Results 41-60 of 1,031,817 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív98)

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this extraordinarily important issue. Before I answer her directly, may I acknowledge the fact that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has made the decision to step down as leader of the Green Party? Obviously, he has played a major leadership role in this coalition, and I want to acknowledge that. He is an honest, sincere, dedicated and decent politician....

Prelude (18 Jun 2024)

Prelude (18 Jun 2024)

Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.00 p.m.

Prelude (18 Jun 2024)

Prayer and Reflection.

Prelude (18 Jun 2024)

Paidir agus Machnamh.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (18 Jun 2024)

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (18 Jun 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I wish to announce for the information of the House that four Members of the Dáil have been elected to the European Parliament, namely, Deputies Barry Cowen, Kathleen Funchion, Michael McNamara and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Pursuant to the European Parliament Elections Act, the Deputies will cease to be Members of the Dáil when they take up their seats at the first...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Mary Lou McDonald: We have an epidemic of domestic violence. This morning, Women's Aid reports that last year it received its highest level of domestic abuse disclosures in its 50-year history. The figures cited in the organisation’s impact report are frightening, with more than 40,000 disclosures of abuse against women and children made in 2023. That is a jump of 18% on the previous year. Reports of...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: On the amendment, was there no temptation to go to a clean €500? It would be much easier for everyone to remember. Cut-off, round figures are generally easier. We always seem to be very precise, even when a little generosity would do nobody any harm. On a more serious point, even though that is a serious point, I welcome section 3, which has been referred to. We have to know...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Cathaoirleach is going so fast through the sections that I am losing myself. I welcome the extension back to nine months. It was originally proposed to claw some of this back by going to six months for jobseeker's benefit. I welcome the fact it has been left at nine months, but I reiterate my concern that for those who do not get employment within the nine months there is a second...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It would be complex enough, would it not? The Minister has to draw the line somewhere.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yes, but there will be a line drawn somewhere.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Could the secretariat give us a copy of those relevant sections of the Act-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: -----to which the Minister is referring.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yes, but obviously, that does not apply today to as many people as this is going to apply to. In other words, this has to become administratively possible in a fairly simple form for people who are going to qualify and administratively possible for people who are not going to qualify because, obviously, there will be quite a few people. It is that fine line that is going to cause the grief....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will put it this way; nobody has ever come to me and cited that law. I know there are going to be plenty of people coming to me on this one. That is the difference. Money is involved. There is going to be a cut-off point and there are going to be judgments involved. When we are dealing with something that is black and white, such having contributions and whatever, it is much easier....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I have one final question. Let us say a person qualifies. In the old days, if people qualified for a widow's pension, the way they lost that was if they got married. Now, presumably, they equally lose it if they become a cohabitant again. These are the kinds of blurred lines.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I accept that, but I am saying that these are the kinds of blurred lines that in my view exist around the definition of what is a new cohabitant or whatever. I would be interested in those definitions. I foresee that will be a challenge when it is not something very finite. Marriage is a legal contract, so it is very definable. In this case, however, I am interested to see where the lines...