Results 6,461-6,480 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Order for Report Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: No, perhaps the Acting Chairman will circulate it as he is required to do.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Order for Report Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: We cannot legislate by the Acting Chairman reading something out.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Order for Report Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: I doubt if it has.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Order for Report Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: I doubt that it has been done before like this.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2010: Motion to Recommit (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: We have already voiced our concern about how we have been treated. This is a sloppy way of dealing with legislation. The material read out by the Acting Chairman earlier related to proposed amendments to amendments. We were not even shown the courtesy of having these changes circulated to us in writing. It makes a laughing stock of the efforts of this House to deal with legislation. It...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: I have had a chance to read the Minister's brief, which has just been circulated. I am a little surprised because I understood an opportunity would be provided for pension trustees to purchase Irish sovereign bonds. The Minister's brief says trustees of pension schemes will be given an option to buy sovereign annuities issued by EU member states. I am trying to figure out the implications...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: German bonds have a lower yield.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: The whole purpose of this was that Irish bonds had a high yield, so there was a win-win situation.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: Why did the Minister not limit it to Irish bonds?

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: Under the existing rules, annuities must be priced against German bonds.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: I am saying that under the current rules Irish annuities must be priced against German bonds. Why can the Government not simply change that regulation to allow them to be priced against Irish bonds? It does not have to be EU bonds.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: That is why I am saying the measure will not necessarily achieve what it is intended to achieve.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: Is it fair?

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: I am not talking about Deputies. It applies to other people.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: In general, I have an open mind in respect of this matter. If it is possible for the Department to use electronic means of operating in order to save money, that is fine provided the proper safeguards are put in place. However, the Department has not distinguished itself in the context of adopting modern technologies. In the past, it proved to be incapable of even collecting the PPS...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: I move amendment No. 7: In page 10, line 35, after "number" to insert "and a tax clearance certificate". These two amendments and the following couple all relate to the payment of rent supplement. Rent supplement probably is the area of social welfare that is crying out most for reform. The manner in which it operates at present poses the greatest poverty trap to people in receipt of social...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: ----- but this must be the number one priority for the incoming Government. A number of steps could be taken to remove this poverty trap. It works against both the recipient and the State and the more such traps that mean people will remain in receipt of social welfare are in place, the more it costs the State to provide such welfare support. Moreover, the individual recipient obviously is...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (14 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: Question 347: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he will report on a recent planning permission obtained by Enterprise Ireland for works to their premises on Old Finglas Road, Dublin 11; the estimated cost of these works; if it is intended to proceed with them in view of the changed economic cost of these works and pressure of departmental budgets; and if he will...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (15 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the FÁS training and community employment rates that will apply in 2011. [47556/10]

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (15 Dec 2010)

Róisín Shortall: Question 162: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the charges that will apply to pensioners in respect of passports in 2011. [47554/10]