Results 5,061-5,080 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: That is what the review said.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A wide range of groups can make an input into all Government policies. Over many years, successive social welfare Ministers have participated in the pre-budget forum, in which 32 groups express their views. That is a direct input into Government policy.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The community and voluntary pillar makes a direct input into Government policy. The established mechanisms which are in place work very well.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I would like to mention the various elements of the Office for Social Inclusion, particularly the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, which is chaired by the Taoiseach.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: That committee has examined a wide variety of issues, such as the best way of combatting poverty.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The senior officials group works on a cross-departmental basis. A number of Departments have sections dealing with social inclusion.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: When I worked in the Department of Education and Science, the Department's social inclusion unit drove the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools initiative, which successfully combatted disadvantage.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Mechanisms and procedures are in place to provide information. The Combat Poverty Agency will enjoy the best possible future if it is integrated with the Office for Social Inclusion.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Nobody is gagging anybody.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I answered that question earlier when I mentioned the figure of €4.6 million, which is how much has been spent on the Combat Poverty Agency.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: It is obvious that the staff will be transferred.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: It is obvious that negotiations will take place with the staff. We intend to enhance the amount of research we do. That is important. I intend to ensure we have a strategy, mechanism or forum in place to ensure the voices of those who are experiencing poverty are listened to and heard on a regular basis.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I envisage——

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I envisage that we will spend more money in some areas, such as research, and far less money in other areas, such as advertising and consultancy.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I have indicated to the Deputy that as soon as we have made the final plans and arrangements——

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I expect to spend a lot more money on some of the more relevant things, such as research.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: We will not pay for more advertising and more consulting.

Combat Poverty Agency. (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The aim of the review, which has been ongoing for a year and a half, is to ascertain the best mechanism for ensuring the voice of poverty can be heard. This was the recommendation.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: There is a total of five full-time administrative staff assigned to deal with matters in my constituency office. The staff in question are based in my Department's headquarters in Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Store Street, Dublin 1. There are four established civil servants, one Executive Officer on a payscale of €32,179 to €51,054, two Clerical Officers on a payscale of €24,397 to €39,558...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Nov 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on behalf of the department by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor the Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims. Mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to...