Results 1,041-1,060 of 1,760 for speaker:Aideen Hayden

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I do indeed.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I wish to raise the unfortunate issues that have arisen regarding the Central Remedial Clinic. I ask for the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to come to this Chamber at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss with this House his intentions for putting the charities regulatory authority on a statutory footing early - I emphasis early - in 2014. The Charities Act 2009,...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: -----for the charities regulatory authority to be established was a matter of cost.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: That is a false economy and I would like the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to come to the Houses to outline his current plans.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I am not arguing with the Minister that it was not a fair comment.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: That is not why I rose. Clearly, in the fullness of time when this Government rolls out its programme for Government in regard to free GP care and so forth, it is my hope that we will be well on the way to a medical system where people do not fear the annual increases in their medical insurance premiums because they will not need them. However, I accept we are not in that position yet and I...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: In any event, what I was going to propose was that the Minister - I do not think he can do it in this Bill - keep a basket of medical insurance premiums under review to ensure the limits reflect gold plated policies, or call them whatever one likes, rather than the policies many people believe they need to protect themselves in the current environment have. It may not be something that can...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I listened to the speech of the Minister for Finance with more than the usual level of attention when he was speaking in the Dáil. In regard to income tax, he said, "This will restrict the exposure of the Exchequer on premiums paid for gold-plated medical insurance policies". I support my colleague Senator Darragh O'Brien.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: Would the Minister like me to?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: It states: In relation to medical insurance relief, I have decided to cap the amount of premium on which tax relief will be available to €1,000 per adult and €500 per child. This will restrict the exposure of the Exchequer on premiums paid for gold-plated medical insurance policies, while not affecting the majority of individuals who avail of more standard levels of medical cover.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: This issue was quite contentious on Second Stage. The overall change in the one-parent family tax credit is undesirable. This change follows a trend that has happened over the past number of years. For example, under the rent supplement scheme, it is now impossible for somebody who is not the primary carer to get appropriate accommodation that will allow visitation rights with his or her...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: The Minister put his finger on it when he stated that tenants are not in a position to make improvements to the properties in which they live. Unfortunately, 90% of landlords in this country own one or two properties. This is an ongoing issue. Perhaps the officials could clear this up between now and Report Stage. Unfortunately, most landlords who provide accommodation in this country...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I spoke about this measure yesterday during the Second Stage debate. My comments are not just on the amendment under discussion but also on a number of others tabled related to provisions in this section. I agree with colleagues who have said the measure is very good and beneficial. I do not believe some of the comments to the effect that is has been put in place just to bring people out...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: Do I have a minute to wrap up?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I thank the Acting Chairman for the warning.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: That was good of the Acting Chairman and I thank him. Finally, I welcome the important Living City initiative. Here I make one request also: that it be extended to renovations that do not necessary relate to owner occupation. Many of the properties to which the Living City initiative applies are accommodation of the "Strumpet City" type in the private rented sector. It is important,...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. He is always very welcome and we appreciate his frequent visits to the House. It is worth reflecting that history matters. With regard to budget 2014, the Bill contains the measures that were announced, in the main, on budget day. We stand on the cusp of exiting the EU-IMF bailout programme on 15 December so it is important to examine the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Review of Foreign Policy: Discussion with Minister of State (10 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: This is an excellent and timely measure. While I acknowledge the Minister of State is not taking detailed comments at present, I will mention something that I have noticed a lot since the economy went into recession in 2008-09. In the 1990s, for example, Ireland had quite strong relations with other peripheral European countries and had an informal alliance with, for the sake of argument,...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I, too, pay tribute to Nelson Mandela. He was a man, the like of which the world has rarely seen, and we may not see a man of such calibre again in our lifetimes. It is important to remember that Nelson Mandela brought home to us that we are all connected by a universal human thread and strongly emphasised what constitutes humanity. It is also important to remember that he was cut off from...

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Aideen Hayden: I, too, congratulate the Minister on this extremely progressive measure. Having read a number of the historic reports, although not as historic as we would like, into the failures of the system to protect children, it was very clear that much criticism was levelled at the failure of agencies to work together. This legislation will go a long way to address that. I compliment my colleague,...