Results 2,461-2,480 of 4,782 for speaker:Olwyn Enright
- Lone Parent Supports. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Question 103: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details on his proposal to oblige single parents to seek work once their child is eight years of age; the consultation that has taken to place with relevant stakeholders on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5523/08]
- Lone Parent Supports. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: I thank the Minister for his somewhat historical reply giving a rundown on the position to date. Next month it will be two years since his predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Brennan, published the findings following the report. As the Minister stated, Deputy Brennan engaged in consultation in major fora, etc. When will decisions be made in this regard? The Minister has stated that he would...
- Lone Parent Supports. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: It might be more appropriate to say the organisations are in favour of change. However, they do not know as yet what change is proposed by the Department in terms of how it will operate. When will we get more information with regard to how the Minister intends to go about this? Will he present it as a fait accompli or will there be negotiation on it?
- Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Question 105: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has plans to develop a national fuel poverty strategy to tackle fuel poverty here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5524/08]
- Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: The Minister's answer shows a need for a national fuel poverty strategy. I appreciate that the Minister said there are two research projects going on in this area and that is important, but we have many statistics on this already. I presume the Minister agrees that levels of fuel poverty remain unacceptably high. The island of Ireland has one of the highest mortality rates for winter...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Despite not being the lead Minister, does the Minister, Deputy Cullen, not see that there is a gap? Gas prices have risen by 70% in the past five years, electricity by 30% and oil by 50%. Elderly people in particular cannot afford the â¬12,000 cost of installing a wood pellet burner or the more environmentally friendly, cost-efficient products out there. They are only for people who can...
- Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Many people are still in fuel poverty.
- Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Over 250,000 homes are in fuel poverty.
- Anti-Poverty Strategy. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: The problem is not solved as a result of that spend.
- Budgeting Advice. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Obviously, from a Fine Gael perspective, I have no difficulty with the Minister examining the number of agencies in existence and trying to make the system more efficient and cost effective. The Minister has agreed that the work of MABS is important, but there is nothing more disconcerting for an organisation, trying to do good work, than not knowing where it stands. I ask the Minister to...
- Employment Support Services. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: The Minister's answers and meetings with his officials suggest he would prefer if his department could just write cheques and forget about its other responsibilities. The Minister's approach shows a lack of cohesion, as did his answer on fuel poverty. Previously he suggested the habitual residence clause was a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. There is no...
- Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: The Minister stated he hopes to introduce the new payment by the end of the year. His predecessor made the same commitment in 2006. Why has the original commitment not been met? The Minister will agree that the cohabitation rule is anti-family and deprives children of the right to have both parents present in the home. Is his timescale for removing the cohabitation rule this year a...
- Social Welfare Benefits. (13 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: The Minister's officials laughed when I made that point yesterday.
- Written Answers — Official Languages: Official Languages (12 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Question 364: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the recognition of sign language as an official language here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4699/08]
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Question 439: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason vocational teachers who paid into a compulsory widow and orphans scheme which existed from 1935 to 1969, are required on retirement to pay 1% per each year worked into their pension on the basis that they had not contributed prior to 1969; the action she will take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (12 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Question 441: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm receipt of correspondence relating to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; if a reply was issued on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4499/08]
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: Question 501: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are proposals to pay the pensions of retired vocational teachers through the vocational educational committees rather than the local authorities; her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4971/08]
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: We will wait and see what is in the report before we get too excited about it. In 1992, Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, under which the State agreed to protect the rights of all children "within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind" including any prejudice based on their parents' status. Article 3 expressly states that in "all actions...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this Bill and related matters. The 2008 budget was the Government's opportunity to show it was serious about tackling poverty and disadvantage, however, other than tinkering with the figures, the larger issues remain ignored. While Fine Gael welcomes the increase in child income supports we have serious concerns about the real impact these changes will...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Feb 2008)
Olwyn Enright: The Minister outlined it, but last week we went through it in detail in committee and the officials said there was more information but they could not give us the full advice they had received from the Attorney General. Deputy Shortall requested a report and we were to receive that.