Results 4,841-4,860 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Social Welfare Fraud. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: We can all quote figures. The Comptroller and Auditor General found that of the five schemes surveyed, overpayments were recorded in a quarter of cases. That is a high number. The Minister diverted staff away from fraud and into processing, which was perhaps justified on a short-term basis. Is there now a full complement of staff dealing with fraud? Does the Minister accept the conclusion...

Social Welfare Fraud. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: It showed that €255 million euro was saved on those schemes.

Departmental Staff. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Performance in respect of tackling the waiting lists has been unsatisfactory in recent months. A particular problem appeared to have arisen during the month of August when waiting times increased by, on average, 16%. In places like Roscommon and Tullow the waiting time increased by seven weeks during the month of August alone. In Clondalkin the waiting time increased by four weeks. The...

Departmental Staff. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: I asked the Minister what provision she is making to deal with that.

Departmental Staff. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Waiting times increased by 16% in August alone. How can the Minister defend that?

Public Service Numbers and Expenditure. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: The McCarthy report has been described as a red pen exercise. It is easy to go through budgets and slash left, right and centre with no regard for the implications of the cuts. One proposal was the discontinuation of the €30 million funding for the Family Support Agency. I am keen to know the Minister's thinking on this area given her background as Minister with responsibility for...

Social Insurance. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: This situation is urgent. There are hundreds of people in negative equity and facing the prospect of losing their homes. The Minister promised reform by last Easter, but we have not yet seen it. As well as the areas that have already been identified by Deputy Enright that urgently need reform, such as the 30 hour rule and the means test, does the Minister accept that the Government needs...

Social Insurance. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: The arbitrary rules preclude them from applying.

Social Insurance. (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: When is the Minister going to reform it?

FÁS: Motion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: It is the Labour Services Act.

FÁS: Motion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Over the past two nights this debate has centred on the need for accountability and proper corporate governance in one of our key State agencies, FÁS, and on the highly questionable deal reached with the former director general, Rody Molloy. During the debate many speakers highlighted different areas of concern with regard to FÁS. Different aspects of the FÁS operation remain which will...

FÁS: Motion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: The laws relating to Mr. Molloy's deal are the Labour Services Act 1987, the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963, the Department of Finance guidelines, the code of practice covering directors of public bodies and the tax Acts. Senior civil servants and Ministers had clear responsibilities in respect of the law. We deserve answers. In the absence of answers I put these key questions to the...

FÁS: Motion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Allow me to finish, please. I have one minute left. This is important and we need answers on this. Was this point, about the need for Government approval, raised by senior officials in the Department of Finance and what was that Minister's response? In not obtaining Government approval, was this a deliberate attempt to keep this sweetheart deal from the Green Party?

FÁS: Motion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Why was there no resolution from the board, as was required?

FÁS: Motion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Who sanctioned the company car? I have half a minute. Who and on what basis was the additional lump sum paid and how were the tax implications dealt with? It matters that public servants and Ministers adhere to the law and tell the truth. It matters to the public and it matters to those of us on this side of the House. The question tonight is: does it-----

FÁS: Motion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: -----matter to the Green Party? I commend this motion to the House.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she has taken to minimise delays in the processing times for jobseeker payments. [34394/09]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (7 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Question 143: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she is taking to improve the level of information sharing in her Department in order that the number and scale of overpayments can be reduced significantly. [34391/09]

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: Before the summer recess the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act 2009 was passed. That is to provide for reform of the expenses regime for TDs and Ministers. Since then the Minister for Finance has been sitting on that legislation. What is required is that the Minister sign regulations to give effect to that legislation. Why has the Minister...

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Róisín Shortall: What is this nonsense about "even more reform"?