Results 25,641-25,660 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (18 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: The only people who would seek funds from the lending institutions in question would be those without or who cannot afford bank accounts. For the majority of those in such a position, it is not a choice but a matter of economic circumstances as bank accounts cost money. These are the target group for sub-prime lenders. They are also the most vulnerable in our society and are the ones who...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 52: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to reintroducing training grants to some or all community employment schemes; if the capacity for training is sufficient within the other agencies of the State to meet the demand; if there is an inter departmental approach to training and skill requirements; if so will, if she outline what is involved; the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 55: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide known the details of any consultations she may have had with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation regarding the abolition of the State pension transition; the discussions she had with officials from the Department to the effect that the abolition of the pension entitlement would have an impact on the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 323: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons aged 65 years and over who have availed of redundancy payments from the State in the past two full calendar years and to date in 2012; the details of any consultations she has had in relation to the forthcoming abolition of the State pension transition; if, in respect of her Department, there are any policy...

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 226: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline his plans to fill the estimated 20,000 current and expected vacancies in the technology sector; if he will agree that the prompt filling of these vacancies would bring a measurable knock-on benefit in terms of generating other employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35053/12]

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 228: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is considering the introduction of a new, dedicated visa for citizens of other countries to come to Ireland to take up employment in the technology sector; if his Department has engaged in any research on the possible multiplier effect on domestic employment that such a facility might create; his views on the benefit...

Written Answers — Housing Adaptation Grants: Housing Adaptation Grants (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 448: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of take up by local authority for the home adaption grant for older people and people with disabilities for 2012; if the take up is limited because of available funds from his Department or the ability of the local authorities to provide matching funds; if it is intended to continue the scheme in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 477: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the difficulties posed to separated parents by the housing policies of some local authorities that assess the non-custodian parent as a single applicant for the purpose of housing; if there is a reason for the disparity amongst the local authorities in relation to this policy; if he is...

Written Answers — Climate Change Policy: Climate Change Policy (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 492: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the overview analysis of the responses to the public consultation on climate change policy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35239/12]

Written Answers — Climate Change Policy: Climate Change Policy (17 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 493: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date in the fourth quarter of 2012 on which he will issue heads of a proposed climate bill for consideration by the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht; if he expects any delay beyond the end of 2012 in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35241/12]

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 176: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the guidance if any he has issued to housing authorities in relation to the allocation of social housing; if all such authorities are required to have a scheme of letting priorities; if the RAS scheme is applied when deciding on allocations; if a housing applicant is entitled to know the number of points...

Employment Rights (12 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: I am sure the Minister is delighted with this one.

Employment Rights (12 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter which straddles a number of Departments. I am particularly interested in the area of employment rights. With the scrapping of the transition pension from January 2014, in effect the pension age is being standardised at 66. Even though we do not have any default age for pensions, many contracts of employment specify 65. Citizens...

Employment Rights (12 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: The essential point I am making relates to the gap of a year in provision in the case of an employee who has a contract of employment up to the age of 65 . I cited a ruling of the Employment Appeals Tribunal which provided that because it was custom and practice to retire at age 65, the person concerned had to retire at that age. A problem will arise in the gap year when no transition...

Enterprise Support Services (12 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation if, in the operation of the microenterprise loan fund scheme, consideration will be given to encouraging viable enterprise in areas of the country currently affected by high levels of unemployment as a priority, or will decisions on grants be based on a demand led approach to viable applications; and if he will make a...

Enterprise Support Services (12 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: The Minister answered the question of whether the fund will be targeted. Clearly, it will be down to the banks. They could delay people very significantly, because people must be turned down by the banks before they can apply to the microenterprise loan fund. However, other issues come into play as well if this is going to work. One of them is the provision of incubator units,...

Enterprise Support Services (12 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: I was using that person as an example. I believe incubator units are required, so perhaps the Minister will consider that. Has the Minister set a time to conduct an evaluation once the scheme is up and running? It will be important to keep an eye on what the banks are doing in the context of this scheme.

Health Service Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: We all appreciate that there are limited funds available but we need to get the best possible services from the existing funds. At the end of the day the health service is about those who work in it and those who avail of the services provided. The vast majority of people who contact me about the health service do so because they are in a crisis situation. For example, people may be told...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (10 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 32: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in the preparation of policy concerning the mandatory reporting of the abuse of children and or vulnerable persons, she has taken into account the experience of New South Wales, Australia, which introduced similar legislation in 1999 that resulted in unintended adverse effects for the effective provision of child protection...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (10 Jul 2012)

Catherine Murphy: Question 249: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is concerned about the length of time community employment applicants are having to wait for garda clearance; if she is aware of the amount of schemes adversely affected by these wait times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33399/12]