Results 3,161-3,180 of 5,311 for speaker:Tom Hayes

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: The Deputy will get another opportunity to speak about that.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: It is now 11 p.m. and I ask the Deputy to adjourn the debate. His time is almost up and he has less than a minute left.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (18 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: Question 428: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify a number of statements (details supplied) made regarding the Clonmel flood alleviation scheme, to a County Tipperary resident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18934/12]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (18 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: Question 618: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an invalidity pension appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18855/12]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: Question 1094: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason changes were made to the payment rules regarding farmers in agri environment option scheme and the organic scheme; if he will honour contracts signed in 2010 with a south Tipperary group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18280/12]

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: Question 1163: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there has been any progress on the approval by the Adoption Authority of Helping Hands as an accredited agency in advance of the working agreement between Ireland and Vietnam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18279/12]

Private Members' Business. Medical Treatment (Termination of Pregnancy in Case of Risk to Life of Pregnant Woman) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill. This is one of the most important items of legislation to come before the House each year. I understand the importance of allowing Members to have their say on what is happening in the area of social welfare, especially in the context of protecting the more vulnerable in society, such as...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (19 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: Question 115: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a child benefit appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19576/12]

Pension Provisions (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important matter. As the Minister of State is aware, the qualifying age for both the contributory and non-contributory State pension currently stands at 66 years. However, the qualifying age is due to rise to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years by the year 2028. These increases are not unexpected nor are they all that surprising, given...

Pension Provisions (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply. This is an issue that must be dealt with and the Minister of State has outlined the position that the OECD is to examine the current pension policy. I ask that the needs of many people be taken into consideration in that examination. I am happy with the details the Minister of State has given. If we could get those type of...

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: That must have been when the Deputy decided he wanted to be in opposition.

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The enormous increase in the cost of fuel in recent years has put considerable pressure on businesses, households and older people. Under the last Government excise duty, carbon tax and VAT increases amounted to 16 cent per litre of petrol and almost 12 cent per litre of diesel. This Government has raised the price of petrol and diesel by...

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: -----and the credibility of the Fianna Fáil benches on this matter, I struggle to believe what I am hearing.

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: So much so that I read through some of the old files in my office to find a quote that would suit tonight's topic perfectly as follows: Given the current Exchequer deficit position, the decision to increase the standard VAT rate continues to be necessary to support the public finances. We are borrowing to fund day-to-day public services, which is unsustainable as future generations will be...

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: Of course I understand the difficulty many people have in coping with the high costs. The reality is that most of these increases have come as a result of changing oil prices on the international market, exchange rates as well as production and refining costs. Compared with our closest neighbour, the UK, the excise rate on petrol and diesel is at a relatively low level. Our rates on petrol...

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: I have much more to say.

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: We rank tenth in the EU when it comes to petrol prices with countries such as Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France ranked above us with higher fuel costs.

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: The problem is an international one. However, the important issue that remains to be tackled is the issue of fuel laundering. Across the country several people have raised that issue and it has not been addressed. Deputy Heather Humphreys already dealt with it in detail. Members of this House should collectively stand up man for man and call for this laundering to be stopped because it is...

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2012)

Tom Hayes: That is the issue we need to address and stop the nonsense of bringing in a Bill that cannot be passed by the House while trying to bluff the people. The reality is that laundering is what needs to be addressed.