Results 4,701-4,720 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: What difference will it make if they come under a different Department? If there are not enough staff, there are not enough staff, irrespective of what they are called. The Minister should deal with the industrial relations issues and stop hiding behind them.

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: How many additional posts have been approved over and above the 300? When will they be in place? Last year the Department of Social and Family Affairs had one of the highest rates of absenteeism, with an average of 15 sick days per year. What is the current situation and what steps is the Minister taking to deal with that?

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: When does the Department expect to have the other 150?

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: What about absenteeism?

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: This delay is a disgrace.

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: It is an absolute disgrace that the Minister is dragging her heels like this on such an important issue.

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: The Minister is twiddling her thumbs on a very important issue.

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: It is an absolute disgrace. The Minister is dodging another important issue.

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Are we out of time for Priority Questions?

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: The Ceann Comhairle stated that we had half an hour.

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Does Priority Question Time end after half an hour or not?

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: With all due respect, my question was whether Priority Question Time ends after 30 minutes?

Pension Provisions. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Thank you.

Tax and Social Welfare Codes. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: From next year there will be a shortfall in the social insurance budget so it would impact on it. I smiled when the Minister mentioned solidarity in the social insurance system. If one takes account of the large cash transfers that are taking place by way of tax relief on private pensions, there would not be too much solidarity to speak about. One must consider the wider picture. With...

Tax and Social Welfare Codes. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Will the Minister examine the matter?

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: The Minister made a number of comments on difficulties encountered in improving processing times and indicated the main problems arise in branch offices. While I accept that major problems are occurring in branch offices, they are not confined to these offices. A brief examination of the tables supplied shows that six local offices have processing times of ten weeks or more. What action is...

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: The Minister suggested the CPSU was blocking both initiatives.

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: In response to the priority question, the Minister indicated the CPSU was blocking progress on the processing of claims on two different fronts. She seems to have backtracked on that in the response she has just given.

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Is there an industrial relations issue or not? Will the Minister clarify the issue with regard to the appointment system, to dealing with long delays in branch offices and to processing being done by departmental staff? She indicated earlier the CPSU was at fault on those fronts. Has the Minister a figure for the current number of staff vacancies? When will the central support office for...

Social Welfare Benefits. (25 Jun 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Is it the CPSU that is holding that up?