Results 4,201-4,220 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: My entire speech that I had prepared is focused on the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is my first time to speak in this debate and I would like to use this opportunity.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Young people who are already on the live register may be put off from taking up temporary employment due to a fear of going back to social welfare at a reduced rate. I know this is part of a broader debate but when we quote live register figures in Ireland, we also are citing, as the Minister knows, those who are in part-time work. That is a pity. That puts us down as a nation. There are...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I heard the Minister say that the €32 million in savings will be spent many times over. I am delighted to hear that but that needs to be said and put on the record because the word does not need to go out to our country and young people that this Government is cutting services for and trying to make savings on the back of our young people when they are our greatest human resource now...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I appreciate that and am very grateful to the Acting Chairman. Some may know that I have a job creation initiative that has been running since 2009 in Oranmore. One of the most productive and demanding courses that has come out of that is Momentum. I compliment the Minister on those courses. There is huge interest. In the past few days, I met two people who said that they now have work...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am pretty much finished. We need to be more flexible around not allowing anybody with part-time work to also register as unemployed. There should be a renaming of that category, which would give a boost to morale.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I just want clarification from the Minister that she will be laying a report before the House.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With regard to the report, I am quite happy to wait until the new year when the Minister is back from the negotiations on the youth guarantee. I wish to clarify something. As I understand it, the budget states that €14 million will be invested from the youth guarantee scheme.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Maybe I am a bit lost here. The Minister is putting €14 million into the youth guarantee scheme, and the Government is committed to that. Some €32 million is coming out so there is an €18 million shortfall as a result of the Minister's deductions on social welfare payments. Is the Minister relying on other Departments, such as the Department of Education and Skills, to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am accepting that, if that is what the Minister is saying but I need to know.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have a concern about the complete phasing out over time of this provision. While the Minister may already have specified this to the House, over what period does she plan to phase out the mortgage interest supplement?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: If my figures are correct, I understand that in 2012, the Government paid out €55 million in mortgage interest supplement payments. While this provision now is to be phased out completely, I note those who are in receipt of such mortgage interest supplement payments at present need it to be paid for them in order to stay in their houses and to keep their houses until hopefully, their...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is extremely slow if one is looking for people to go bankrupt. Moreover, I do not believe this is the way in which to hold onto one's home. Personally, I favour the Central Bank being far more proactive with the banks. While I acknowledge they have been given targets, I read the transcripts of the meetings of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform held here during...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I completely agree with the Minister that giving €319 million to the banks essentially is wasting money unless a process is happening at the same time to reach a sustainable solution for those people to help them keep their homes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: However, MARP has been in place for slightly more than a year. As for the €55 million that was paid last year, the Minister indicated she intended to phase out that payment over the next four years, when those concerned return to work. What will happen in the case of those who do not return to work? How is the Minister working with the banks to ensure that the people for whom she is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I did not get an answer to the question with respect. What is the Minister's solution? Is she phasing it out on the one hand while using MARP on the other hand? Is the Department of Social Protection communicating with MARP and the banks on the issue?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Report Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is good to see the Minister back in the House again. I thank Senators Quinn and Norris for moving and seconding the amendment. I listened carefully to the Minister's comments yesterday. Youth unemployment and emigration is such a serious issue that we cannot postpone addressing it. The Government parties have an opportunity to say they are serious about this, they will do something...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Report Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister committed last night to the provision of 20,000 places, therefore, we know there is a shortfall. In the budget document there is a commitment to the allocation of €14 million towards the youth guarantee scheme but €32 million is being taken away. Whatever way one's adds up the figures there is a shortfall. I am not here to mince my words; I am here to say let us...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Report Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I accept that. Put it in a report and let us have it before the-----