Results 6,801-6,820 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am very concerned about the 40 years. Those who have insecure employment, returning emigrants and immigrants have gaps in contributions and the lead-in to the change of adding ten years will really affect anybody between the ages of 40 and 50 years. In that regard, I will ask all my questions now. What are the changes in respect of voluntary contributions? The threshold for making...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Women are 40% less likely to have a private pension. They do not tend to benefit from that tax relief. There is at least €3 billion there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is fine. I thank the Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is there a timeline on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is it likely to affect the budget? I know that is a political decision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the extension of the age, for example, France recognises the age people start work. It was stated some measure may need to be looked at around facilitating part-time workers. Should we be requiring full-time availability for work in those later years or have a measure such as jobseeker’s transitional where the requirement is waived to facilitate part-time working attachment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It increased to 520 in 2012. There was a three-stage increase which brought it to 520 in 2012.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There were changes to the bands in 2012, in particular the shift to 520 contributions, which raised concerns. There were people who in 2010 believed they would be accessing at least a minimal pension or would be somewhere on the pension bands who, following the shift to 520 in 2012, had fallen out of the system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think the point Mr. Scully is making is that there are people who still have concerns and that while some of the 2012 concerns have been addressed, this one has not.

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for bring the Bill to the House. I look forward to debating it and progressing it as expeditiously as possible because, as other Members have stated, it has been a long time in the making and undertaken a significant journey to get to this point. There is much to welcome in the Bill. I particularly welcome the recognition of the importance of access for all to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Deputy might be referring to the schemes Ms Carr mentioned that the HSE had funded in the absence of other schemes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am following up on some of the issues which have been highlighted already, including the huge level of unpaid administrative work. It came across very strongly in the testimonies of the many individuals who have navigated the system. A huge level of unpaid administrative work is undertaken by individuals to access not just equality but their rights and entitlements and to navigate the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will make a couple of points and then there can be general answers. Maybe the witnesses can give that date. Is there a date?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is it expected before the summer recess or do we not know?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perfect. That was a key question. I will give input regarding a couple of points that really struck me on that issue of transition points from the testimony of others. Special needs assistants were mentioned. People may have had special needs assistance in our higher education institutions or post-primary institutions and then find themselves wishing to transition into employment but the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. I have one last set of questions which I will come to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am talking education and part-time options and not simply the entitlement to same. I refer to things like quality part-time educational options. For example, the CE scheme is one of the few schemes that is part-time. Perhaps this is too micro in detail but that is not available to people on certain schemes. The question is about quality part-time options. Another key issue that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have one tiny final point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What might be-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was struck by what was said about technology in assisted learning. Perhaps the delegates might tell us more about the reasonable accommodation aspect that was mentioned, either now or in writing later. There were some strong recommendations for an overhaul in that area, particularly in the use of technology and in terms of how important it is. This applies not only to the provision of...