Results 3,821-3,840 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (27 Nov 2008)

Róisín Shortall: Question 134: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her estimate of the saving in a full year in respect of her proposal to increase the reckonable salary ceiling to €300 per week in order to qualify for the maximum rate of jobseekers benefit; and her estimate of the number of persons in a full year who will not qualify for the maximum rate of jobseekers benefit as a result of...

Written Answers — Greener Homes Scheme: Greener Homes Scheme (2 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: Question 101: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the greener homes schemes; the number of applicants waiting to receive grants; the budget for this scheme in 2008 and 2009; the reasoning behind the drop in budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43647/08]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (2 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: Question 131: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the national broadband scheme; his views on whether the 1MB service that it offers is sufficient and competitive; the most up to date cost of this project; the timeframe for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43646/08]

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, lines 11 to 16, to delete all words from and including ", TO PROVIDE" in line 11 down to and including "1986" in line 16. The Labour Party strongly opposes the proposal to abolish the Combat Poverty Agency. We have discussed this on previous occasions. It is incredible that the first agency to be the target of cuts should be the Combat Poverty Agency, a...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: They do not.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: The Minister's comments are cynical in the extreme. She is misleading the House and there are no two ways about that. She says she is looking at how the work of the Combat Poverty Agency can continue, but that is not what the Bill is about. The Minister should have the courage to say honestly that this is about abolishing the agency because it has been a thorn in her side and she does not...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: It will not have a remit.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: Who will decide?

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: Untrue.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: It is about politics.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: One gets the recommendation one pays for. Throughout the debate, the Minister has sought to distort reality. Under no circumstances can it be said that the CPA can continue or improve its work if it is subsumed into the Department. The critical aspect of the CPA is its courage and freedom to speak out, as it is an independent body. It was enabled to be a voice for those who do not...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: I support the amendment. The Minister has for many years been vocal when it suits in regard to fraud within the Department of Social and Family Affairs. I acknowledge progress has been made in this area in recent times. However, I believe more work needs to be done in this regard. For that reason, I support the amendment.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: It is unsatisfactory that Members cannot table amendments because of this rule. It means we are left with no option but to find a convoluted way around the issue and to go into detail about seeking reports and all of that. I raise this issue because of a concern I have on foot of the Minister indicating in her budget speech that she would cut payments to part-time workers.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: Perhaps the Chair can advise us on how we might deal with a situation such as this. The Minister indicated in her budget speech that she would introduce regulations effectively to deny part-time workers about €44 in benefit. What mechanism is open to us to deal with that through the legislation, given that it is not part of the legislation? We need a mechanism to allow Members to...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: I ask for the Chair's advice on this matter, which involves an real issue of concern. The Minister signalled her intention to do something by way of regulation and we have no option to voice our concern about that or to register our opposition to it. How else can we do that other than by seeking a mechanism which would prevent the Minister from doing that?

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: We will have an opportunity then later to vote against——-

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: I put it to the Chair that in normal circumstances where we oppose a measure in a Bill, we have an opportunity at least to vote against it, but in this case the Minister signalled her intention to cut benefits for part-time workers by way of regulation and we have no option but to propose an amendment which would prevent her from doing that. That is our only way of registering our objection...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: That is unfortunate.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: I support this amendment because it is important that targets are set in respect of social welfare payments and their adequacy. I also put on record my concern about the manner in which this Bill is being dealt with and the restrictive nature of Standing Orders, particularly with regard to the Social Welfare Bill and Finance Bill. There is an archaic ruling that we are not allowed to table...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Róisín Shortall: The Minister is missing the point.