Results 1,061-1,080 of 1,311 for speaker:Sheila Terry

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to come before the House to facilitate a debate on the recent Pensions Board report regarding the future provision of pensions. It was a major report which included a number of recommendations. As several Members have expressed an interest in the issue of pensions, this report would be worthy of debate.

Seanad: Lourdes Hospital Inquiry: Statements. (9 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley. I welcome the report, published by Judge Maureen Harding Clark on peripartum hysterectomy at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. It makes shocking reading as the judge said. I sympathise with those women involved, who were violated in a most appalling way. All Members, both women and men, must...

Seanad: Lourdes Hospital Inquiry: Statements. (9 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: They may not be maternity cases but may concern other areas. It may be women with breast cancer having their breast removed unnecessarily. Who knows the other cases that will come to light down the road? It is vitally important, therefore, that we have structures in place now and if they are not in place, that should be done at the earliest opportunity to ensure this never happens again, that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: Is that wishful thinking?

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Second Stage. (21 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I welcome the Minister to the House. I appreciate the time he has taken to outline the contents of this lengthy and detailed Bill. It took him 30 minutes to do so and I appreciate that he has been on his feet for a long period. However, it was worthwhile hearing him outline the details of the Bill because it is very detailed and tackles many social problems. I agree with the Minister that it...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Motion. (22 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am happy to support this motion and I thank Senators Henry and O'Toole for their excellent presentations. I am disappointed with the Government's amendment and I ask Senator Glynn to consider withdrawing it. We all agree with the motion, particularly women but also men. We want to see the services provided as detailed in the motion. I ask that both sides...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I welcome the Minister to the House. Senator McCarthy has outlined a number of individual cases in which people were caught up in the means test arrangements. These reflect a large number of similar cases. I ask the Minister to keep the system under review and take into account a range of issues, including those raised by Senator McCarthy, when carrying out any such review. I will focus on...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I support the amendment tabled by Senator McCarthy and congratulate the Minister on bringing childminders who mind up to three children within the home into the PRSI net. That worthwhile provision will ensure these people, the majority of whom are women, are entitled to contributory pensions and maternity benefits. I concur with Senator McCarthy that people who are in receipt of social...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4.—The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay a report on the effectiveness of Child Benefit and Child Income Support as a tool for tackling child poverty, before the Houses of the Oireachtas.". I compliment the Minister on his thinking since he came into the Department...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response and for outlining the benefits. Payments have rightly improved significantly in recent years. Senator McCarthy made an important point in that, while none of us wants to say that unemployed people or those on low incomes should not have social lives, there should be some training and management of funds, which was my initial point. The Minister cited the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 5: In page 7, before section 8, to insert the following new section: "8.—The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the review of social welfare payments for carers.". We have had an interesting debate on carers but the means test is something we must review throughout the year. The take-up...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: Could the application forms for these benefits be made as simple as possible? Some forms are most complicated and this poses a problem for many people. As the forms comprise many pages and the questions are not clear some people do not bother applying for the benefit. I am aware booklets are provided with these forms but it has been brought to my attention that the forms are difficult to complete.

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister. I did not intend to oppose this section because I agree with the Minister's proposal. I can understand why this payment was there in past years and I thank the Minister for allowing those on that scheme to remain on it. In light of our changing economic climate and our healthier, fitter and longer-living population it is right that this scheme be abolished and that only...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 6: In page 18, before section 28, to insert the following new section: "28.—The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the position of one parent families.". I proposed this because I am interested in the document launched last week and I have asked that we examine and debate it in this...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: The next amendment will address that issue. The Senator might support it.

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 7: In page 18, before section 28, to insert the following new section: "28.—The Minister shall, within 6 months of the commencement of this Act, prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the work of the Maintenance Recovery Unit of his Department.". This is the amendment which Senator Jim Walsh will support.

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: That fathers should and would support their children is an important point. The Minister might provide figures outlining how many fathers support their children. There is a sense of irresponsibility among some men who father children and simply turn their backs on the mothers. It is a serious problem for many mothers and impacts on their children. The financial aspect is not the only...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his reply and the way in which he is considering this issue with reform in mind, with which I agree. The figure for fathers contributing to the maintenance of their children is very low. It is not good enough that of the number of cases examined, only 15% of fathers are contributing. I would like to see an improvement in that figure and for fathers to become more...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 8: In page 18, before section 28, to insert the following new section: "The Minister shall, within 6 months of the commencement of this Act, prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the progress of his proposal to develop a second tier payment.". As time is pressing, I will ask the Minister to comment on his proposal in respect of the second tier...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 10: In page 20, before section 32, to insert the following new section: "The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the support provided by the Back to Education Allowance.". This matter was also debated in the Dáil. In light of the recent court case, what does the Department of Social and...