Results 7,981-8,000 of 8,220 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to make a quick couple of points. For clarification, the particular measure on voluntary contributions which I acknowledge was accepted by the Minister, related to all people and they will have a period of five years in which they can make voluntary contributions following their last previous contribution. I was thinking especially of women returning to the workplace in that context,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, I am entitled to speak to the Bill and this is my slot to speak.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have to make a number of points that relate to the Bill because they relate also to what the Bill is not doing that it had the opportunity to do. I will not speak at length on this issue but I will point out that the proposals were within the OECD guidelines and were part of that wider package of pension reform that was debated in great depth on Committee Stage in this House. The...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My simple request is that as unfortunately, we have no opportunity today to put this forward as part of the Bill, the Minister should indicate how he will-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----meaningfully move this issue forward.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It has been indicated-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand that. We have a pattern-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Apologies, I was told this was the end of the Bill.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is the end of the Bill.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is a relevant matter.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, the Social Welfare Bill. This is me speaking to the Social Welfare Bill. I am also not just speaking to this Social Welfare Bill but also to the Social Welfare Bill from last year and the one from the year before, in each instance where this issue has been flagged. If this is not the home for that amendment or not the home for that action, I urge the Minister to find a home and find a...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There will be a board meeting, and there are meetings happening now and I also urge there would be meaningful engagement with the trustees and the Pensions Authority, not simply a fait accompli.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is a plea to the Independent News and Media board. I will conclude. I am moving away from that issue. This is my point, and it is the point we made extensively on Committee Stage - and I will come back to those point - which is pensions should not be a crisis, this is the most predictable issue. We know that people grow older. It is even more predictable than people being born and...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----in relation to it. I ask the Minister to introduce those measures on the public contributory pension and I ask him to champion the kind of long-term thinking, shared responsibility, planning and trust with regard to the other areas. That would be fundamental to the introduction of any universal supplementary scheme in the future. We need to rebuild trust in this area. I urge the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand my amendment has been ruled out of order but I would appreciate it if the Minister would address the concerns highlighted in the amendment. We will come later to an issue about which concern has been expressed on all sides of the House. It relates, in particular, to older women and the gender pension gap but this issue-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----is specifically related to the making of voluntary contributions. In this House last week, the Minister spoke about his concern to ensure that contributions are being made, that he wants to encourage the making of contributions, and that he wants to increase the fund that is available. I do not believe that our pay related insurance fund will ever be adequate in terms of our pension...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: First, I thank the Minister for taking on board the proposal in respect of five years. It is constructive and it will make a difference to people.I understand that the Minister indicated at the Oireachtas joint committee that he intends to look at a wider level at the contributions and the contribution system. I encourage the Minister to take this issue on board and to look to it. While...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is great to see paternity leave increasing and moving through legislation. I want to give a compliment because it is something we campaigned for in the National Women's Council in the past. I want to note it as a positive move.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief. This is the complimentary bit. The extension of dental treatment is a very positive measure. For those working in the area of heart disease, this is an example of something thoughtful happening because the provision of dental treatment leads to significant savings on heart treatment at a later date.