Results 18,521-18,540 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The Department does not provide forecasts on pension entitlements. As the person concerned has reached pension age she has been advised to submit an application for State Pension (Transition). On receipt of the application her entitlement, based on all her period of employment will be assessed and she will be notified of the outcome.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The person concerned applied for a Jobseeker's Allowance on 31 March 2009, but as he failed to furnish details of his means to the Social Welfare Investigator his claim was disallowed. The decision, with a right of appeal within 21 days, was sent to the person concerned on 23 September 2009. No notice of appeal has been received in the Department. The person concerned is in receipt of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The person concerned did not receive any social welfare payments during the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 as he had no claim. He is not currently in receipt of a social welfare payment.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputies for contributing to the debate on Second Stage. Deputies from all sides of the House-----
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Again, I would like to thank Deputies from all sides of the House who spoke on this debate, especially those who waited until late last night to make very reasonable contributions, unlike Deputies from parties with speaking slots who chose to abuse, criticise and disrupt the business, but who chose not to speak on Second Stage. Obviously, they had nothing of value to offer. I am sorry...
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: -----as did the Fine Gael Party.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: This is a very difficult and sensitive Bill. It is with a very heavy heart that we come to make recommendations to the social welfare budget. It is unfortunate that due to the balancing of the books that must happen from the nation's point of view, we must reduce our expenditure.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: The choices that had to be made involved making cuts across all different Departments. The choices are not just that we could take in more revenue from a particular group, because that was not going to find us â¬4 billion. That was not going to make the changes that we needed for the long term. We were faced with a situation where every single Department had to make savings. Within the...
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Nobody relishes having to do that, but we also made choices which were positive. We made choices that excluded pensioners. It is important that those over the age of 66 were recognised for their contribution to society and for the fact that they do not have the opportunity to generate incomes for themselves in the future.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We made a positive decision in respect of pensioners and a positive decision in relation to children.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We also made a decision in respect of the children of the most vulnerable.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: If Deputy Stagg had something valuable to say, he would have chosen to say it during his contribution. However, he did not do so.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We made an extremely positive decision in respect of the children of the most vulnerable.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Huge progress has been made in the context of reducing consistent poverty among children and older people.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We will certainly not do anything to reverse this. Even though there has been a reduction in child benefit-----
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We have ensured that the children of families on social welfare and in receipt of family income supplement will be protected.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Of all the different groups I met prior to the budget, it was the members of this group which indicated that they were willing to make a contribution. I accept that it is extremely difficult to take â¬8.30 a week from people. We do not underestimate the difficulties this will cause.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: However, we were able to do this, particularly in view of the increases provided in recent years and the fact that, as a result of the serious deflation that has occurred, people's money goes further.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: Serious deflation has occurred and this means that the money-----
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)
Mary Hanafin: We are in an unusual situation whereby there is an economic crisis and serious deflation has occurred.