Results 5,801-5,820 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I support the concept behind Deputy Stanton's amendment. It is important within the context of equality within the social welfare system. It is important that there is equality, equity and access to the availability of all schemes. In that context, paternity leave for fathers has a role in that it would give fathers the opportunity to be present at a crucial time in the life of the child....

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: The position of widows has been a long-standing bone of contention for me. When they lose their spouse, especially if they have two or three young children, it is a time of huge vulnerability. Having lost their main breadwinner and find their income slashed by maybe 60% or 70%, they need compassion and positive help. The social welfare system has been remiss in abjectly failing to...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I gave the Minister too much credit. The widowed parent's grant increased by €1,300, not by the amount I said, but it is still significant, with an increase of over 50%. Is that paid to every widow? What are the qualifying criteria? Is it a universal payment, providing a widowed parent has a child?

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: No, I said it incorrectly.

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: This amendment relates to an important issue. In reply to the Minister's statement on Second Stage, I pointed out that if we want to widen the opportunity for people to contribute to their pensions, it has been accepted that we should include shopkeepers' and farmers' spouses. Regarding people who were previously restricted in this respect, such as those in receipt of farm assistance or...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I thank the Minister for taking cognisance of the points we made today and during the year that were reflected in this Bill and the social welfare improvements announced in the budget. We look forward to renewing battle early in the new year and I hope the Minister and his officials have a peaceful Christmas.

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I broadly support Deputy Stanton's amendments although he has indicated he will not press them. The Minister is acutely aware of the issue of child poverty and I do not doubt his bona fides with regard to his efforts to eradicate it. The eradication of child poverty is a challenging objective and cannot be achieved easily. There is no one size measure to fit all that will deal with child...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I support the thrust of Deputy Stanton's amendment. This is one of the few amendments that do not have an adverse financial impact. If it can be construed by the Minister and his officials as having such an adverse impact, he is really saying that if the Department can save money by a strict imposition of a deadline, then that is a good day's work. Things should not work like that, because...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I agree this initiative has been ongoing. Repeated attempts have been made by various organisations dealing with disability which have aired this issue in an holistic and very vocal manner over the years. Obviously, significant additional costs are incurred by people with disabilities. I will digress for a minute and mention that I was at the Westmeath Centre for Independent Living...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: The Department has some of the best officials in the public service. We have paid tribute to them previously and I pay tribute to them again. We get a great service from them. There is greater ingenuity in his Department in terms of seeing issues from a different perspective than in many others. The Department officials would see the benefit of this move. Often the waiver schemes...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: Cork East.

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, before section 1, to insert the following new section: 1.—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 implications of abolishing the means test for carer's allowance. As the Minister is well aware, I have always unashamedly articulated the plight and championed the...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I gave the Minister a bouncer last night.

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I thank the Minister. I am grateful and it would be churlish not to acknowledge that he said in a straight fashion that he gave time to exploring the possibility of abolishing the means test. He might have had a different view 12 months ago but I have largely convinced him of my rationale for doing this. It is generally people on low incomes who avail of carer's allowance, not the...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: The Minister is an astute politician and he will probably hijack this proposal.

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: A compassionate care benefit scheme was introduced in Canada in 2004 where employees are entitled to receive up to six weeks employment insurance benefits, approximately 55% of their insured earnings support, when they provide care for a gravely ill family member who is at risk of passing on within six months. This issue is related to the ongoing debate initiated by the Minister for Health...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "1. —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 increasing the living alone allowance." The Minister will be aware my amendment is a formal means of presenting a case. I have been contacted by several parties,...

Dormant Accounts Fund. (13 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: Question 103: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the groups and projects he will prioritise in the upcoming round of funding to be allocated under the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42850/06]

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (12 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: Question 91: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the distribution of his Department's leaflet Safeguarding Ireland form Nuclear Accidents to all households here. [42478/06]

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (12 Dec 2006)

Willie Penrose: Question 367: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position, in relation to a work permit, whereby a person from Tunisia wishes to come here with their partner who is an Irish citizen, and who has available to them at least a six month working contract; the position in relation to visa requirements and so on, for such a person; and if he will make a statement on the...