Government's position has moved in that period. The Bill is welcome and, hopefully, this process will inform the Department and the Minister to make the changes...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: 46. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale for the cut of €58 million from the housing budget, including €15.3 million from local authorities and €14.4 million from approved housing bodies, respectively, in the context of almost 112,000 applicants on the housing waiting lists and increasing difficulty for rent supplement and RAS...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (23 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: 70. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether the reduction in spending on social housing by €700 million from 2010 to €80.9 million for 2014 is regrettable and regressive. [44808/13]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council Funding (22 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: 102. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that will be available to the Arts Council for the coming budgetary year; if he intends to increase the level of funding available to the Arts Council; the way in which the funding for the last budgetary year was spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44241/13]

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (17 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: In the past the Minister has accused me of being opposed to JobBridge. Before she does so again, I wish to put it on the record that I have never opposed JobBridge per se. I have called for its reform and I wish all of those who get work from JobBridge or under their own steam well in those jobs. However, I believe the Minister is a disgrace. She is turning her back on the unemployed,...

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (17 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: The fact that the JobBridge steering committee is weighed down by departmental officials might be one of the reasons a number of people in JobBridge are in the public service. Why is there no trade union representative or representative of the unemployed on that steering committee? In contrast, an anti-union company which recently announced the lay-off of 280 paid workers has two...

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (17 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: It is the chief executive officer of Hewlett Packard in Ireland. Anybody can Google his name and it is on the Department's website.

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (17 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Why did the Minister appoint him to a jobs council at the same time as he was laying off 280 workers?

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (17 Oct 2013)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: There is compulsion in Tús.