Results 3,601-3,620 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I refer to the substitute consent issue.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is where the Minister is requiring quarries to apply for substitute consent to An Bord Pleanála when their extracted area is over 3.5 hectares. Some of these small quarries' extracted areas are already over 3.5 hectares if one takes into account their roads and through-ways. On this ruling, can the Minister of State clarify if the Department will be adding the roads and the through-ways...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is not a Second Stage speech. This is a point. Is it possible to increase the extracted area to five hectares or ensure a quarry may apply to An Bord Pleanála for substitute consent without incurring fees? This would mean jobs would not be lost as a result of the measure. I have no difficulty with the proposal as long as we are not damaging people's livelihoods.

Seanad: Respite Care (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: My motion is about the need for the Minister of State with responsibility for disability to clarify whether the €4 million in efficiency cuts in 2010 will still be sought by the HSE in Galway from the voluntary sector such as the Brothers of Charity and Enable Ireland. I tabled this motion last week and since then much has happened. The Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, has come...

Seanad: Respite Care (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I certainly am.

Seanad: Respite Care (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister is actually saying the cuts will be implemented. Brothers of Charity Services Ireland is covered by section 38 of the Health Act and must adhere to the efficiencies the Government is seeking in the sector. This year 26 of its staff will retire and, accordingly, will not be replaced. How can the service avoid the public service adjustments the Government requires from affecting...

Seanad: Respite Care (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: People were marching last week in protest against these cuts because they were concerned that they would not be maintained. They are under threat.

Seanad: Respite Care (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Was the Minister assured services would be okay?

Seanad: Respite Care (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister has not reassured me.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister. I refer to matters relating to employers, PRSI and exclusions. Will the Minister explain why people who were self-employed, who were employers, whose businesses have folded and who have fallen the furthest in many cases have no right to the jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit? Many such people are penniless and carry a good deal of debt at present and they...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Will the self-employed people who fall on hard times still qualify for jobseeker's allowance, even if their accounts are outstanding and taxes are due to the Revenue, given that they do not have the money to pay Revenue because the business has done so badly? As the Minister correctly said, they are in trouble in the current year but they have to submit accounts for the previous year and...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Not text messaging.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Is it voice messaging?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am glad the Minister touched on the issue of abuse. It is estimated that approximately 10% of social welfare payments fall into that category. That is a significant amount of money, considering that we are paying out a sum of €20 billion. Even if the figure was only 5%, the sum involved would amount to €1 billion.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It would be well worth following the money considering the size of the national deficit and the need to find savings of €3 billion. Does the Minister think the measures he is taking are adequate? Also, what has he done about the scandal during the ash cloud crisis with regard to the social welfare payments not collected during those weeks?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With respect, the Minister has addressed the issue of abuse with regard to maintenance payments. I would like him to address this issue also.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I saw the figures.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister knows I have spoken in the House on the Civil Registration Act with regard to another issue, an amendment of the Act to deal with deaths abroad of Irish citizens and whose deaths are not registered in the State. I know the Minister has met with some of the families in question who are constituents of ours. I ask the Minister to say what progress has been made with regard to...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Thank you. I am talking about the amendment of the Civil Registration Act. I look forward to the Minister's response.