Results 18,761-18,780 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: It is much broader.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Who had built up their entitlement.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The way to equalise those who are 24 and 25 is for one of them to do the education and training; they will both be on the same payment if that happens. The way to equalise the two brothers in the Senator's example is for the second brother to do the education and training so that both of them will be on the same payment. It is very easy for them to be equalised. The group of people...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I indicated that we were satisfied that the legal provisions are being met. As I have already indicated, the brother in the Senator's example who loses his job before Christmas will be treated the very same as the brother who loses his job after Christmas if he does not participate in education or training.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I have answered all the Senator's questions at least twice.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: With regard to Senator McFadden's questions, we are trying to put the regulations in this area into legislation. Under the regulations, an applicant must have been a tenant for a set period and at the time he or she took out the tenancy, he or she must have been able to pay the rent. It is not true to say they would not look for rent supplement because one might have taken out one's tenancy...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The CWOs will still have flexibility at local level.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If they were all like what I witnessed in Clonmel, they would deserve such flexibility. The CWO structure there is the model for how flood relief payments should be handled everywhere.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: That is a good point of order. I only mentioned Clonmel because I visited the area and they have a model for dealing with flooding because, unfortunately, they had previous experience. They knew how to handle it. The CWOs in Athlone had not experienced this previously and they responded. Where flooding occurred around the country, the CWOs are expediting humanitarian aid and so on. I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If they cannot afford it, they should not be in it and they should not expect the State to pay the rent for them. We are not a rental agency. The rent supplement is in place to support people who when they entered rented accommodation could afford it because they were in employment, but who have since lost their jobs and cannot pay the rent. It is designed as a short-term support....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am not sure the Senator understands the position. We will give the money to those who have been in rented accommodation. We will not turn down people who were previously in rented accommodation.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Where were they?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If somebody living at home wants to seek rented accommodation but cannot afford it, he or she cannot afford it. The same is true of somebody not working or working. I am sorry, but the State is not in the business of helping anybody who wants to leave home to find rented accommodation. We are in the business of supporting people who previously were in rented accommodation and are finding...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In 2008, it was estimated that there were approximately 15,000 asylum seekers or failed asylum seekers in the State. While they are resident here, such persons have a right to access public health services and free primary and second level education. Their basic needs as regards their rights to access health and education services are also met and they are provided with accommodation and a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: As I stated, it is a small amount. These people cost €250 million in one year alone. When the habitual residency legislation was introduced it was assumed that anyone who did not have a right to remain in the State did not have a right to habitual residency. All we are asking in this section is that it should be a precondition of entitlement to access many social welfare benefits that...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If someone does not have the right to reside in the State, he or she should not have the right to build up social welfare entitlements. They have access to accommodation, basic health and basic education at substantial cost. We must recognise their human rights and that is why people go through an intensive legal process. It is important this legislation sets down the precondition that...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In response to Senator Bradford's question about equivalents around Europe, the equivalent legislation in the UK is the only example I have to hand. This requires that claimants for social welfare must have a right to reside and habitual residence. Both criteria must be met. Some of the questions on the asylum process are more relevant to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Supreme Court indicated that it felt a person in the asylum process did not have residency status. I accept what Senator Norris has said. Such a person has a right to be in the country but not a right to reside in the country. This is the argument we are trying to protect here. On the question of the Government making legislation, that is what Governments do. The chief appeals officer...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: At no stage did I try to indicate that the right to reside was the only element. The right to reside does not at all mean that one would automatically qualify for habitual residence. It is a precondition that should be satisfied before the other circumstances are taken into account. The fact is the chief appeals officer indicated it was open to introduce legislation, which is exactly what...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: There is no doubt we would not be introducing these cuts in social welfare were it not for the economic situation in which we find ourselves and were it not for the need to bring stability to the finances of the country. Everybody recognises the huge increases introduced in social welfare payments in recent years, including in the last budget. These increases were well ahead of inflation....