Results 2,261-2,280 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Social Welfare Bill and all of the cuts in it. Much was said about protecting the most vulnerable but this budget did not do that, the social welfare element of the budget attacked the most vulnerable. Whatever way we look at it, while frontline weekly payments might be protected, the individual groups that are the most vulnerable in society were...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Will it affect only new applicants?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I know that but it relates to anyone who is applying in future for disability allowance who had previously worked.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am sorry I was not in for the debate because I was at a committee meeting involving the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I appreciate the clarification from the Minister. Perhaps she could outline the plans for the proposed review of the disability allowance for young people. Other elements of the budget hit families very hard which is a major concern. The chief executive of Barnardos said it would be wholly inappropriate to reduce the child benefit this year particularly for low-income families as a result...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: —— and it is now being reduced to approximately 250 contributions. According to an article——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It has reduced from five years to three.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: So it has been halved effectively.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I understood the contributions increased up to ten years.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Maybe there is a change.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I stand to be corrected. The reduction in the qualifying period for fuel allowance from 32 to 26 weeks will effectively result in a cut of approximately €120 for people who are in receipt of the fuel allowance. This is at a time when the cost of heating homes is increasing — the price of oil and other fuels is increasing. These same people are expected to pay the household charge of an...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The other cut which came into effect in the budget was the cut to the community employment schemes and the proposed saving of €41.5 million, involving a reduction from €1,500 to €500 for the materials and training element of the community employment contribution to the sponsor organisations. This will effectively result in finishing community employment schemes in rural areas unless...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Sponsor organisations' funding has been cut by a third and they will not be able to provide the training and resources to community employment participants unless these changes are reversed. It goes a long way from the commitment in the Fine Gael and Labour Party programme for Government to protect and enhance community employment schemes.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: This is in stark contrast to the commitment given before the general election.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The reason for our opposition to section 4 of the Bill is the question of exemptions. The Minister has stated he is willing to take into consideration individuals in receipt of mortgage interest supplement and this is to be welcomed as there are 18,000 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement payments. However, this gesture is not sufficient. Already, 70,000 people are in mortgage...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: That was before the election.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: On a point of order, we are calling for a waiver for all old age pensioners who are in receipt of a non-contributory pension.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 12: In page 8, subsection (4)(b), line 17, after "estate" to insert the following: ",or (c) the year in which the liability falls if, on that date, he or she is the holder of a medical card issued by the Health Service Executive, or (d) the year in which the liability falls if, on that date, he or she is in receipt of any of the following payments from the Department of...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The amendment has not been discussed.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It was grouped with Sinn Féin's amendment No. 10. However, that amendment was withdrawn in favour of this one.