Results 2,741-2,760 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: My concern was very like that of the Opposition initially. I was looking at this as disability as opposed to disablement. I now know that is not the case. Is there a reference or guide to body parts which if lost——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I do not claim to know much about it. I am happy with the clarifications, particularly those offered by my colleague, Senator Moloney. On that basis I am happy to support the measure.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That would be terrible.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is important that we use this session to unpick the Social Welfare Bill. That is our job and there is no need for charges to be levelled by either side of the House. Let me get to the nitty-gritty of the issue. If a person is receiving a pension or benefit, for example, carer's allowance or invalidity benefit of approximately €200 a week, and his or her spouse is earning €400, the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Why not?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is a pity we are not taking sections 7, 11 and 14 together because they are all about the one-parent——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I accept that but it is a pity, given our time and the——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With regard to section 7, I am conscious there is a deadline of 1 January for discontinuance of the transitional measures that enable one-parent families to continue to be paid for a period of up to six months where a claimant's earnings exceed €425. We are only three weeks away from 1 January. Have these one-parent families——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I see that, but will it affect anybody at the moment?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That was my question because notice is important in terms of preparation, particularly around the Christmas period with the extra spending and so on.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is not in this section.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: On a point of order, the debate is not on section 7. It does not belong.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Senator opposite could have been gracious.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That solves the problem.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is interesting to listen to Senators' comments. I do not believe there is enough evidence to suggest that reducing child benefit for third and subsequent children is exposing children and families to poverty because the way the social welfare scheme is set out there are other measures within the system to pick up the slack, such as family income supplement. It goes back to my point in...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will revise the word "wonderful" in light of that interjection.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is positive that child benefit was maintained at €140 per child. It also says that all children are equal in the eyes of the social welfare code. If anything, I would be able to make a much stronger argument that the first child should receive more child benefit than any other child because this is where all the expenses are incurred and all the infrastructure is put in place around...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I realise it is a tricky one——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am just suggesting that.