Results 2,221-2,240 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Like many homeowners, I am very concerned that the Bank of Ireland public interest director, Mr. Ray MacSharry, said that there would no debt forgiveness as a result of the insolvency Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This morning the Minister for Justice and Equality asked him to reconsider his comments. All sides of the House have worked hard to bring in legislation to help people dealing with crippling debts. Debt is the most significant issue facing the country. Comments such as this do not serve the public well. I ask Mr. MacSharry to withdraw his comments. I commend the Minister for Agriculture,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: There are many arguments and sometimes things are said in the heat of the moment. A comment - ?Where are the Senators? - was made yesterday that was not meant the way it was said. That can easily be forgotten about at this point.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The mark and the measure of this Seanad were seen yesterday on the Social Welfare Bill. I compliment Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Independents, my party and the Labour Party for rising together on this. We fought hard for ¤26 million for carers.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Bill will continue.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It shows the spirit of this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish everyone a happy Christmas. I also thank the staff who often go unthanked. This is a moment to say thanks to Jody Blake, Deirdre Lane and the fine reporters who put our words on the record.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----in view of the fact that all needs are not the same. One size does not fit all but the way we are dealing with this is as if it does, and that in itself is wrong.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: As I said yesterday I greatly regret this cut. I would have hoped there were fairer ways of achieving these savings. I proposed a number of ways this might have happened. It is very difficult to sit here on this side of the House and to hear Members on the other side, particularly those who were in the previous Government, talk about unfairness. Was it fair that ¤5 was taken off the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Was it fair that ¤8 per week was taken off the carer's allowance, amounting to ¤416 in one year?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In another year, ¤8.50 per week was taken off carers and the Christmas bonus was taken away. These were not fair cuts.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: People were caring at that time-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: On section 5 of the Bill, yesterday was a today for somebody too. I have met carers and I have listened to feedback from them. I know of carers who passed away ahead of the person for whom they were caring. Caring is a difficult job. We must acknowledge the great work done by carers. They work for their welfare payment and they save the State significant money. What is clear from...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am sticking to the point. I take great umbrage at the reference to a filibuster.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Thank you, Chair. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is a very serious issue. The allowance is given to parents for the benefit of children. Yesterday on Second Stage of the Social Welfare Bill, I asked the Minister if it would be possible to provide the allowance in voucher form to allow parents to use vouchers in a range of shops for clothing and footwear. Anecdotally, I...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will speak to the amendments on section 3 with regard to-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am speaking to the section with regard to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Senator Cullinane can speak about these amendments when he speaks on the section.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Can we tease out some of the benefits of sending this order to the Oireachtas committee? I would also like to know why overpayments might take place. Given we are moving from a ¤2 per week repayment threshold to a 15% of the overpayment per week, has it been poverty-proofed? As many Senators are members of the social protection committee, I do not see why we cannot have this discussion...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I believe the Title of the Bill is quite appropriate.