Results 561-580 of 1,311 for speaker:Sheila Terry

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Sheila Terry: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this important and welcome legislation. Any measure that helps the process of combining work and family life must be welcomed. I agree with all the amendments contained in the Bill. However, there are some areas in which I feel the Bill fails to address the needs of parents. The Government has let families down and has missed the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his reply. However, I would prefer if the provisions of this scheme were returned to the situation that pertained prior to this year. The cost of full-time child care makes it difficult for lone parents to take a job. I do not know how they can manage it now. It seems it would be easier for them to stay at home than to take on the expense of child care and the other...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I also thank the Minister for spending his time here throughout all Stages of the Bill. I thank his staff for their help and reiterate the many well deserved compliments paid to them yesterday. For many years the Department of Social and Family Affairs officials have been well known for the assistance they have given to public representatives. While I tabled many amendments today they were...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 10: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2. The Minister shall, as soon as may be after the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on pro-rata contributory pensions for those with less than 10 years contributions.". I am asking for a report on pro rata contributory pensions for those with fewer than...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 11: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2. The Minister shall, as soon as may be after the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of the discontinuation of the diet supplement.". When will the new scheme come into effect? In the meantime, while obviously continuing with those on the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: Did the Minister ask the group writing the report to examine cost? I am wondering if it will be a little like the fuel allowance. By accepting the increases in the old age pension, the Minister left it up to the individual to decide whether to spend his or her old age pension on fuel needs. Will there be changes? I gather from what the Minister has said that he may be considering different...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 12: In page 3, before section 3, to insert the following new section: "3. The Minister shall, as soon as may be, after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of increasing the minimum contribution all recipients of Supplementary Welfare Allowance Rent/Mortgage Supplement are required to make towards their...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his reply. I greatly welcome that he abolished the six month rule that applied to eligibility for rent supplement. I can understand the thinking behind it, but perhaps it did not extend to the people on whom it would impact. As public representatives, we have all met, heard and received letters from people who deal with the homeless in particular. Homeless people have...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 13: In page 3, before section 3, to insert the following new section: "3. The Minister shall, as soon as may be, after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of excluding Supplementary Welfare Allowance to a couple if one is in full-time employment.". I ask the Minister to report on the impact of this cutback...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 17: In page 3, before section 3, to insert the following new section: "3. The Minister shall, as soon as may be, after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of the discontinuation of the supplement given to recipients of Supplementary Welfare Allowance who have been supported by MABS in brokering a deal with...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his reply. I congratulate MABS for the work it has undertaken. It provides a wonderful service. While 12,000 is a lot of people to help, there are many more who could possibly avail of the service. In recent days it has been brought to my attention that there is a noticeable increase in the number of loan sharks or money lenders operating in some areas of the city....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 18: In page 3, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4. The Minister shall, as soon as may be, after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both houses of the Oireachtas a report on the operation of the Family Income Supplement.". This amendment seeks to elicit information on how well the family income supplement is working. While the FIS is of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 19: In page 4, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4. The Minister shall, as soon as may be, after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of the of the increasing of the Back to Education Allowance qualifying period from 6 months to 15 months.". This amendment relates to the qualifying period...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: Senator Cox has made my point for me. I accept what the Minister is saying. His reasoning for not returning the qualifying period for the scheme to six months relates to the people who have spoilt it for those who really need it. We all accept that the reason for last year's change was to prevent those not financially in need of the allowance from qualifying. However, by trying to deal with...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 20: In page 4, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4. The Minister shall, as soon as may be, after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of the discontinuation of the transitional half rate payment for lone parents where a recipient of the One Parent Family Payment takes up employment where...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I support the amendment. There is nothing like a personal story to bring home how these rules impact on people's lives. I know a widow whose husband has been dead for 12 years. She has been caring for her daughter who is in her 30s and suffers from Down's syndrome. As a result of the fact that she is in receipt of a widow's pension she does not qualify for carer's allowance, which seems...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: Is a widow or widower living with members of his or her family entitled to any of the free schemes?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: Without a means test?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: Nothing is more important for the elderly than staying warm but, regrettably, we regularly go into homes that are cold. Unfortunately, many of the elderly mind their money and take care with how much heat they use. This is, therefore, an important allowance and one that the Minister should examine. I accept that the pension has increased and the Minister feels this is a better way to provide...