Results 1,761-1,780 of 34,778 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Estimates for Public Services 2012: Messages from Select Committees (24 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: It was done on foot of my suggestion. Deputies should check the record.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Motion to Instruct Committee (24 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I reject this motion emphatically. Everything about it is wrong. It should not be here. Such a mess has been made of this legislation that the only decent thing for the Minister to do is to withdraw it, take a few weeks out and, when she has had proper time to consider what she is doing, reintroduce the legislation so we can discuss it here in a proper manner. The only good thing that...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Motion to Instruct Committee (24 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Yes. I am amazed that within 14 months the Minister has followed down this road. It is five months since budget day. Nobody believes there was not enough time to draft this legislation. Maybe the person who wrote the script believes it, but nobody else does. When the budget was announced we knew the Finance Bill would be introduced, but we also knew the social welfare Bill would follow....

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (24 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Question 155: To ask the Taoiseach when he will reply to correspondence dated 2 of March 2012 and 13 March 2012 from a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19757/12]

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (24 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Question 156: To ask the Taoiseach the number of written Parliamentary Questions replied to from 1 January to the 31 March 2012 and if he will outline the number of these that were answered in full, the number that related to issues in which details were supplied/personal matters and in which the reply was supplied directly to the Deputy; the number of other replies in which it was indicated...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will inquire with the Chinese authorities into the current whereabouts and position of a person (details supplied), a Chinese national who was studying here, who was arrested for highlighting the persecution of Falun Gong while on a visit to China and has yet to return to Ireland to finish their studies...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (24 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Question 602: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when an application for naturalisation which was lodged on 7 May 2008 will be decided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20606/12]

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I understand the Minister's officials have worked hard on the amendments. As she is aware, we finished Second Stage last night. I, and I am sure the other spokespersons, got an e-mail at approximately 10.50 p.m. last night containing the list of amendments. The list came to 23 pages, which is as long as the Bill itself. We are debating them now, although, essentially, we only received the...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I understand the need for commencement dates, but will the Minister indicate which provisions she expects to commence in this calendar year? I do not need to know the day, week or month. Which will be commenced next year or the year after? The Minister has twice mentioned the issue of people from outside the State entering the country through ports and airports to claim social welfare to...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister might explain where the bulk of her concern lies. Obviously, she has a feel for the issue. Do these amendments relate to the major access points into the country used by people who abuse the system?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister spoke about the extensive powers of social welfare officers. We have heard reports of inter-agency operations and are familiar with checkpoints involving gardaí and Customs and Excise agents alongside social welfare inspectors who are there to determine whether individuals are claiming social welfare payments. Given that such inter-agency groups are operating successfully, why...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: They can work as part of inter-agency groups to investigate drivers on the side of a main road.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Are these powers included in this Bill or are they separate?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister focused her comments on ports and airports. Will this measure increase the power of the social inspector on the street or road when a vehicle is being stopped?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I ask for an explanation of the provisions on encrypted photographs and electronic signing on. How will these provisions work, where can people sign on and will they require a camera in their houses so that they can be seen through the computer at the other end? Are we in danger of creating a technologically disadvantaged group of people? There is a direct parallel with the payment system...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: So the person still needs to go into the office physically. I was concerned that they could do it remotely.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister might clarify one point with regard to mortgage interest supplement. This provision will come into force on the commencement date chosen by the Minister. I understand that at the moment, a person with a certain level of income is eligible for mortgage interest supplement, through the Department, as a support. Are we now essentially giving the banks a veto, that is, the power...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The borrower is the meat in the sandwich.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I have a difficulty with the approach being taken by the Minister in this regard. The lender and the borrower are involved in a transaction and the taxpayers are also involved. The Minister must protect the taxpayers' money in this scheme. However, I note that people are getting into more financial difficulties because they may be unemployed. I note from the briefing note on this...

Community Employment Schemes (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the findings of the reviews she commissioned in relation to community employment schemes; the schemes that have been earmarked for closure and cuts in materials and training grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20721/12]