Results 2,261-2,280 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Under the FEMPI legislation introduced by the then Fianna Fáil Government in May 2009, the grant was reduced from what was then €830 to €760 per aid. In 2012, the Government, the grant was reduced from €760 per aid down to the current €500. I am happy to compile a report on this. I already know what is in it because I met Chime and I commissioned a report...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I do not wish to debate the policy relating to the retirement age, which, for argument's sake, will be 66, 67 and 68, but I have a difficulty with the way the amendment is worded because it would not just require me to produce a report. I am happy to produce a report for the Deputy and, in fact, most of it has been done in the confines of total contributions, which will come before the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Why does the Deputy want me to produce the report if the information is readily available?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: If it is definitely not available, why can the Deputy not do it?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Again, I have no problem with compiling a report, but the Deputy seems to have missed the point that the Social Insurance Fund is part of contribution-based system and that if one does not contribute to it, one cannot expect to receive under it. That is the purpose of the system. If he wants to change to a universal system, we are talking about having an entirely different cheque book from...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: If the Deputy is prepared to change the amendment and increase the figure from three to six months, I will be quite happy to conduct the review.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Yes, if the time period can be changed from three months to six months.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I support both Deputies. Last week when I spoke to Deputy Penrose, I said that whatever impression had been given, it was certainly not my intention. I will table an amendment to make sure there will be a sunset clause, exactly as mentioned in the amendment. I, therefore, ask Deputy O'Dea to withdraw the amendment. Unfortunately, I did not have the amendment ready for today, but it will...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I wholly endorse this. It was never my intention for it to be ongoing because I did not see the need for that to happen. Please God, we will never have another year like this one because of Brexit. If and when we do, we will worry about it. I, therefore, ask Deputy O'Dea to withdraw the amendment on foot of me showing him the report prior to Report Stage.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I thank Deputies Penrose and O'Dea for their understanding. Under Deputy Brady's proposal, section 20 would effectively be deleted. That would mean that no one would be able to receive an increase in the national minimum wage at any date in the next 12 months. I am not sure whether he realises what he is attempting to do. My repeated statements, his misunderstanding of which is causing...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I have flagged that we will table an amendment on Report Stage to add to the amendment submitted by Deputies O'Dea and Penrose, but there will be other amendments to address issues raised in the Supreme Court's judgment that found that the provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act related to the entitlements of prisoners were unconstitutional. To put it simply, the court found that...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: I do not believe it has ever been done before. The Attorney General told me yesterday that if he had a choice, he would not be advising us to do it. However, given the circumstances, it needs to be done via the quickest medium possible and that just happens to be this Bill.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: It has to do with people making appeals against decisions made on forestry applications to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I believe it will introduce an increase in the fee charged for making an appeal. I am looking to Deputy O'Dea for information since he probably knows more about it than I do.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: It is an agricultural amendment, but it has been deemed to be urgent enough to be inserted into the next available legislation which just happens to be this Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (20 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Department provides financial support in the form of allowances and funding to assist with the Community Employment programme, for example participant wages, supervisor grants, materials grants and specific skills training grants. Funding is not provided for CE participants who have reached the qualifying age for a State pension, that is: 66 for participants born before 1 January 1955...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: In order for the staff of my Department to fulfil their role it is necessary that they are provided with the appropriate equipment and services to support our customer’s needs. In doing so, at all times, my Department is aware of the need to achieve value for money in the delivery of such services. My Department does not purchase mobile phones but purchases a fixed monthly price for a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (20 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred on 22 October 2019 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Government are implementing transformational reforms under the Civil Service Renewal agenda. A key commitment in the Civil Service Renewal Plan is to maximise the contribution of all staff, by nurturing and rewarding talent and by encouraging civil servants to develop their potential in a workplace committed to equality and diversity. Gender balance policy measures have been endorsed by...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ministerial Advisers Data (20 Nov 2019)

Regina Doherty: Under Government guidelines I am permitted to appoint a maximum of two Special Advisors. Since I took up my appointment as Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, three special advisers have been employed by my Department. All my advisers have worked across a wide range of areas within the remit of the Department including Employment Law, Employment Supports and Activation,...