Results 2,441-2,460 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: I direct members to the organisation, which will tell them that, in their consultations since May 2017, hundreds of people have sat down and consulted and are overwhelmingly in support of the changes that are being made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: That is the report that has been issued on the consultation on the process they have issued.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: On the basis of what was asked of me a number of months ago, which was to interfere in the operations of CIB and MABS, I do not have the authority to interfere in the operations of CIB or MABS. The reason this process was undertaken was because of the concern about their governance and accountability issues in the form of their annual reports, which must be satisfactory to the Department...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: The answer would be "No".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: The answer would be "No". I am quite satisfied that the reasons they are changing the processes and the structures-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: -----are for good reasons.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: Most of my time in the Dáil the other day was spent answering 16 questions, one of which was on this particular issue. I have given Deputy O'Dea the response and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: I gave him the response as it currently stands.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Attorney General has given me the advice that I do not have the legal authority to interfere in operational matters with regard to MABS.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: That is actually irrelevant because it is an operational matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: I will respond to questions on community employment schemes. Community employment schemes are probably the backbone of every single town and village in this country and there is not a town or village that is not benefiting from the services provided under those schemes, which probably should be provided by the State or by Departments. That work is of major value. In response to questions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: We held a briefing session on Tuesday of last week for Oireachtas Members, where we invited all Senators and Deputies to come and meet the officials in the audio visual, AV, room to discuss their concerns. The officials of my Department did that last week. We are willing to answer questions. There is an acknowledgement that there is extra expense on people with disabilities. I believe...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: That is a valid point. The ruling on direct provision arising from the court's ruling. A working group was established by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan, a number of months ago to look at the outcome of that ruling. My officials sit on the working group, simply for the fact that whatever action comes from the working group has to acknowledge that with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: May I reply?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: It is typical Sinn Féin style to attack the man or woman. Its name-calling last week was pathetic. It is classic Sinn Féin. When it is losing an argument because it does not have an argument, it resorts to personal attacks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: I am not ignorant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: Is it the Sinn Féin mantra to keep interrupting people? Is that what its Deputies and Senators receive in their briefings in the morning? Are they told "Go on out there, boys and girls, and make sure you interrupt all day"?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: I will answer very clearly. If the Deputy would close his mouth for two minutes I might actually get a word in edgeways.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: The Bill the Deputy is talking about went through extensive scrutiny by a committee last year. The Bill does not focus on low paid vulnerable workers because it requires that every worker in every sector of the economy be given additional hours on request unless the employer can prove there are financial difficulties. That goes no way to addressing the current situation which I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Regina Doherty: I thank the committee for having me here this morning for this engagement. I genuinely accept most of the contributions that have been made by the committee's members this morning. I value the input even of those I disagree with and I look forward to working with the committee in the future.