Results 1,301-1,320 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----because the Bills Office will not be republish it.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has tabled amendments to the Bill, as has Fine Gael. If the amendments are accepted by the House it will not be possible to take Report Stage tonight.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: That shows the nonsense of trying to push everything through.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is not prepared to face up to reality.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: There will be.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is playing games. On a point of order, we know the Government has tabled amendments to the Bill.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has tabled amendments. Why are we playing games?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: As in regard to the economy, the Government is not facing up to the reality of what it is doing.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: He did.

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is it not normal procedure in this House to have a list of the groupings of the amendments? That always has been the practice in the Dáil and the Seanad.

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I assume this is happening because the Bills Office has been placed under intolerable time pressure. It points up the folly of taking all Stages on the same day. It makes management of the amendments during the debate extremely difficult for all sides. Is there not a procedure that when amendments are being debated, a list of the amendments is supplied?

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, to delete lines 12 to 15. It is strange that amendment No. 1 was not allowed because it was deemed to be in conflict with the principle of the Bill. There was much discussion about that issue on Second Stage and I thought it would be allowed. Section 6 prevents any sale or promotion for any period shorter than 31 days. I imagine that the thinking behind...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 3: In page 10, line 46 to delete "10" and substitute "3". This section raises similar issues. Section 8 requires that all new products be submitted to the Health Insurance Authority, HIA, ten days prior to their being launched onto the market. When the Bill was initiated this was 20 days. I welcome the fact that it has been changed to ten, and clearly there has been...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, line 33, to delete "person." and substitute the following: "person, where that information is held by the health insurance business in respect of insured persons.". This deals with the obligation to make information returns. Section 9 requires significant information to be provided to the Health Insurance Authority, including personal public service...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 6: In page 16, to delete lines 7 to 11. This amendment was discussed in considerable detail in the Dáil. Section 7E(3), as inserted by section 9, allows the Minister to appoint a person whom he or she considers to be competent and qualified to advise and consult the Minister on ministerial functions under this section. In her Second Stage speech, the Minister, Deputy...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am still of the view that it is odd to include this provision in legislation. I assume Departments, on an ongoing basis, hire people for specific purposes and for short periods for advice on specific legislation. I do not understand the reason it must be written into the legislation. One would expect actuarial advice to be available to the Department. Such advice has probably been...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 7: In page 21, to delete lines 30 to 48 and in page 22 to delete lines 1 to 6. The amendment relates to the information that must be contained in advertisements and other information sheets. The provision directly overlaps with the large-scale advertising guidelines set out by the Financial Regulator to which competitors of the VHI must adhere. Health insurers argue...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will make several points on the levy on insurers. The concern is that the levy has forced up the price of health insurance for health consumers. The cost of premiums has increased in VHI, Quinn Healthcare and Hibernian Aviva Health by 26%, 16% and 22%, respectively. I note, however, that Hibernian Aviva Health has indicated that increases will be kept in separate accounts and returned to...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State talked about ring-fencing money for intergenerational solidarity. I also read Senator Quinn's contribution to this debate, which was very interesting. The levy, however, is not ring-fenced as such. The VHI can use the proceeds from the levy for any other purposes it may choose, including expanding its business. However, section 3 sets out the principal objective of...