Results 2,241-2,260 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

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

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are talking about section 1, amendment No. 1. We are looking at the social welfare provisions in the budget. The Bill is all-encompassing and always includes PRSI and, to the best of my knowledge, it is not unusual that pensions would be referred to as well. I do not see any point to the amendment. The Title of the Bill is most appropriate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Council for Special Education: Discussion with Chairman Designate (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Thank you, Chairman. I welcome the delegation and, in particular, Mr. Stack. I compliment him on taking up this role in a voluntary capacity. As a good and faithful public servant, it is good to see him continue and it is clear that he is eminently well qualified for the role. While he said very modestly that he had no specific background in special education, he was there from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Where does the Department make that input?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Does Ms Quinn expect to come back to the committee on this when she knows more about it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is a very interesting proposal. I apologise for being late. I had a vote in the Seanad and, therefore, I did not hear what the witnesses had to say and I am not familiar with the questions members have asked. Out of a sum of €2.5 billion across all member states for seven years, what amount is Ireland likely to receive? The key goal of 20 million fewer people in poverty is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Cohesion Fund. There are many queries around the CAP. Families who would have benefited from CAP may lose out because they may not be in disadvantaged schools. I would like to hear the views of the witnesses on the issues I have raised. How can we influence it?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am concerned about the ramifications of yesterday's decision to legislate for the judgment in the X case on the grounds of suicide. This is a flawed and dangerous basis on which to legislate for mothers and children. We have learned a great deal in the past 20 years and there is broad agreement that abortion is not a treatment for mental health problems and that the correct action to take...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: He is taking responsibility.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: He is taking responsibility and I admire that.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is not a reason to vote-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They are uncosted.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----because some of the promises made at the outset were unsustainable. We now see that the Minister had to cut child benefit but why did we not consider taxing it as opposed to making the ¤10 cut across the board, given that we are meant to have a progressive system? Would it not have been fairer, and I am supportive of all the Minister is trying to do, to have taken a little from...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are almost destabilising a Government that has taken over an incredible mess left behind by the previous Government. We know at a human level that the carer's grant cut is not palatable given the important work carers do and how they save the State money, but I am aware from spending the weekend getting a good deal of feedback that it needs review and drilling down. Three postmasters -...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister. This is an important debate as it affords us an opportunity to re-examine the purpose of social welfare and the budgetary process. Clearly, the Minister's Department is the most important in terms of expenditure. It has a budget of ¤21 billion, almost 40% of total Government expenditure. Some aspects of the budget have been very controversial. I will deal with...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: And what happened then?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Give credit where credit is due.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Let me continue on the subject of foreign aid. We must proceed very carefully. When circumstances are rough here, it is very easy to consider easy options. I support the call for a debate on foreign aid in the new year. The debate should be balanced. Let us face the fact that Africa had resources that were exploited by the West. Consequently, we are doing a little bit through foreign...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is about cost.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister. In view of the restricted budgets, difficulties in the Department and ever increasing population, I refer to the experience in other countries in the field of health economics and the notion of shared decision-making, which could benefit Ireland. It is a potential path to better health outcomes and lower costs. I am calling for trials in this regard in Ireland....

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I support the Taoiseach in his call for a full public and independent inquiry into the death of the solicitor, Mr. Pat Finucane. It seems as though the British Government is going around it every way and any way other than facing up to the truth. I am shocked by a statement in the de Silva report that he found there was no over-arching British state conspiracy to murder Mr. Finucane but...