Results 2,381-2,400 of 5,311 for speaker:Tom Hayes

Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: Deputy McGrath has asked a genuine question that deserves an answer.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (13 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: Question 263: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39977/11]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: Question 362: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39433/11]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: Question 370: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to farmers under the agri-environment options scheme. [39543/11]

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: This is ridiculous.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: I am pleased to have the honour to say a few words about this important Bill. I often had the opportunity when my party was in opposition to speak to the social welfare Bill and relished the opportunity to do so. However, today is different because I am on the Government side of the House. We have to be realistic about where the country is at. In the light of this, I say to the...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: We did not see that this morning, and Deputy Ó Cuív is very disappointed about this. He was not here at the beginning of my contribution and the truth is that people are happy. When he returns to his constituency at the weekend he will see that people are very reasonable and understand what has been done and what had to be done.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: I do not want to repeat myself but I did say that people are more supportive of what is happening than what many Opposition Deputies may think. In the past 24 hours many participants in FÁS schemes have contacted our offices and voiced their concerns about the grant being reduced from €1,500 to €500. If we were living in different economic times and our country was better off one could...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: Certainly, these schemes are vital for many rural communities but if the Minister makes this change it would assure their future. Much scaremongering has taken place with regard to the community employment schemes. I do not know from where it came, and whether it is from the media or political representatives, but a certain message went out that people would lose their jobs and that the...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: This is not true and people should not, for the sake of getting their names and photographs in the paper, be frightening people. The reality is that no scheme will close-----

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: -----and I believe the Minister will be genuine in her efforts-----

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: -----on all of this. The schemes are an extremely valuable way of getting people into the workplace and are worthwhile supports for communities. There is no intention to shut them down-----

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: We are all aware of the mismanagement and scandals that rocked FÁS in recent years. The Opposition Deputies who were then in government stood idly by-----

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: -----and allowed it happen. When we stand up to make a constructive point on it all we hear is heckling. The biggest scandal we have witnessed in this country is what happened in FÁS. Anyone who proposes to be part of a party which stood over this should be ashamed rather than heckling and shouting when we want to make very genuine contributions. FÁS was a scandal and I will state this...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: Much has been said about the announcement in the budget on disability allowance. I congratulate the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, on how she handled this issue. When it was announced in the House both Government parties met and asked for it to be changed.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: Meetings were held and a genuine effort was made by the Minister to resolve the matter and change it.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: I commend the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, for showing-----

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: -----a genuine interest in trying to help the most vulnerable people, namely, those with disabilities.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: With these words I want to commend-----

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2011)

Tom Hayes: -----and congratulate the Government for holding social welfare benefits-----