Results 8,821-8,840 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: I have the figures for 2016 and 2017. However, if the Deputy wants, I can get the previous years' figures for him before Report Stage. In 2016, we paid €116,849 towards burial expenses and €4,864,390 towards funeral expenses.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: Last year.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: Yes.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: Sure.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: There is probably very little of what the Deputies said that I do not agree with. We have to acknowledge that there are many people who are still experiencing difficulties in heating their homes, which is why we increased the fuel allowance period by one week this year. I would have loved to have been able to increase it by two or three weeks but we did not have the money. The commitment I...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: It was across Departments.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: On that point, I agree, but to come back to what Deputy Brady said about other agencies, the report that currently exists is a Government report and a strategy to combat energy poverty. Apparently, it is the first ever Government strategy on affordable energy and it will give Departments specific tasks. Unfortunately, none of those relates to my Department and therefore even if Deputy Brady...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: Yes. I cannot accept the amendment as tabled because I do not have the authority to do what the Deputy is asking me to do. I would look like an eejit.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: I cannot accept this amendment, mainly because of the timescale involved. I would ask Deputies to withdraw the amendment because we are currently conducting a review. Under the pathways to work action plan, we have committed to conducting a review of the impact of the changes made to social welfare payments to young people under the ages of 26 and 24. That review is not going to be...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: It will probably take nine months. That sounds like a very long time, but given that one is only now receiving reports that were asked for at this time last year, it probably is not that long a time.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: The Department will continue with the work it has undertaken in any case but I want the report from NUI Maynooth to feed in to it. Because I did not commission the report, I do not know when it will be finished. It could be finished in two months or five. Deputy Kenny may amend the amendment to specify six months but if we come back in six months' time and the report is not available, he...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: The report will say what it will say.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: If it contains such a recommendation and I do not make the appropriate responses, the Deputy will rightly be able to say-----
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: I cannot tell the Deputy how I will make up my mind about something at this time next year because I do not know what the circumstances will be. Deputy O'Dea might be the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: Given the short amount of time I have been in office, I hope it is clear that when I say I will do something, I do it. If I have made a mistake and will not be able to do it for a particular reason, I will not have a problem admitting that and will tell Deputies why I cannot do it. My intention in considering the report is to see if what we have done has worked. If it has not, it must be...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: It has.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: Yes.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: The review being conducted by the Department will specifically examine the reduced payment rates and the impacts thereof. The report being produced by NUI Maynooth will examine the effectiveness of the reduced payments in terms of an upturn or uptake in encouraging young job seekers to avail of training, education and improving their skills. I will thus be aware of the impact of the...
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: Or nine months.
- Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)
Regina Doherty: I am quite sure that members are going to make sure I have no Christmas given everything they want within three months.