Results 5,341-5,360 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has committed to giving me the answers. I ask him to put them on the public record-----

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: -----rather than providing them to me directly. It is essential that we move to address people's concerns. There has been a sizable engagement on this issue for some considerable time, mostly via social media and online. It is critical that this be above board. We all know that European rules apply to these matters and that one must comply with statutory provisions on the treatment of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Reform (10 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 18. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that where a young person who is having a domiciliary care allowance payment awarded in respect of them reaches 16 and applies for a welfare payment in their own right, pending the successful outcome of that application the parent-guardian concerned loses their payment entirely, and must wait to apply...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exchequer Savings (10 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 20. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the reported budgetary savings made in her Department throughout her time as Minister that have had a real and adverse effect on the quality and efficiency of the service provided to citizens who access their services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47093/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (10 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 59. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that long term sick claimants of illness benefit supports are not permitted to avail of the Christmas bonus announced recently for unemployed recipients; her plans to widen the Christmas bonus qualifying criteria for persons claiming illness benefit for up to eight years and more; if she will widen the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (10 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 61. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who have been continuously unemployed for more than the 391 cumulative-paid total days are required to avail of the Christmas bonus, due to the fact that they are no longer part of another person's claim; if this qualifying period of 391 days will be assessable against joint claims; and if...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (10 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is his Department's intention to increase the tourism potential of the Liffey Valley amenity area; the deliberations he or his predecessor has had with interested parties regarding this; if his Department has had any contact with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs with respect to the tourist potential of...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: We had all made an initial contribution. I understood that on Report Stage, it was possible to come back on-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: And Report Stage.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: There was an interesting and important intervention from the former Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd. It is all the more reason why, if this Bill is passed and Irish Water goes ahead, this section needs to be significantly strengthened. Is the Minister talking about a binding plebiscite? A plebiscite is a very different proposition from a referendum. Whether it is right to put the right...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I do not have a need to put a whole lot more on the record. While I agree with much of what has been said I have a number of questions about the borrowings because the numbers will be the make or break of Irish Water. We are continuously told there will be a need to borrow and that borrowing can happen off the balance sheet. I ask the Minister to tell the House who will pay back the...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I move amendment No. 27:In page 7, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:"(5) The Minister shall ensure that all information transmitted in accordance with subsection (4) is done so in a manner consistent with the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2003.".I welcome the change whereby householders are no longer required to provide a PPS number to Irish Water. This was an issue I raised...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Two million.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Several serious points have been raised and I would like to pick on the one made by Deputy Shortall. We all know there are certain Departments whose work results in a lot of activity in our constituency offices. The Department of Social Protection will be such a Department for all of us. It is outrageous that people who are struggling for a long time to get a decision on an invalidity...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I support the amendment although I would have the same reservations about people becoming customers of Irish Water. I do not see in the definitions section how a customer is constituted or defined. We heard last night that anyone who sent a pack back to Irish Water is regarded as a customer. Yet the declaration under section F of the application form states:By completing and returning this...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I am aware that the definition of a customer is contained in the 2013 legislation but there seem to be contradictions in this legislation. It is not redefined anywhere that a customer is any different from the definition set out, but there appear to be voluntary and involuntary customers and a separate range of rights and entitlements. I presume that all of these pieces are supposed to hang...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I will be brief and not labour the points. The fact is that we are removing it from the democratic control of the local authorities. Somebody said on the last occasion we discussed this that customers' interests would be represented when discussing matters such as leaks. Such matters were dealt with at local authority level and there was great variation. Where there was investment the...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Much of this comes down to the definition of what is a customer. As Members are aware, many people do not wish to be customers, as they discern the difference between being a citizen and being a customer. However, there appear to be two definitions, one of which is in the 2013 legislation and which pretty much defines it as the occupier. However, when it comes to customers, there are two...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: That is my point.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I have a number of questions. Have the costs of superannuation been quantified? Clearly, those who will be employees of Irish Water must have their pensions covered. I presume one of the reasons for tabling these amendments is to correct an omission made in drafting the Bill in respect of the Local Government Management Agency. If people employed by the local authorities are seconded to...