Results 3,841-3,860 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Words matter, particularly the words of world leaders. Last week, it was brought to my attention that President Obama spoke a number of weeks ago at an event organised by Planned Parenthood, an organisation which carries out approximately 330,000 abortions each year in the United States. The US President said "God bless you" to the Planned Parenthood meeting and told the organisation he...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I learned of this when I heard that a famous American footballer, Matt Birk, refused an invitation to the White House on the basis of the US President's comments. Next week, President Obama will attend the G8 summit on this island. Perhaps someone will ask him what he meant when he used the words "God bless" at a meeting of Planned Parenthood, an organisation which takes 330,000 lives each year.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is a timely warning to all of us that when something becomes lawful, it changes the prevailing culture. My question to the Leader is when the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill, also known as the abortion Bill, will come before the House for debate? Let us be careful in how we proceed in this matter. By making something lawful, we will go down the road of changing our culture of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister. This is a good housekeeping Bill, which is detailed, current and relevant, especially in light of our changing social and economic circumstances. I have a number of questions on the measures provided for in the legislation. Under section 4, PRSI will be remitted directly to the Department in limited circumstances, for example, in cases of workers who are abroad....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I understand. However, even in the case of married people, is it that the self-employed person does not earn enough income in the first place to pay PRSI? The Minister might elaborate. I thought about what the Minister said in regard to section 6, about the 4% PRSI rate against certain trades or professions. It is stunning to think that consultants with a private practice have been...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I hear that, but it is a very serious issue. I presume they have been paying PAYE, or tax.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: When tax is being calculated, why would PRSI not also be calculated? Section 9 deals with the retained firefighters. It is high time they got this consideration. After 40 years of lobbying, it must not have been a strong lobby, or else nobody was listening to them until now. Section 10 deals with the transition to jobseeker's allowance for people on the one-parent family payment. This is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It also takes into account that the person can only work part-time and must engage with activation measures. This is a progressive measure. Well done by the Minister. Section 11 is interesting. The Minister is looking to authenticate identity for personal public service, PPS, numbers and public service cards. How advanced is this process and when will it be complete? This is critical to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (13 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister might explain the fines regime for personal retirement savings accounts, PRSA. I commend the Minister on the pensions council. It is a good idea because the pensions area is very complex. Will the eight members the Minister is to nominate be from the industry? When will this happen? I know they will be unpaid but will they receive expenses? Section 26 regards the direction...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is what it amounts to.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: A new survey by Amárach Research shows that more than 80% of Irish people, or eight out of ten, believe that parliamentarians should have the right to a free vote on conscience grounds on the proposed abortion legislation. It is an issue that is exercising many people at this time. Young people in particular are shocked that parliamentarians are not entitled to a free vote on this...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister is welcome. These are two very useful amendments-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I understand that. I am speaking to the section and the substantive element of the amendments, although I understand they are out of order. The thrust of what Senator Cullinane is trying to achieve is very useful but we will have to find the right place to bring in the amendments. I agree that any employer who has had a finding made against it of unfair dismissal should reimburse the State...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank Senator Cullinane for this amendment. I see merit in having a time limit on appeals because we get many queries on this issue and some of the waiting times last months. I know of one case where it was 18 months. To limit it to 21 days would be dangerous if it cannot be met. The Minister might say something about this issue and what she might consider reasonable. The waiting times...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Is there a link with child benefit in this regard? Child benefit payments cease the day the child turns 18 years. Does the payment continue for one-parent families until the child reaches 22 years?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is a priority of the Minister's Department, as it is for us all, to prevent and curb social welfare fraud. Is she confident that the electronic signature and photograph that will be contained on the new public services card are foolproof? If so, does she agree that we should not also have gone down the road of fingerprinting?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Is the Minister confident the system is adequately foolproof?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Twice the population.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is the third time SUSI has appeared before the committee. All of the questions and issues raised by Deputy Dooley were raised in the previous two committee meetings. I commence by saying it was a crisis. Once it gave the exact contact numbers for Deputies and Senators I saw a huge improvement. I state categorically that Mr. John Conroy helped me with the most complex case that ever...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Is there any chance that my questions will be answered?