Results 581-600 of 35,959 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: There is a 27% cut in the provision for school buildings.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Some of those borrowings are used to support tax breaks for property developers and to support the wages of the Taoiseach and Ministers. Do not blame it all on social welfare recipients.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: What he is saying is crazy.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: He should be factual at least.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Senator Butler should name one proposal Sinn Féin made in its pre-budget submission. He is waffling and does not have a clue.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I oppose this section. It deals with many of the issues we have discussed already, such as medical, optical and dental benefits, as well as the medical appliance scheme. This will cost us dearly in terms of dental hygiene and so on. I have spoken to people who will be directly affected by this. I hope people will get their applications in before the end of the year and before this measure...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: In my initial comments I asked about the cost to the State this section of the Bill will save. The Minister did not outline this or perhaps I missed it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: We must make decisions and bridge the deficit, as Sinn Féin has acknowledged and has shown how it can be done. Sinn Féin acknowledges that PRSI contributions will be in deficit next year. That is one of the reasons we proposed the removal of the ceiling on PRSI contributions, bringing in €119 million. I know the Minister was uncomfortable listening to my earlier contribution but this...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: On the Minister's last comment, although we have already dealt with competition, the Minister is now saying the State pays a subsidy for extractions, fillings and the other treatment to which people had to contribute, and she said it is up to dentists not to be ripping them off. I take it she claims they are ripping off the client at present through the contribution from the State, and are...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I do not want to drag this out because we have spent some time on it and I take the point about competition. We would all welcome reduced prices in dental practices. The Minister mentioned this is just for a year and there will be no impact on oral hygiene for the 2 million people who can avail of the service. Why then is the subsidy being reinstated next year? The Minister has arguments...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister should acknowledge she has not repeated the answer to every question I have asked. It is disingenuous for her to say that. The Minister acknowledged the mid-term PRSI deficit next year will be astronomical and it is likely to increase with the increasing number of people on the live register, as forecast by the Government in the budget. The Government has already said there is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I spoke on this issue earlier and during Second Stage. The attack on those under the age of 25 is the worst aspect of this legislation. When we dealt with the previous section I did not get to ask the Minister if she had obtained legal advice on this provision. I apologise in advance if she has given this information to the House. I understand that such a provision has been introduced for...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: On a point of information, if someone works for a week, would he or she not be treated differently? The Minister referred to sufficient PRSI contributions.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Will such an individual be treated differently?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: So my point is correct.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister should acknowledge that my point is correct.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I made the point about the two brothers who were working and the Minister said they would not be treated any differently because the change affects only those who have never worked. One has to have a number of contributions. I am not sure how many weeks are required. How many is it?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: In the case of two brothers who have worked for a number of months, one who is made unemployed before Christmas and one after Christmas, will the Minister acknowledge that we have treated them differently? Perhaps I am reading the legislation incorrectly. The Minister said the change only affects those who have never worked. Will she clarify that it affects people who have worked, who have...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister was irked earlier when I said she was repeating answers. The reason I am asking the same questions again is that she is not answering them. She spoke about providing incentives to go to college.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Education.