Results 5,441-5,460 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 53. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to enable front line staff to triage applications for benefit related schemes made by the public, ensuring applicants do not spend months waiting on a decision for a scheme for which they should not have made application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3183/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 54. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to manage community staff resources where staff move to other areas internally or externally through job progression, retirement or ill health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3184/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Ombudsman (22 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 80. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a significant number of persons who made investments during a time when the economy was very healthy and some banks engaged in irresponsible lending practices, and who now find that they fall foul of the six-year limitation period placed upon complaints that can be registered with the Financial Services Ombudsman (details...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (22 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 207. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the upgrade to insulation of social housing stock; if he has prepared a targeted plan for the retrofit of the worst affected housing; if he will provide a table of intended retrofit projects by town and by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3185/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (22 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 208. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the obligations on local authorities to ensure that the building energy rating is improved in social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3186/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (22 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 209. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the obligations that lie with local authorities in relation to repairs for housing stock, targets and standards for resolving issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3187/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (22 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 210. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if damp that is occurring in social housing stock is an issue that should be dealt with by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3188/15]

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: It is all right, the Deputy can speak.

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: I welcome the debate. There are a number of issues that need further consideration, such as the definition of "conscience". I am trying to imagine a situation where this would be accepted and we would have a public debate. We would have to define just exactly what is meant by votes of conscience. Our Constitution at present only insists on two things regarding the stability of a...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: Essentially, the view is that party comes first and constituent or citizen second. There was an expectation of ambitious reform, and what we got was superficial reform. That is part of the reason there is greater support for independents now. It is a very deliberate choice that if the party system will not reform politics here, the citizens will force reform by virtue of breaking a system...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: The American Humanist Association defines this as a progressive life stance without supernaturalism, affirming our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives, capable of adding to the greater good of humanity.

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: The notion that one has to be religious, for example, to have a conscience, is nonsense. I have a conscience about things like poverty, people being on trolleys in our hospitals, the way we manage our services and property being described as something people live in when it is in fact a family home - I see it as shelter. We could mention many issues which could come within the definition of...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: The Government should hang its head in shame when it comes in here to talk about reform. We have not seen it in any kind of a meaningful way.

Report on the Outline Heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Motion (23 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: It is very timely that we debate the report in the week in which the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill was, finally, published. It gives the House a chance to see the weight of such committee reports and the bearing they have on policy making. It is a coincidence that they both happened this week because this was due to be debated in December but was postponed because the...

Other Questions: School Enrolments (27 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on establishing a forum on school enrolment in north Kildare considering the major obstacles which have arisen in recent years; her views on whether such a forum is useful in establishing a full appreciation of parental choice in the area; if it will assist in achieving greater diversity, particularly with regard to Gaelscoil...

Other Questions: School Enrolments (27 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: This question has a local focus. I am sure north Kildare is not exclusive in terms of the types of problem that have presented in my area every year for as long as I have been involved in politics. I dread it when they open the lists and parents find that their child will not get into the primary or secondary school they would prefer. Too often, parents feel excluded from the process....

Other Questions: School Enrolments (27 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: As the Minister and the Acting Chairman, Deputy Keating, will be aware, seven primary schools in the north Kildare area, including some on the periphery of that area, feed into the second level Gaelcholáiste in Lucan. In 2015, not one single solitary student from those schools will be accommodated in Lucan because there is simply no space at the school there. The aonad that is being...

Other Questions: School Enrolments (27 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: There have been public meetings of hundreds of people who want a choice for their children. I attended one such meeting in Kilcock last week. The point is being made about having a place for every child, but parents do not want just any place. They want a choice in education. For example, there are 160 applications for 52 places. It would have been 83 or 84 places with the three streams,...

European Council: Statements (27 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: I am sharing time with Deputies Healy, Clare Daly and Wallace. As was said by others, much has happened since December, not least the weekend election in Greece which is part of a trend throughout Europe. Calls for a European debt conference ought to be heeded by this Government. Looking back, it is difficult to believe that the last time such an international conference of creditors...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (27 Jan 2015)

Catherine Murphy: 130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will demonstrate the figures which her Department is relying on to determine forward planning in north Kildare, in particular with regard to achieving a balanced diversity of choice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3372/15]