Results 61-80 of 133 for speaker:Sarah O'Reilly

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Effect of Child-related Benefits on Child Poverty and Deprivation: ESRI (18 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I am interested in the tax-benefit system. Has the ESRI done any work on looking at the potential of tackling tax individualisation? The system penalises one-income families.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Effect of Child-related Benefits on Child Poverty and Deprivation: ESRI (18 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Has the ESRI engaged with Mary Reader's work? She has published in the Journal of Health Economics. She found that a small child benefit sum paid to mothers during pregnancy resulted in infant health gains. The cost-of-living survey also made interesting points about this and how a drop in income during pregnancy can impact the child poverty rate of other children. Has the ESRI looked...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Effect of Child-related Benefits on Child Poverty and Deprivation: ESRI (18 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I had a question about the means test as well and how the witnesses would implement that, but they have answered it.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Effect of Child-related Benefits on Child Poverty and Deprivation: ESRI (18 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: It is a matter of information as well, Chair. You mentioned a payment there. What payment were you talking about, may I ask?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Effect of Child-related Benefits on Child Poverty and Deprivation: ESRI (18 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: More information about that needs to be-----

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Effect of Child-related Benefits on Child Poverty and Deprivation: ESRI (18 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Yes.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I recently had the privilege of meeting representatives of SMA Ireland in the audiovisual room. Spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, is a rare condition that causes weakness throughout the body. People living with SMA can experience difficulties swallowing, breathing and performing basic day-to-day activities. In recent years, the HSE has approved three treatments that can halt the progression of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: The recent RTÉ exposé on nursing homes in Dublin and Laois was heartbreaking to watch. Vulnerable elderly people - our mothers, fathers, grandparents and neighbours - were left without dignity and proper care. Yet, the Government continues to outsource elder care to private corporations, many of which put the bottom line before people. It was shocking to watch an elderly man ask...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: On a point of clarity, it was announced on 13 May, yet all Oireachtas Members in Cavan received a letter from the housing authority in Cavan on 28 May. That was after the announcement. Applications are in and so when the application-----

Seanad: Delivering a World-Class Education System: Statements (12 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: At the outset, I commend the good work of many in the education system. We all want a world-class education system that allows every child to real his or her full potential. However, too many people feel that the Department of Education and Youth is ignoring the voices of those who matter most, namely students, parents and teachers, many of whom have contacted me. There are hundreds of...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank Senator Flynn and the Civil Engagement Group for their work on this issue. I agree with all the amendments and fully support their proposals. It is beyond time that our laws be updated so that images of child abuse are referred to as what they are. We have a very serious problem of child trafficking and child sexual exploitation in this country. Aontú has exposed a number...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: How long have I got?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I thank the Minister for coming to speak to the committee today. In his opening statement, he said on the carer's allowance "... with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government." While this is a positive step and the cost of caring and loss of income are a heavy burden for families, carers often provide 24-7 support and should not...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: My other question concerns workers in Wellman International. Will the Minister answer why a multimillion-euro multinational company has used a tax loophole to cut ties with its subsidiary, gone into examinership and can only offer statutory redundancy, citing lack of funds? It is a multimillion-euro industry. The people who worked there all their lives are being offered statutory...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Deputy Guirke mentioned the lack of supports for people who were self-employed. There is also bogus self-employment. What is the Department doing to clamp down on that kind of thing? We have seen what has been happening with RTÉ. Basically, employees were being categorised as contractors. I actually think the Department knew about this. What will it do in the future to clamp down...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Protection Issues: Minister for Social Protection (11 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: That is good to hear. On a point of clarity, the Gender Recognition Act 2015 falls under the Department's remit. I was not asking about Scottish legislation; I was only giving it as example. I was asking the Minister if he would commit to amending the Gender Recognition Act 2015. It falls under the Department's remit. As we speak, there are three men in Limerick women's prison, one of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (10 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this important issue. She is aware that Wellman International, based in Mullagh, County Cavan, recently went into examinership. Serious concerns have been raised regarding the future of the company and the rights of its employees. There are more than 200 jobs at risk. The company has been an established employer in the area for more...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (10 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: The Minister of State did not answer any of my questions with concrete solutions. She has a lot of hope and talks a lot about hope. The Government said it was well aware of what was happening. If it was well aware, why did it continue pumping taxpayers' money into a business it knew was going into examinership? These workers are supporting families. They poured years of their lives and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jun 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Two weeks ago, an online survey commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on providing supports for the forgotten farmers closed. Like many others, I welcomed the allocation of €5 million in the 2025 budget to support the men and women who, due to restrictions in agricultural policy and administrative delays at the time and through no fault of their own, were...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I was at a very informative presentation yesterday given by EDIT in the audiovisual room. One of the women speaking spoke about her issues with the current inheritance tax system. She does not have any children, and she has a sister with a disability. She wants to make sure that her sister is set up for life if, God forbid, she should pass. She cannot leave more than €40,000 to her...