Results 28,341-28,360 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: There is no legislation on the voting age or blasphemy listed for this period because the focus will be on the two referenda announced by the Government, namely, marriage equality, a very important social issue on which voters will make a decision, and the lowering of the age at which a person can stand for election as President from 35 to 21.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I thank Deputy Mathews for his question. His Bill will be debated in the House tomorrow and the Ceann Comhairle - I mean the Chief Whip-----

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: -----will be present at the debate and will respond to the proposals in the Bill on behalf of the Government.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I do not have a date for either Bill.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: A great deal of work is ongoing in preparing this very important legislation, which will be published in February.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: I do not have a date for the publication of the bail Bill.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The education (admission to schools) Bill is very advanced. I commiserate with the tens of thousands of students due to sit their leaving and junior certificate exams and who are working intensively. I have talked to students who feel very put out and upset in their study plans by the two strikes that have happened so far and I am concerned about them. As an experienced trade unionist such...

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: On the survey of income and living conditions, SILC, report, I have indicated that it is a matter for the Whips. However, I would certainly welcome such a debate. Second, the valuation legislation is listed for debate in the forthcoming weeks.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: As yet, I do not have a date for that item of legislation.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: On the National Concert Hall legislation, it should be before the House shortly. In respect of my comment, if the Deputy wishes me to expand, what I said was that from 2000 onwards - during the time the bubble was building, during the period the Deputy's party was in government - local authorities moved away from an emphasis on the key role played by social housing.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Social housing-----

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Deputy perhaps needs to think a little. The eight amendment - this has been on the public record for a long time - does not serve the best interests of women or the unborn child a pregnant woman may be carrying. That is my considered view and why, when the eighth amendment was put before the people, the Labour Party, as it does now, stated it was not in the best interests of women. If...

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: -----without any serious consideration being given on a broad basis to what is in the best interests of women. The Deputy referred to the Labour Party, members of which are working on the issue. They are considering and examining all of the issues that arise in considering this most delicate, difficult and important issue of women having children and having them safely in a strongly...

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: That is my position and that of the Labour Party. If the Deputy has a different position, that is her entitlement, but this House should look at the best interests of women, women who are mothers and expecting babies and the best outcomes for children.

Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: This is an important issue in terms of connectivity and access for the entire country, not for one particular region. Certainly, arranging such a debate would be a matter for the Whips. I ask the Deputy to refer to his own party Whip in the first instance.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The client concerned has been requested to provide the Department with a lease agreement, a housing need assessment, payslips that will verify resident children's current income from employment and details of any savings accrued through the sale of the family home.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: Payment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal the person concerned was examined by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: As of the end of December, 2014, there were 69,884 recipients of the one-parent family payment (OFP). Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the OFP scheme of approximately €607 million. The purpose of the phased OFP scheme age change reforms that were introduced in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012, is to reduce long-term social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The person referred to has changed address and on 20 January 2015, requested a transfer of her jobseekers allowance application from Maynooth Branch Office to Portarlington Branch Office. Her application will be processed as soon as possible, subject to completion of the necessary checks and receipt of all required documentation.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward same to be assessed for entitlement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, Po Box 11758, Dublin 24.