Results 7,261-7,280 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will respond.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I need to. I will be brief.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect, I will exercise my right to respond.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Sure.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not regard it as a waste of time. It is an important discussion. I have a number of key concerns. I appreciate the Minister's full response. I look forward to debating the issue with her, albeit not just when the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill is before the House. I hope that we will have the opportunity to engage on it in advance of that Bill. A number of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I just wanted clarification. If that is not the case then it would be great to know it.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: So not the PPS number but the new number entered in this new database.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand the Minister's response but my concern stands. I thank the Minister. I will engage further with her and we look forward to looking into this issue again. I wish we had as a State adopted a more cautious approach. The Leas-Chathaoirleach will be delighted to hear I am moving to whether I will press the amendments. I would like to press amendment No. 1.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2:In page 11, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “Amendment of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 16.Section 242 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new subsections after subsection (9):“(10) No information or documentation furnished by a person under subsection (4) or (6) may be shared by the Minister, an...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3:In page 11, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “Amendment of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 16.Section 263 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new subsection after subsection (1C):“(1D)Within 8 months of the passing of the Social Welfare Act 2017, the Minister shall publish and lay before both houses...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4:In page 11, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “Amendment of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 16.Section 263 of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3): “(3) A person shall produce his or her public service card or other appropriate form of identification at the request of a...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Senator Devine has highlighted an important issue. During the current cold snap, concerns have been expressed about variations in fuel costs, which can change frequently. I support the Senator's proposal. She has highlighted this issue in the House previously. I hope the Minister is able to give satisfaction to the Senator in respect of this issue.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To facilitate a speedy vote the previous amendment on jobseeker's allowance was not debated. It is very important and it would be useful if the Minster, Deputy Doherty, could comment later. There are very serious concerns in terms of the treatment of those under the age of 26. We have lost young people in the high levels of emigration that we have had in recent years. I support the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To clarify, a similar if not identical amendment can be proposed on Report Stage. It would arise from the same matter.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am strongly in favour of this amendment and the review of care-related payments. Care is the lifeblood of society and without it the economy and society would not function. All too often it becomes somewhat invisible and it is not given the full acknowledgement that it should. I have long pressed not only for the homemaker scheme to be addressed, as we have discussed before and will...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 14, after line 18, to insert the following:“Report on Voluntary Labour Activation20. The Minister for Employment and Social Protection shall, within eight months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas examining potential improvements to voluntary access to INTREO and LES employment, training and...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: While there may be access in principle, we are often not seeing effective access in practice. I have heard of many instances of people being unable to access full supports or being told that they will have to join the live register and indicate full-time availability, which some of them are unable to do. Alternatively, they have been told that they are not a priority at this time or they...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On that basis, I am happy to work with the Minister through the joint committee.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 10:“Guidelines on development of Personal Progression Plans 20.The Minister for Employment and Social Protection shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay guidelines before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the principles and parameters which must underpin the development and agreement of “personal progression plans” by any...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister. Unfortunately, there is sometimes a shortfall between policy and practice. There is a slight difference. Of course, nobody is against personal progression plans as a concept and they exist in practice in a number of different areas. What is specific here is that it is third parties. It is a little different because they are only contracted for part of the process...