Results 7,461-7,480 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: We move to subhead E, appropriations-in-aid. I understand the Minister must attend Leaders' Questions in the Dáil so if there are no further questions, we will conclude our consideration of the Supplementary Estimate. I thank the Minister and her officials for their attendance today and thank members for their input.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Message to Dáil (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: In accordance with Standing Order 87, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for public services for the year ending on 31 December 2015: Vote 26 - Education and Skills.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (10 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: 198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of extra school places provided since March 2011 in areas (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44655/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Start Programme (10 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: 199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the Early Start programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44656/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I will first outline the position on privilege. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Thank you, Mr. McCabe. Our final speaker is Ms Faughnan for the Department of Social Protection.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I will start with Ms Sinéad Keenan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank Ms Keenan. I now call on Mr. Pádraig McCabe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I have a couple of questions also. Mr. McCabe mentioned poverty and it is important we look at that. In terms of the redistribution of income, Ireland has the most redistributive system of all countries in the OECD. We had a meeting on this issue and Dr. Donal de Buitléir has written a lot on the issue. No matter how we cut it, we, more than any other country, redistribute income...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Did Deputy Byrne wish to speak?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Do the Deputies have any other questions? There is one thing I would urge. If the Department of Social Protection is considering national procurement, it might consider operating on a regional basis. For example, it could be done in the way the education and training boards were established. That would fit in with the need to have local investment and so on. Deputy Byrne made another...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank our witnesses. We have had a very good and informative discussion. This is the last meeting before Christmas, although it may not be the last meeting - we will see how things go. I thank all our members. I am keen to take this opportunity to thank Tom Sheridan, our clerk, and Angela Treacy. We have a new member of staff with us today, Elaine Vaughan. Two other staff members,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Business of Joint Committee (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: As we have a quorum, I call the meeting to order. Apologies have been received from Deputy Michael Conaghan. I ask members to switch their mobile phones to flight or aeroplane mode. I wish to inform the committee that correspondence has been placed on the database. We will now go into private session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: We will resume in public session. Today we will discuss the humanitarian assistance scheme in terms of household flooding. I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the position on privilege. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If witnesses are directed by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: If members agree, I will take questions from Deputy O'Dea first because he will be obliged to leave for Question Time in the Dáil. Is that agreed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: I wish to say something on that, but I will allow Deputy Harrington in first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Before Ms Faughnan responds, I have some questions. I would advise caution in regards to the means test. I submitted a parliamentary question recently on income levels and the response from the Revenue Commissioners was that 51% of incomes are at €30,000 or less. Therefore, I disagree that €70,000 is a middle income. Perhaps it is an average income in a double income...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: I would not argue against the issue of the thresholds being looked at, but we must look at the issue in the context of 51% of incomes being €30,000 or less.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: I accept that but at the same time, it should be acknowledged that the means test compared to the exceptional needs system generally, where people are literally struggling, and I deal with them all of the time-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Can I finish my point please?