Results 341-360 of 375 for speaker:Margaret Cox

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: There was a reduction of 6% – from 15.1% – in the consistent poverty level between 1994 and 2000. That is the figure of which we should take account. However, we should also consider the changes in unemployment levels. It is not so much that unemployment fell, but that employment soared. I do not know whether many people in the House understand how difficult it can be at times, in various...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: Senator Cummins said that the women of Ireland were fooled by—

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: How dare the Senator suggest that women are so stupid that they would sell their votes for such a paltry price?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: They did not sell their votes. The reason the women of this country chose to vote for Fianna Fáil or anyone else was that they looked at the increases and substantial benefits that they had received over the past five years.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: They appreciated the huge increase in child benefit, a payment that goes to the core of the family.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: Women are not foolish.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: Child benefit was not taxed in this budget and I hope it will not be taxed in the future. It should also not be means tested and should continue to be paid to the person who benefits most from it. Child benefit is a support to the family and, in the society in which we live, families are in greater need of support than ever. I welcome this year's increases, although I am disappointed that...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: They are receiving opportunities that were never there before and that is being recognised in the increases in these payments. In our programme for Government, we promised to increase the lowest pension to €200 by 2007. This year, a €10 increase was a first step towards meeting that commitment. We have sought to ensure that older people, widows and women, in particular, have more money in...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: There were calls to abolish the means test and that will cost some €38 million.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: I am sorry, €150 million. The Minister has increased the disregard on this occasion so that a single person can have a disregard of €210 per week and a couple can have a joint income disregard of €420. This means that 4,500 carers will benefit, it will increase the allowance currently received by 2,800 carers and will ensure that an additional 1,700 carers will qualify for a payment....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: That is correct. It is a €7 increase. There is a €6 per week increase for people on other payments, a €100 per year increase in the respite care grant and an increase in income disregards for those on carer's allowance. The package can be commended to the House. I am sorry it is not more but I accept that choices had to be made. In the future, we will see a return to the type of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: The Senator does not have a pink bone in his body.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: We must look at drugs on our television screens at 3 p.m. on a Sunday.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: The Senator cannot blame us for that.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: We did not interrupt the Senator.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: I do not support the amendment. It worries me when people mention, as they did earlier, the State's responsibility. I sometimes wonder whether they have forgotten about the family's responsibility. As a sister, and perhaps some day a mother, of somebody with a disability, I believe it is my responsibility, not that of the State, to look after a person in need. We are moving away from our...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: I thank the Minister for listening to what Senators had to say today and on previous occasions. I thank all Senators who contributed to this debate and wish everyone, Members and staff alike, a very happy Christmas.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Motion for Earlier Signature. (18 Dec 2002)

Margaret Cox: I move: That pursuant to subsection 2o of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Social Welfare Bill, 2002, on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to her. Question put and agreed to. Sitting suspended at 3.25 p.m. and resumed at...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2002)

Margaret Cox: As you will remember, a Chathaoirligh, in the last Seanad, Senator Henry introduced a Private Members' Bill on assisted human reproduction. At that time it was agreed that the Government would introduce a Bill in this area. We are now hearing reports of babies being cloned in Italy so it is time for us to regulate such matters because such work could be undertaken here. We need to address the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits: Motion. (6 Nov 2002)

Margaret Cox: I move: That Seanad Éireann, recognising –the advances carried out by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and the Department over the past five years, –the improvements in social welfare payments, and –the improvements in services and information from her Department to its clients, in the light of the upcoming budget Estimates and the talks on social partnership calls on the...