Results 421-440 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank Senator Dardis for that remark. I draw attention to page 89 of the report which deals with findings. I refer again to the inability to communicate effectively with the Minister for Health and Children at the time. The report states: The Department of Health and Children prepared in 2002 a draft Government Memorandum and associated Heads of Bills which would, effectively, have...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I said at the outset — perhaps it was before Senator Dardis came into the House — that this is all the same area. Unfortunately, I will not be in a position to attend the House tomorrow to contribute to the debate on the Travers report so I hope the Senator will bear with me.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: Exactly. I am sorry that is the case but c'est la vie. In his statement the Minister talks about the backdrop to the 16 December 2003 meeting. He states: . . . the main item of concern was the Health Reform Programme, and in particular its implications for the personal positions of the CEOs. The Hanly Report was also a key issue. I spoke on both topics during the meeting and I had a meeting...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is extremely well written.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: It was the Sunday Independent.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister and his officials for their work on this important legislation. The Minister has onerous responsibilities. The Bill shows this clearly, as it ranges from social welfare to pensions and people's futures. These futures rely on decisions made by the Minister. I acknowledge the work of Senator Terry in raising a number of important issues regarding pensions. SSIAs are very...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I propose that we keep to the original agreed Order of Business.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment. I support what Senator Terry said about the consumer and the protection of the consumer. We only have to think of the changes brought in on the way banks publish details which were hidden in the past, such as APR rates on loans. It became necessary to specify clearly what banks were required to publish for the customer. If it had not been required in the legislation,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment and support the idea of a bond, in principle. I would be interested to hear the Minister's response to this proposal. As Senator Terry said, it has been found necessary to put such a bonding system in place in other sectors. Given the impact on people of losing their pensions, should a provider fail to do what it says it will do, the idea certainly seems to be worth...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment. What Senator Terry stated is important. Her suggestion that the Minister may have changed his mind since speaking on the Bill in the Dáil is a matter of some consequence. I would like to hear the Minister's response because important issues relate to the amendment. I thank Senator Terry for proposing it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for setting out those matters. The cuts have been so substantially reversed that one can only ask why they were made in the first instance.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support Senator Terry's amendment and the sentiments she expressed. It is extremely important for people to be equipped with all necessary information about preparing for life when they become pensioners. The legislation provides an extremely important framework in that regard. I agree with Senator Terry's assertion that it is extremely difficult to make one's way through the pensions Act....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support the comments of Senator Terry, particularly with regard to the need for people to be fully supported in providing for their future retirement. I have always found it interesting that Irish people like to invest in property. If we ask them why, they often say it is for their pension. They have a greater sense of security from investment in property than from investment in pension...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—The Minister shall within 6 months from after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the earnings disregards applicable to schemes operated under the Social Welfare Acts and the impact of transition to work on the recipients of secondary benefits...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate that he will come back to the House to provide us with very valuable information. Some work has been done on this area through the National Economic and Social Forum. I look forward to seeing evidence of the impact of the disregards. Does the Minister know if there is successful entry into the workforce by people on social welfare as a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I can get the Minister a copy.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—The Minister shall within 6 months from after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of the social welfare system on one parent families and on proposals to remove the restriction on formation of a family unit which presently applies to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: Losing the rent allowance is a disincentive to going back to work.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his reply and his comments on cohabiting couples, to which I did not refer. It is a difficult area. In the context of what Senator Cox said, we should support families and promote child-rearing in a family unit, whatever that might look like. We should not create a disincentive to the development of stable relationships for lone parents for their own benefit and also...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (8 Mar 2005)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—The Minister shall within 6 months from after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the social welfare treatment of income from SSIAs.". The amendment is straightforward. Will the Minister explain the Department's thinking on the social welfare...