Results 7,581-7,600 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I have been very open and positive.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The Deputies have made valid points all evening but I have to take responsibility for the choices I made. I do not have unlimited resources, nor would the Deputies if any of them was standing where I am; they would make choices and I would have to respect them, even if I disagreed with them. That is a reasonable attitude. I do not accept what Deputy Shortall said, nor would I expect any...
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: This is for a child under six years of age.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: For a family with one child over six years, the figure is â¬3,266, or â¬66.62 per week. All these figures are available and demonstrate a fair commitment to children. For a family on social welfare with two children, one under six years and one over six and less than 12 years, the annual payment is â¬7,532. These are direct cash payments.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: That is not what everybody receives. They are, correctly, specifically targeted payments. In answer to a question the Deputy asked at the start of her contribution, my philosophy is to try to direct the resources available to where they are most needed. I am not wedded entirely to big universal payments, as valuable as they are, because it presumes in many respects that there are...
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I will break it down for the Deputy. It is made up of child benefit, child dependant allowance, the back to school clothing and footwear allowance and the early child care supplement. The total for a family with four children, one of whom is under six years, two over six and under 12 years and one over 12 years, is â¬15,009, to be accurate. I have listed the payments to refute the point...
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am not.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: It is not.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I was listening to every word the Deputy said.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am not leading that change, as it relates to another Department. I have given Deputies the answers. There is significant disagreement on this issue. There are strongly held views which have been directly expressed to me. I regret the great divergence in views because one would like to achieve consensus on some of these issues. Great fears have been legitimately expressed by both sides....
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: The Deputy used the example of a 17 year old. I would expect any family to send a 17 year old out to earn some money for himself or herself. That was the approach I took with my children. My 17 year old was working part-time to earn money. There is no shortage of work.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: Hold on one minute.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I do not accept that 17 year olds should be sitting at home on their backsides. Irrespective of the income levels of their families, be they good, bad or indifferent, they should be making a contribution.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle. I did not interrupt.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I do not believe my children are different from the rest. They have the same problems and face the same issues as everybody else. They could have stayed at home because young people do not spend seven days a week studying for any exam. If they want pocket money, one has to teach them responsibility and values and allow them to earn some money. They do not have to work all the hours God...
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: Who said they were working to survive? The Deputy made the point that the only income a 17 year old had was â¬24. I disagree with her. She is wrong because the State contributes substantially more than that sum. It is perfectly reasonable for most, if not all, 17 year olds, barring a disability or other reason such as acting in the capacity of carer in a family, to go out at the weekend...
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: What I have said in response to the Deputy is valid. It is about time people started to say it. It is about time parents started to say that, with all the rights young people have, they have responsibilities. I hear about rights every day of the week but nothing about responsibilities.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: Who said they should?
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: I am not.
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2007)
Martin Cullen: It is not an optional extra.