Results 261-280 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is time the Deputy was clamped.

Social Welfare Benefits. (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Deputy Costello for giving me the opportunity to address the issues involved. The Deputy will be aware that the orphan's payment is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. I understand from that Department that under social welfare legislation, an allowance may be paid in respect of an orphan by way of an orphan's contributory allowance, based on social...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under the Child Care Act 1991 health boards have a statutory responsibility for the provision of services of the type referred to by the Deputy. My Department has asked the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority to liaise with the South Western Area Health Board on the matter raised and to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Responsibility for the level of funding to be provided for child care services in the Dublin 9 area rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Northern Area Health Board. My Department has asked the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter which he has raised.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Responsibility for the provision of grants to organisations providing services for young people rests with the health boards. Therefore, my Department has asked the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the other health boards to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My colleague, the Minister for Finance, introduced this Bill to safeguard the long-term budgetary sustainability of public service pensions, while at the same time ensuring that future public service pensioners obtain fair and reasonable occupational pensions. In furtherance of these objectives, the Bill introduces two key changes, which will affect most new entrants to the public service...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In 2044.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the Senators for their contributions to this debate. I do not have to declare an interest in this because the Bill does not affect current Members of the Oireachtas or office holders but will affect those who intend to participate in public life in the future. It is understandable that Senators on all sides have a view on the impact the Bill might have on citizens' participation in...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: He envisages in this legislation a measure that will come into operation when many of us, as a matter of actuarial probability, have passed away. In discussing this Bill we must consider that it is providing in legislation for a framework that will begin to impact in 2044. That gives a somewhat arid speculative tone to this debate but I understand the concerns expressed by those in public...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Within the management of any particular operation——

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are planning for a future four decades hence and it may well be possible in the context of the revolution in the delivery of educational services in those decades to identify such positions and locate them through discussions between staff and the officials. I appreciate the Senator's concern but we must look at the pension report in which he participated and which makes it clear we are...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is the option of purchasing into a full pension in advance of 65.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The proposal applies to teachers recruited from April 2005 and the issues the Senator has raised will not arise in general for another 35 to 40 years. The Minister for Education and Science will have ample opportunity to address the operational difficulties involved in that time span. Senator O'Toole asked about career breaks. A person on a career break with a right to return will not come...

Seanad: Job Creation. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am replying on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and thank Senator Bannon for raising this important matter on the Adjournment. The Tánaiste is very disappointed that this important investment for the Longford area has been cancelled. Cardinal Health Incorporated has decided not to proceed with its proposed investment in a new pharmaceuticals...

Seanad: Mental Health Services. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, but I am not certain whether my reply addresses the concerns of the Senator. The Minister wishes to thank the Senator for raising this matter. The general policy of the Department on the development of services for persons with disabilities and those with mental illness has seen considerable change...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits. (24 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides income support to people who provide certain elderly or incapacitated persons with full-time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit. One of the principal conditions for receipt of the allowance is that full-time care and attention...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The amendment proposes to change superannuation to "pension" and, therefore, instead of "public service superannuation scheme" in the interpretation section, it will read "public service pension scheme". This is for consistency of language used in the Bill. Elsewhere in the Bill, references are to public service pension scheme which is defined in the Bill.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It has no effect and is a textual change to ensure consistency in the language used in the legislation.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This definition sets out the bodies which come within the scope of the Bill. It is a broad definition to ensure that all public service bodies are covered. Due to this, some commercial State-sponsored bodies could fall within the definition. The intention is that they should not fall within the scope of the legislation. Schedule 1 lists any such commercial State bodies and subsection (g) of...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: With regard to that interpretation, we seek to change "2001" to "2003" in the references to the Companies Acts 1963 to 2003. This amendment is to take account of the Companies Acts in the definition of "public service body".