Results 2,101-2,120 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Yesterday I called a vote on the Order of Business asking the Minister of State with responsibility for disability to come to the House which was voted down, yet many of those on the Government side of the House chose to speak on this emotive issue against the cuts for people with disabilities. They had their own reasons for not being able to support the Minister of State coming before the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is up to the Government to push it.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is not an easy day to stand up and speak when one hears such differing views across the floor. However, it is an important day for Ireland and represents a coming of age for our nation. If one likes it is Ireland growing up and maturing? That has to be difficult in light of what the previous speaker said. I am happy to support the legislation. I would like to outline how I view this...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Fianna Fáil does not practice democracy. That is true.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Senator is seeking the Cathaoirleach's personal intervention.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Last night the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Deputy Mary Hanafin, launched the Galway Arts Festival. In doing so, she was encouraged to be an artist for a day, as the festival generates a turnover of €20 million and brings 150,000 visitors to the city. Every day, we come to this House looking for solutions to our current economic crisis, yet there have been many missed...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Up to 80% of the movie's budget came from overseas. Is the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport aware that union practices could be harming or even closing down our film industry? Some 26 film prints of "The Guards" have been struck for distribution which involves much money for the movie sector and the economy. The people of Galway are reeling from the news of the proposed closure of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: No, I did not.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Does the Minister for Health and Children know that this facility is the only specialist stroke centre in the west? With the proposed closure, up to 4,500 people who were to have orthopaedic elective surgery are now on a waiting list because University College Hospital Galway only takes trauma and emergency orthopaedic procedures. When will we have a Minister for Health and Children that...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I too extend my sympathy to her family on Nuala's death. While I did not ever meet her, I had the honour of working with her daughter Jacqueline on a gender and equality committee for Fine Gael a number of years ago. Looking back on her life, and having the opportunity to read her autobiography as many others did here, what really struck me is that I completely agree she was a trailblazer...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister. I refer to matters relating to employers, PRSI and exclusions. Will the Minister explain why people who were self-employed, who were employers, whose businesses have folded and who have fallen the furthest in many cases have no right to the jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit? Many such people are penniless and carry a good deal of debt at present and they...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Will the self-employed people who fall on hard times still qualify for jobseeker's allowance, even if their accounts are outstanding and taxes are due to the Revenue, given that they do not have the money to pay Revenue because the business has done so badly? As the Minister correctly said, they are in trouble in the current year but they have to submit accounts for the previous year and...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Not text messaging.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Is it voice messaging?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am glad the Minister touched on the issue of abuse. It is estimated that approximately 10% of social welfare payments fall into that category. That is a significant amount of money, considering that we are paying out a sum of €20 billion. Even if the figure was only 5%, the sum involved would amount to €1 billion.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It would be well worth following the money considering the size of the national deficit and the need to find savings of €3 billion. Does the Minister think the measures he is taking are adequate? Also, what has he done about the scandal during the ash cloud crisis with regard to the social welfare payments not collected during those weeks?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With respect, the Minister has addressed the issue of abuse with regard to maintenance payments. I would like him to address this issue also.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I saw the figures.