Results 581-600 of 1,311 for speaker:Sheila Terry

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

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 4: 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 rate of relative income poverty in the State.". This amendment has been proposed to help Members of the Oireachtas to keep tabs on the problems of the poor people...

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

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response. I agree that the current method of measuring poverty is not as good as it should be. I would welcome any improvements in that regard. I look forward to future discussions on the issue. I do not doubt that the families of people who are employed are still poor. I do not know whether that is caused by inadequate financial management, although I suspect...

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

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 5: 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 increasing, under the Act of 2003, the period where claims for Unemployment Benefit and Disability Benefit are linked with a previous claim from 13 weeks...

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

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 6: 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 increase, under the Act of 2003, in the underlying number of paid contributions required from 39 since first entering insurance to 52 for entitlement to Disability,...

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

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response. How much is in the social insurance fund at present? The fund is obviously in a much healthier state today than it was some years ago.

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

Sheila Terry: Does the Minister mean it includes the payments for four months?

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

Sheila Terry: Is the fund healthier than it was in other years? Can it be compared to that of five or ten years ago?

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

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 8: 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 crèche supplement.". This amendment seeks information on the impact of the discontinuation of the crèche supplement last...

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

Sheila Terry: I will not press the amendment but I wish to comment on the Minister's response for which I thank him. I am surprised that he does not know how many children were excluded because of the cutbacks last year. People must take certain avenues to apply for this allowance so I am surprised the Minister does not have any figures or know the impact of this cutback. While the Minister accepts that...

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

Sheila Terry: That is even worse.

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

Sheila Terry: That is very unsatisfactory.

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

Sheila Terry: Does the Minister have any idea how many applications were excluded because of the cutbacks last year?

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

Sheila Terry: Yes.

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

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 9: 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 entitlement to half rate child dependent allowance in respect of Unemployment Benefit and Disability Benefit where the...

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

Sheila Terry: I welcome the fact that the Minister has made improvements. He did not go as far as people would have liked and this allowance deals with the most vulnerable people in our society. I ask the Minister to keep this under review and improve it for next year because it is an area that needs our attention and on which we should focus.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: It did not look like that last year.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: Those were difficult times.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: If we had had the money this Government has, we would have been able to do it.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: He should have used it more usefully.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage. (15 Dec 2004)

Sheila Terry: I welcome the Minister to the House. The Social Welfare Bill certainly represents a welcome change to the image of the Government. I compliment the Minister on his input to the Bill, which makes many changes that are of benefit to many people. I recognise the changes he has made to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. It is a change from last year's budget which did nothing but hit...