Results 6,801-6,820 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I am glad we initiated this debate because the total number of lone parent households has remained at a constant percentage over the past six years. It was 11.2% in 1996 and 11.6% in 2002. A sizeable proportion of lone parent households, about 15%, are headed by men but 85% are headed by women. I agree with the Minister. The total number of births to women under 20, regardless of whether they...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: He is in full flow, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Do not disturb him.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: The Minister has been fair in terms of the way he confronted this issue. He provided quite an expansive and comprehensive response to a merited debate which dispels some of the myths and gives lie to some of the various assertions that were made recently in respect of one-parent families. Lone parents do not have access to pots of gold and must continually struggle to make ends meet. This...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: 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 the social welfare treatment of income from SSIAs. The Minister has reacted positively to this matter that was brought to public attention by my colleague, Deputy Lynch,...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 4: In page 5, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: 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 the implications of providing that accrued savings from old age pensions should not be regarded as means for the purposes of payment of the old age non-contributory...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: "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 the earnings disregards applicable to schemes operated under the Social Welfare Acts and the impact of transition to work on the recipients of secondary benefits...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: That was never known to happen before.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: We all miss him.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I thank the Minister for his reply. I also thank my colleagues for their comprehensive contributions on this matter. It indicates that people are acutely aware that the debate on poverty is not over by a long shot. The Minister rightly identified that in some cases people who take up low paid jobs find it more difficult to survive. Much of the poverty to which the Minister referred in regard...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I am.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I had better bring it to a conclusion. Obviously poverty is such an important topic that every Member of the Opposition would wish to reply for 20 minutes. The Minister is aware of that. It is time to modernise the social welfare system to take cognisance of the reality of life in 2005. It is 53 years since the system was brought into being and it is time to modernise it.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I will withdraw the amendment if the Minister gives a commitment that he will draw up a report on how income disregards are applied. The Minister can produce the report in June or July. Surely the Department will have an opportunity to evaluate the matter in that interim.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: The Minister's bona fides have been sound up to now so I accept his commitment. However I hope it is not as slow as the report on the back to education allowance.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: "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 the impact of the social welfare system on one parent families and on proposals to remove the restriction on formation of a family unit which presently applies to...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie Penrose: We were not allowed to have calculators at school. The Christian Brothers were great in that regard. My point is that this requirement must be changed. It is provided for in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993. It is Rule 1 of subsection (8)(a) of Part II of the Third Schedule of that Act, as amended by section 3 of the Social Welfare Act 1999. The quicker the Minister introduces the...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (24 Feb 2005)

Willie Penrose: Question 56: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the costs incurred by the State, at the latest date for which figures are available, arising from the various inquiries instigated by or on behalf of his Department; the element of these costs which have been recovered from any of the other parties involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6165/05]

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Feb 2005)

Willie Penrose: Question 45: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is intended to introduce and enact the required legislation to give effect to EU Directive 2002/14/EC regarding information and consultation with employees by the required date of 23 March 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (24 Feb 2005)

Willie Penrose: Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if persons who were accommodated in private nursing homes over the years and were charged and had their pensions retained to help discharge payments due, will be considered for refunds under the recent judgment from the Supreme Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6476/05]

Written Answers — Agriculture Appeals: Agriculture Appeals (24 Feb 2005)

Willie Penrose: Question 146: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a further oral hearing will be made in relation to the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath against the decision taken by her Department to disallow amendments to their 2002 area aid application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6477/05]

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (24 Feb 2005)

Willie Penrose: Question 161: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform , further to parliamentary Question No. 201 of 10 February 2005, if an error was made in the reply; if this matter will be processed without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6475/05]