Results 2,281-2,300 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and join others in commending her, the Tánaiste and their team for their work in representing Ireland in the current negotiations. As others have noted, there has been some strong commonality of concern from all parties. There are also some shared clarities on core principles, which are vital to all of us and about which all of us have...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is a responsibility for us to ensure this, and an assurance is needed by the public that Ireland will do everything it can from its side to avoid, even in a no-deal scenario, anything that looks like the borders of the past or the borders in other parts of Europe at this time.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: May I clarify that we will resume on amendment No. 30?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 30:In page 14, after line 7, to insert the following:“10. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall, within one month of the enactment of this Act, consult with the Joint Committee for Employment Affairs and Social Protection with the intention of attending a meeting of that committee and providing a briefing in relation to the Public...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for accepting the invitation and I look forward to us being able to tease out these issues in greater depth in committee. I will withdraw the amendment, but as a date for the meeting has not yet been confirmed, I reserve the right to resubmit it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No 31:In page 14, after line 7, to insert the following: "10.The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the total contributions approach to the contributory state pension, which shall include— (a) an estimation of the potential cost of the scheme on the basis of 1,560...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The original proposal was for the total contributions approach to be rolled out in December.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It was due to be rolled out in 2020.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is almost 2020.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To clarify, I am not seeking a review-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The timeline for introduction is 2020. As indicated by the Taoiseach we are potentially facing an election in May 2020. One of the key tasks and areas of work this term for the Government has been the review of the total contributions approach in line with the pensions roadmap. The Minister has indicated that she hopes to conclude deliberations on this matter by the end of this year. I do...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What I am asking is that there would be a report within three months.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We then do not expect to have clarity within three months. Let us be clear about what is being asked for. I am asking for estimates of a number of potential costs, including the cost of a 30-year scheme, and the impact on individuals and a comparison of the likely difference between a 30-year contribution scheme and a 40-year contribution scheme in terms of weekly income levels for those...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My policy concerns policy, not legislation.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not press the amendment but I would say that I do not think there is much assurance in what the Minister said.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 32:In page 14, after line 7, to insert the following: "10. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on:(a) policy options around the extension of jobseeker’s transitional payment to include one parent families with a child up to eighteen years of age; and (b) policy options...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Do the millions referred to by the Minister relate to an increased level of income disregard? I am curious where the millions come from. Do the millions relate to working lone parents with 15, 16 and 17 year old children accessing a higher level of income disregard?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I disagree with the Minister. I know we simply disagree. I do not believe it is a measure that encourages lone parents into education. Encouraging lone parents into education is something we have supported but is a separate issue. What the Minister is talking about is the income disregard. A lone parent who is managing to work and has a child is entitled to an income disregard of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will press it.