Results 5,341-5,360 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 94. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the changes made as a result of sick leave to the manner in which public servants avail of incremental pay increases since 2010; and the changes to rules governing sick leave and their impact on scheduled incremental pay increases in recent years. [51256/18]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 95. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the changes as a result of FEMPI or the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 in the impact that sick leave may have on projected incremental pay levels of public servants. [51257/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether the delays in processing applications from migrant workers to work here are justifiable (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51298/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 127. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if delays and ongoing technical difficulties in receiving documentation and processing applications as experienced by migrant workers coming here could be eased by the use of online applications without the need for visits to GNIB offices especially in cases of workers already resident here; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 128. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for extra resources to be deployed in the INIS and GNIB in view of delays facing migrants who need to apply for visas or for renewal of residency permits, and in further view of the exit of the United Kingdom from the EU and the added pressure this may place on the system in 2019; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 256. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; the reason her Department does not inform persons in the years prior to their retirement age that they may fail to qualify for the pension without additional contributions paid or voluntary; if such advanced warning will be provided in the future; the reason...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Data (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 273. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants for a State contributory pension since 2012 who have been refused a contributory pension due to the fact that they did not have 520 contributions; and the number of these who had over 260 contributions. [51471/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Data (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 274. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants for the State contributory pension who failed to qualify due to the fact they did not have 520 contributions but they had over 260 but also failed to qualify for a non-contributory pension due to means testing. [51472/18]

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I move amendment No. 56:In page 16, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:“(5) Nothing in subsection (1)shall be construed as applying to an institution, hospital or medical facility.”. I speak on behalf of all the signatories to this amendment. I am willing to withdraw it on the basis that the Minister is willing to reiterate the commitment he gave us on Committee...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I received a well worded tweet from a person who asked when conscientious objection was expanded to mean that only the consciences of the objectors were to be considered in preference to those of the rest of us. It is a very poignant way of putting the argument. As has been pointed out, the question of conscientious objection is dealt with in medical regulations. In including it in the...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Is it becoming that ridiculous and inhumane? We need a reality check and to think about what we are saying. My final comments will be on waiting lists. Waiting lists in the creaking and crumbling health service are being used as an excuse not to provide women with what is rightfully theirs and what they deserve. It is what is rightfully theirs according to the outcome of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Deputy Corcoran Kennedy suggested earlier that there should be a Minister dedicated to climate change. I have a certain sympathy with the suggestion but the matter is a little more interesting because the first recommendation of the special Citizens' Assembly on this issue was for a new independent body with a broad range of functions and powers in respect of climate change. This was to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I recognise that one of the aspects of the implementation of a carbon tax is to attempt to change behaviour. It is to stick the cart before the horse, however, to do what has been done in France. People there were put in the position of having to spend much of their already reduced income on getting to and from work when public transport was not up to scratch. Only yesterday, the cost of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: It is completely insufficient.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Maternity Services Provision (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 36. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he will ensure that women have access to healthcare, including the right to abortion services, at the proposed maternity hospital on the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital in view of concerns in relation to the possible influence of a religious ethos on the provision of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Maternity Services Provision (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: This question concerns the urgency with which we need to find out what is happening with the national maternity hospital in terms of the ethos being applied to it. Is the plan to have the building go ahead as soon as possible on track and, if not, what is the reason for that? According to newspaper reports, there is some kind of cold war under way between the Department and the boards of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Maternity Services Provision (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I do not believe people are accusing the Minister of not delivering the goods. What I think is going on is that nobody knows what is happening. That is the reason I am asking the Minister straight questions. Why has the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group not yet registered as a charitable organisation? We have been talking about this for 18 months or more and it still has not been done....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Maternity Services Provision (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I am delighted to hear the Minister say he will not be backed into a corner by anybody but we are still not getting answers. That is very concerning. Groups are forming and they will protest at 2 p.m. this Saturday at the Spire, not because they cannot stand the sight of the Minister but because they are genuinely concerned about what is happening. Why has charitable status not been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Maternity Services Provision (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: What does that mean in terms of the State's influence? Does it mean the Minister will get a golden seat and will have the absolute say in terms of what goes at the board? There is no clarity on that. The Minister should not be surprised that people are protesting and giving out leaflets. We are concerned, having fought long enough to make changes in this country. While I acknowledge the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disabilities Assessments (5 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 45. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of children who are in one CHO area with regard to gaining access to assessments of needs lose their place in the queue if they move home and are placed in a different CHO area; and if, in view of the housing crisis, the way in which access to these services is impacted by such a move, which is often...