Results 2,461-2,480 of 5,269 for speaker:Joan Collins

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: I apologise for my absence, I was speaking on the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill in the Dáil. I support Deputy Smith's position. This was raised before with the last Minister and at the time we were told it would be too costly to bring in the homemaker's scheme. There is a huge cohort of women in particular who are affected by this and it must be dealt with. I would appreciate...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: No.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: The back-to-work family dividend has been dealt with, but I was seeking another report on the mortgage interest scheme. Again, it is an issue FLAC and Community Law and Mediation raised. I presume they have contacted the Minister in that regard.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: Section 11 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 amended section 198 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to provide for the closure of the mortgage interest supplement scheme to new entrants in January 2014 and the cessation of the scheme by the end of 2017. The scheme was introduced in the context of the recession, particularly for people who may fall very ill for short...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: The mortgage interest supplement scheme probably went on longer than initially anticipated. However, I knew people who were absent from work due to sickness or injury - maybe they had broken an ankle or whatever - for six, nine or ten months and who availed of the mortgage interest supplement scheme to get them over that hump. When they got back to work, they were able to go back to paying...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: The mortgage problem.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: I will not move the amendment. I will go back to FLAC and ask it to explain-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: No. I will ask FLAC to explain the reasons it raised the issue, particularly in the case of short-term arrears.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: I do not think the Minister should worry about the Seanad as it normally does not delay Bills for that length of time. Even when the lone parent's allowance was cut, that did not happen. I know that Seanad Members are now a different mix, but I do not think they would delay the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Direct Provision Payments (22 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: 66. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the recommendations in the June 2015 McMahon report that the direct provision weekly allowance for adults be increased to €38.74 and to €29.80 for children will be acted on. [35974/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme (22 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: 73. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness that a targeted use of mortgage interest supplement be restored to assist persons with a short-term mortgage arrears problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35973/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme (22 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: 85. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to restore the mortgage interest supplement to assist persons with a short term mortgage arrears problem. [36002/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (22 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: 78. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on the hard means test of €100 over social protection payment to receive fuel allowance (details supplied). [36030/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (22 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: 93. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider changing the means test for the fuel allowance (details supplied). [36018/16]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (22 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: 138. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are reports that a person (details supplied) is on hunger strike in Globe House direct provision centre, Sligo; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there is growing concern in regard to the deterioration in the person's health; the action her Department is taking in...

Finance Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: I support the amendment. It is a very important one. On 16 October, I was contacted by a journalist and a concerned citizen about this loophole. I raised it with the Taoiseach on Leaders' Questions on 26 October. The Taoiseach told me to go away and draw up an amendment to put into the Finance Bill because at that stage it was not on the agenda. The Department of Finance decided last...

Finance Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: My understanding is that this was introduced in 2000 and was very specific to carers supporting an elderly parent or whatever. It was only in such a case that a tax benefit would be accrued. It was opened around 2004 to amount to a gift to children. The Minister has read some recent information, with the investigation indicating that in 2005, properties with a value in excess of €1...

Finance Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: Can I ask to have it sent to me as well?

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (23 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: 186. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a significant financial contribution is directed towards the costs of a new build (details supplied) from the HSE's capital estate fund; when a final, beneficial decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36516/16]

Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 Nov 2016)

Joan Collins: I welcome the fact that the Minister took on the arguments made on Committee Stage on the initiation of the work on the report. The facts are evident. The Minister does take them on board. The poverty rate for children in lone-parent families is 22.1%. The rate for two-parent families with fewer than four children is 7.9%. These individuals are included in the poverty traps. It is...