Results 801-820 of 1,311 for speaker:Sheila Terry

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, before section 3, to insert the following new section: "3.—The Minister for Social and Family Affairs shall within 3 months of the commencement of this Act lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the effectiveness of Child Benefit and Child Income Support as a tool for tackling child poverty.". This amendment asks the Minister to return to the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I will take the Minister's word that the package will be completed next year. We will watch to ensure it is completed. I will support, or at least look favourably on, any proposal the Minister might bring forward to help children of lower-income families. The Minister will receive widespread support because we all accept that children are still living in poverty. While child benefit does not...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 6: In page 18, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following new paragraph: "(c) paragraph (b) will continue in force for 2 years or such extended period (in any event, not exceeding 5 years) as may be prescribed by regulations made jointly by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.". There is a well-established...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I am not advocating that anyone guilty of social welfare fraud should escape scot free. However, the period the Department of Social and Family Affairs has to pursue cases is too open-ended. Information should be available at a much earlier stage if the systems within the Department are working correctly. Leaving the period so open can lead to a build-up of cases with the Department and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 7: In page 21, before section 27, to insert the following new section: "27.—A statute law restatement of the Pensions Acts as amended shall be published within three months of the passing of this Act.". I have been in Seanad Éireann for only two years but I have dealt with a good deal of legislation in that time. During that time, the pensions Act was the most...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I am not satisfied with the Minister's answer. He acknowledges that the Act must be updated and made more presentable and concise. If this is the case the decision must be taken to follow through. This Government stated that it believes in openness and transparency. Let us see some and get this job done. I am not asking for something that would incur a cost on the State but it is in the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 8: In page 22, before section 30, to insert the following new section: "30.—The Principal Act is amended in section 10 by inserting the following new paragraph after paragraph (a): (aa) to carry out periodic reviews in order to ensure that there is a fair consumer-provider balance in the regulation and control of the pensions industry.". These amendments are intended to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I am very disappointed the Minister has not taken the amendments on board. I do not accept that the current provisions offer consumer protection and the Minister knows this well. There is evidence that consumers are not protected and, hence, they are voting with their feet and not taking up products offered by the pensions industry. The Minister mentioned the preservation of pensions and I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: It is helping only the pensions industry.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: Who is benefiting from that tax relief?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: The State might be better off paying them a pension.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I never suggested we should withdraw it. I am questioning the value for money for the State.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I thank Senator Cox for the intervention. Can I resubmit the remaining amendment on Report Stage and can they be dealt with in full at that stage?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 1: In page 22, between lines 41 and 42, to insert the following: "30.—The Principal Act is amended in section 10 by inserting the following new paragraph after paragraph (a): (aa) to carry out periodic reviews in order to ensure that there is a fair consumer-provider balance in the regulation and control of the pensions industry.". I apologise for boring the Minister...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I wish to reiterate my disappointment that the Minister is not accepting any of the three amendments. I thought that, at least, he could take on board amendment No. 3, which states: All advertising carried out by or on behalf of pension providers shall include a warning (of equal prominence as the substance of the advert) alerting consumers of the risks, fees and all charges associated with...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: While that is to be welcomed, why can it not be extended to all occupational schemes?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I hear of many schemes being advertised yet there is no warning attached to them. There should be. Perhaps the Minister could examine that matter.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: Such a provision does not have to be included in the legislation but the Minister could introduce it at any time. I am left with no option, therefore, but to withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 4: In page 26, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: "33.—The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following new section after section 36: 36A.—(1) A pensions provider operating or providing a service in the State shall, as and from 1 January 2006, furnish evidence acceptable to the Minister that the pensions provider, has entered into an arrangement...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Sheila Terry: I welcome the Minister's understanding and his sympathetic approach to this matter. I hope he will consider such a protective fund for the consumer. I do not accept that people are moving from defined benefit schemes to defined contribution schemes in the UK as a result of the charge. I believe people would be willing to pay if they thought their funds would be protected. It is like an...