Results 17,121-17,140 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Public Health Emergency Team (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 219. To ask the Minister for Health the members of NPHET representing the views of the mental health services; the mental health expertise within NPHET; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38985/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 220. To ask the Minister for Health if there has been an increase in the request for substance abuse support services since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38986/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 221. To ask the Minister for Health if substance abuse support services have received additional funding since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38987/20]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I ask witnesses to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the recording equipment. I also remind members to sanitise their desk area and seat when leaving the committee room. The main item on our agenda is our consideration of the pandemic unemployment payment scheme. I welcome officials from the Department of Social Protection, Mr. Rónán Hession and Ms Teresa...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank Mr. Hession. Two of the big issues that have been raised with committee members have been the position of Aer Lingus staff and getting their applications processed and the music and entertainment industry. Perhaps the witnesses could elaborate on those two issues at the outset and clarify them for members before we go into questions and answers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Will Ms Leonard clarify her last comment on that? It is quite significant in terms of the lifting of the lockdown next week. If people sign on any day next week, will they be eligible for it or must they have signed on on 3 December?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I will now move to other members of the committee. I gave a bit more discretion to the two lead questioners earlier, so I will try and keep things tighter now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank Senator Wall. Which of the witnesses wishes to respond first?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank Ms Leonard. Has Mr. Hession anything further to add?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Mr. Hession seems to be eager to answer some of the questions there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Before I call Senator Garvey, I wholeheartedly endorse the comments of Deputy Kerrane about access to the application forms online. All our offices use them for people who cannot apply online. Sadly, they cannot come in to us at the moment, so the only way we have to facilitate them in applying for schemes is by printing those forms, and I have printed many. I ask that the facility be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: On Deputy Ó Cuív's point, it would be very useful if Mr. Hession could give us the rationale for the abolition of the mortgage interest supplement. This is something that the committee will be coming back to in the next week as part of its recommendations, so it would be of assistance to us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I hear what Ms Leonard said about the form. These forms are very useful to Members of the Oireachtas. Even as an interim measure, until we consider the broader issue, perhaps all Department of Social Protection forms could be made available in electronic form in order that they could be put up on the Plinth service, which is our intranet here. The initiative would ensure that for anyone...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: In terms of small numbers, are we talking about tens, hundreds or a few thousand people? What is Ms Leonard's definition of a small number?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank Ms Leonard and call Mr. Hession.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme: Department of Social Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank Mr. Hession and Ms Leonard for their assistance to the committee. I understand exactly where Mr. Hession is coming from with his comment regarding pensioners. I have teased this out at length with the Minister and her predecessor. It is difficult to tell older people to go for a supplementary welfare allowance when some of them will still recall the community welfare officer as the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 63. To ask the Minister for Finance the expected cost to the Exchequer of the stay-and-spend scheme in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38837/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: The Department of Finance expected people to spend over €7 million per day on the stay-and-spend scheme. We now find that people are spending just €1 million per month. I want the €100 million underspend to date on the scheme to be used to underwrite a gift voucher guarantee for the tourism and hospitality sector. I hope the Minister will look positively on this proposal.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: The objective behind the stay-and-spend scheme was to tap into pent-up savings in order to save jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector. The Government, as the Minister says, has set aside €140 million for the stay-and-spend scheme up to 31 December. As a result of the lockdown, that will not happen. Rather than losing this money for the sector, however, I ask the Minister to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the fact that the Minister is considering extending the scheme beyond April. That is positive news. However, the reality is that it is far better to borrow money to protect jobs in the tourism and hospitality than to borrow money to pay social welfare. I ask the Minister to again look at this issue urgently. Employers have the option of giving staff tax-free vouchers worth up...