Results 321-340 of 1,045,696 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Bernard Durkan OR speaker:Neale Richmond)

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Ring: I am sorry to interrupt the Minister of State, but the members of the Opposition who have tabled the motion are entitled to their ten minutes’ speaking time. This debate is to be finished by 12 o'clock and I want to give them their ten minutes. I am asking the Minister of State, with respect, to make the rest of his speech available to Members. I will ask whoever is organising...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Lowry: The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy Ring, is very sensible, as always. I agree with him on the timing. Taking on the role of a family carer is a profound commitment that can arise at any point in life. It is often motivated by a deep sense of duty and compassion. The enduring responsibility and challenges of caregiving can be daunting, however. Until people experience the role of...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Ring: Thank you, Deputy. I now call Deputy Naughten, who has five minutes.

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Denis Naughten: We have moved this motion to recognise the invaluable contribution of carers to Irish society. We want to acknowledge the fact that there are half a million carers right across this country who are providing vital care daily, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These carers deserve recognition not just in words, but through practical support. The introduction of a non-means-tested...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Marc MacSharry: I am glad to support the motion. It is very shortsighted of the Government - any government - not to embrace the opportunity to abolish this means test. It does not reconcile with our ability to dish out social supports hand over fist to people from other countries, mainly as a result of the Ukraine war, without any means test at all. Some of them are driving all sorts of vehicles and...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward this motion. I acknowledge the fantastic efforts of Vicky and Fiona from Family Carers Ireland Mid-West, who took part in the Hell and Back fundraiser and raised €2,000. I raised this matter with the Minister yesterday evening and want to respond to comments on the abolition of the means test and abuse. Family Carers Ireland...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. The Government is not opposing this motion put forward by the Regional Group and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The Government is very aware of the valuable work being carried out by family carers and this is evidenced by the extensive measures that have been taken to support carers in recent years. The approach to...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I too compliment the Regional Group for tabling this motion. It is an issue which we have all been pressing for ages. Carers and people who do home help and caring are the last vestige of humanity left in the HSE and the public health service. Everything else has been stripped away - all the supports such as community welfare are gone. These people need to be respected. As Deputy...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: The means test for the carer's allowance is a significant barrier for many carers who need financial support. Currently, there are 299,128 carers in Ireland but only 96,826 receive the carer's allowance. This means a large number of carers are missing out on essential financial support. Abolishing this test will ensure that all carers receive the assistance they deserve regardless of their...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I thank Deputy Canney and his colleagues for tabling this motion. I have no hesitation in supporting it. The abolition of the means test for carers is the most basic step we can take in a republic to give that word meaning. We stand here today awaiting a Supreme Court decision concerning a case in which a woman has been forced to take a judicial review all the way to the Supreme Court. I...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Regional Group for tabling this motion on eliminating the means test for family carers. It echoes part of the motion I tabled on supporting family carers. While there are many ways in which family carers need to be supported, eliminating the means test for the carer's allowance is one of my two top priorities alongside the provision of adequate respite care for family carers....

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Ring: Thank you, Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Marian Harkin: Yesterday, I listened to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, speaking about this issue. He informed us that the cost would be between €600 million and €2 billion. That is off the charts; it is nothing like that.

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Ring: The Deputy is taking her colleague's time.

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Marian Harkin: The Minister should be better informed.

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I support this motion. A lot of nursing homes have closed. No one can put a value on the amount of help that people give in their own homes to help elderly or young people. I listened to "Today with Claire Byrne" this morning. A mother of a child with autism was on the show. She had a coffee shop which she had to close but because she and her husband worked hard and they had a few pound...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: Carers. It is in the wording. It is carers. I am from a family of 11. In his last number of months and years, people came to care for my father. As a big family, we were able to do much of it ourselves but we had people who came in part-time. I cannot thank people who do that kind of work enough. The dignity and the home life they have, being cared for in their own home, is...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Danny Healy-Rae: I thank the Regional Group for this important motion and for giving us the chance to debate it. The Government appears to be fudging on this. Support is not good enough without acting and providing the carers with the facility so that they do not have to go through a means test, because many carers are seeing after people out of the goodness of their heart. One thing that people who need...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Healy-Rae: I thank the Regional Group for tabling this important motion. We in the Rural Independent Group tabled a motion before, where we were adamant that the means test should be abolished. It has no place in a modern society because many of the people who are giving care are giving up other employment. They are not earning somewhere else because all they have to rely on is the carer's allowance....

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputy. The next up is People Before Profit-Solidarity, and Deputies Paul Murphy and Mick Barry. They have six minutes in total.