Results 1,081-1,100 of 6,185 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Minister's recent Green Paper on disability allowance has been published. It envisages radical changes to the approach being taken. It is fair to say that some people have expressed concerns about the changes. I appreciate that consultation is still ongoing, but there are certainly cautionary tales from other jurisdictions that we need to be very much aware of. This question is an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: As the Minister will be aware, a very large number of people will be affected by this. Some 225,000 people receive these payments, 150,000 on disability allowance and about 75,000 on the other payments. If I were to think of a single phrase that I think concerns people - the specific phrase belongs to the approach that was taken in Britain - it would be "work capability assessment". I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I think there is sometimes a lack of awareness of the partial capacity element of things and a difficulty in transitioning between invalidity and partial capacity payments. That is maybe another day's work but it might be an interim issue that could be raised. I hear the Minister say that cutting costs will not be a part of this. I will hold her to that. That is vital. It cannot be about...

Health Service Funding: Motion [Private Members] (24 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am very worried about what we are going to see this winter and in the coming years. This debate is not academic. We should not forget how profound are the impacts of underfunding, bad policy and mismanagement. There are people out there tonight who will pay a heavy price for that. Underfunding will result in more sick and vulnerable people waiting on trolleys in crowded corridors....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank all the witnesses for attending. I apologise for being late. I was on local media speaking about yesterday's budget. I have met a number of the witnesses previously to discuss this comprehensive proposal. As Deputy Ó Cuív outlined, we are all aware that it is significant and has challenges. While I am critical of elements of the budget, I welcome that the thresholds...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The carer's support grant. Ms Cox anticipated where the question was going. How many people does she anticipate would avail of this if the means test was removed? That is where she is going. It is approximately 125,000.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Therefore, it is not a perfect proxy, but it is an approximation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Those concerns later down the road are not a reason not to do it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have asked this question previously but it might be no harm to have it on the record. In the models being piloted in Finland and Austria, it is more of a salary-based or payment-based approach. While this may be particular to the context in Ireland, why is it better to do it through the social protection system?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: My final question is slightly off topic but I am sure that our guests will want to comment. In September 2022, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, announced the move towards a carer's pension and I think at that stage the Department was looking at this coming January. I did not see a lot about this matter in yesterday's budget but perhaps things are happening in the background. Can our guests...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is good news. I congratulate our delegations on their success in the budget yesterday and that caring years will now be recognised.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: While this is not a reason to fail to proceed with it, it could be an issue if it was introduced further down the road. While I suppose it is their job, there is always pressure from the bean counters in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. If the means test was abolished, there could be demands for tighter tests on medical requirements and so...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 277. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average wait time for an applicant to get a decision on a partial capacity benefit application. [43315/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Schemes (5 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 334. To ask the Minister for Health how he intends to ensure that people on lower incomes who are not entitled to a medical card are in a position to purchase emergency contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43234/23]

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I apologise for missing my original speaking slot and thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating me. We regularly discuss the challenges that exist to ensure that people who perpetrate sexual violence and sexual offences are brought to justice. Notwithstanding the fact that legislation has improved and that there have been improvements in reporting to some extent, it is still the case that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the Minister of State. There are two specific points I ask him to bring to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, after this debate. First, a school in Enniscorthy is being provided grants to source the therapies that are needed locally through the private sector. Can such an approach be considered for Carrigaline Community Special School? It has been on the go...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: How can we ensure the HSE delivers what the Minister of State is asking it to do? How can we ensure it is accountable?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (4 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I mean no disrespect to the Ministers who are present - I am not sure which of them is taking this matter - but I hoped the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, if not the senior Minister, would be here to take this. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has been directly involved in this matter and is aware of the issues involved. I regret that neither she nor the senior Minister is here....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Grants and Bridging Finance for Community Groups: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: First, apologies for being late. I was participating in a Topical Issue debate. I do not have many questions. I do think the availability of bridging loans is crucial. Making more companies aware of it is something that could be done. I will plug my own community association, of which I am a member. It got a lot of support from Clann Credo - the Presentation Sisters set that up - for...