Results 3,481-3,500 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are almost destabilising a Government that has taken over an incredible mess left behind by the previous Government. We know at a human level that the carer's grant cut is not palatable given the important work carers do and how they save the State money, but I am aware from spending the weekend getting a good deal of feedback that it needs review and drilling down. Three postmasters -...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They are uncosted.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: He is taking responsibility.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: He is taking responsibility and I admire that.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is not a reason to vote-----

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am concerned about the ramifications of yesterday's decision to legislate for the judgment in the X case on the grounds of suicide. This is a flawed and dangerous basis on which to legislate for mothers and children. We have learned a great deal in the past 20 years and there is broad agreement that abortion is not a treatment for mental health problems and that the correct action to take...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I believe the Title of the Bill is quite appropriate.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are talking about section 1, amendment No. 1. We are looking at the social welfare provisions in the budget. The Bill is all-encompassing and always includes PRSI and, to the best of my knowledge, it is not unusual that pensions would be referred to as well. I do not see any point to the amendment. The Title of the Bill is most appropriate.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Senator Cullinane can speak about these amendments when he speaks on the section.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Can we tease out some of the benefits of sending this order to the Oireachtas committee? I would also like to know why overpayments might take place. Given we are moving from a ¤2 per week repayment threshold to a 15% of the overpayment per week, has it been poverty-proofed? As many Senators are members of the social protection committee, I do not see why we cannot have this discussion...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will speak to the amendments on section 3 with regard to-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am speaking to the section with regard to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am sticking to the point. I take great umbrage at the reference to a filibuster.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Thank you, Chair. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is a very serious issue. The allowance is given to parents for the benefit of children. Yesterday on Second Stage of the Social Welfare Bill, I asked the Minister if it would be possible to provide the allowance in voucher form to allow parents to use vouchers in a range of shops for clothing and footwear. Anecdotally, I...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: As I said yesterday I greatly regret this cut. I would have hoped there were fairer ways of achieving these savings. I proposed a number of ways this might have happened. It is very difficult to sit here on this side of the House and to hear Members on the other side, particularly those who were in the previous Government, talk about unfairness. Was it fair that ¤5 was taken off the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Was it fair that ¤8 per week was taken off the carer's allowance, amounting to ¤416 in one year?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In another year, ¤8.50 per week was taken off carers and the Christmas bonus was taken away. These were not fair cuts.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: People were caring at that time-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: On section 5 of the Bill, yesterday was a today for somebody too. I have met carers and I have listened to feedback from them. I know of carers who passed away ahead of the person for whom they were caring. Caring is a difficult job. We must acknowledge the great work done by carers. They work for their welfare payment and they save the State significant money. What is clear from...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----in view of the fact that all needs are not the same. One size does not fit all but the way we are dealing with this is as if it does, and that in itself is wrong.