Results 3,501-3,520 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is a very interesting proposal. I apologise for being late. I had a vote in the Seanad and, therefore, I did not hear what the witnesses had to say and I am not familiar with the questions members have asked. Out of a sum of €2.5 billion across all member states for seven years, what amount is Ireland likely to receive? The key goal of 20 million fewer people in poverty is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Cohesion Fund. There are many queries around the CAP. Families who would have benefited from CAP may lose out because they may not be in disadvantaged schools. I would like to hear the views of the witnesses on the issues I have raised. How can we influence it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Where does the Department make that input?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Does Ms Quinn expect to come back to the committee on this when she knows more about it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Council for Special Education: Discussion with Chairman Designate (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Thank you, Chairman. I welcome the delegation and, in particular, Mr. Stack. I compliment him on taking up this role in a voluntary capacity. As a good and faithful public servant, it is good to see him continue and it is clear that he is eminently well qualified for the role. While he said very modestly that he had no specific background in special education, he was there from the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Like many homeowners, I am very concerned that the Bank of Ireland public interest director, Mr. Ray MacSharry, said that there would no debt forgiveness as a result of the insolvency Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This morning the Minister for Justice and Equality asked him to reconsider his comments. All sides of the House have worked hard to bring in legislation to help people dealing with crippling debts. Debt is the most significant issue facing the country. Comments such as this do not serve the public well. I ask Mr. MacSharry to withdraw his comments. I commend the Minister for Agriculture,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: There are many arguments and sometimes things are said in the heat of the moment. A comment - ?Where are the Senators? - was made yesterday that was not meant the way it was said. That can easily be forgotten about at this point.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The mark and the measure of this Seanad were seen yesterday on the Social Welfare Bill. I compliment Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Independents, my party and the Labour Party for rising together on this. We fought hard for ¤26 million for carers.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Bill will continue.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It shows the spirit of this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish everyone a happy Christmas. I also thank the staff who often go unthanked. This is a moment to say thanks to Jody Blake, Deirdre Lane and the fine reporters who put our words on the record.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is a difficult Bill. The Government's job is to govern. We have acknowledged in the past day or two or two that we need new ways to deal with social protection.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am speaking on the Social Welfare Bill. I wish to highlight an issue I believe has been forgotten, the welfare of farmers. I wish to raise their concerns about the issue of farm assist. Farmers are hurting. They are concerned about the income disregard and the child disregard. It fits appropriately to the Title of the Bill.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We did not get to this issue yesterday. This is the reason I am making the case that we need to conduct our business differently. I believe the social welfare budget should be discussed thoroughly in the future by the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. We need to ensure that no single group is polarised in this way.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Thank you.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Sure. I am speaking about the Social Welfare Bill and what I have learned and gained from listening to everybody in the House.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am saying to the Minister that we should do our business differently in the future in order that everyone will not be up in arms in the final moments when it is so difficult to change things. If we do not do things differently, we will never do things any better than we are currently.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Fifth Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: These have been a difficult few days, which reflects where we are at. We are in a terrible financial position. While confidence is improving, as are our international standing and reputation, Ireland continues to be a programme country, which is reflected in the deficit. We are making decisions today which are the result of bad decisions made in the past. These are the facts. We are...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Property tax on the family home is a new departure for us in Ireland. I am conscious that the amendment Senator Barrett has put forward-----