Results 1,321-1,340 of 2,674 for speaker:John Moloney
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: The Senator's amendment would remove from the Bill provisions aimed at protecting the position of the consumer in respect of advertising and the provision of information concerning health insurance contracts. The thrust of the related amendment to the preceding subsection put forward by the Senator's colleagues in the other House was accepted on the basis that it enhanced the provision of...
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: I acknowledge and respect the concerns expressed by Senators about the increase in the costs of private health insurance. However, to accept the Senator's viewpoint would fillet the Bill and prevent the proper functions of the tax system. The increases implemented by insurers reflect the issue of medical inflation and, more importantly, the absence of intergenerational solidarity. The...
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: Section 22 primarily provides for the granting of credits for the system to work effectively. Sections 20, 21, 23, 24 and 25 were drafted and prepared on the basis that they are necessary and for that reason I cannot accept the amendments. If the Senator so wishes, I will outline the overall structure and purpose of each of the sections that have been proposed.
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: As to why it is not in the legislation, I do not think it was intended even to take it into consideration. It was presumed that there was protection there by way of intergenerational solidarity. In the first instance, health insurance premiums are charged on a net premium basis, after the reduction of credits to all persons, irrespective of their level of income. I do not think that would...
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: The short answer is "No". Section 22 inserts a new section 470B into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This new section provides for additional age-related tax credit in respect of health insurance premiums paid to authorised insurers, excluding restricted membership undertakings, within the meanings of section 2(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1994, under relevant contracts renewed or...
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: I take the point the Senator has raised. The levy is on insurance companies, not specifically on the customer or purchaser. Tax credits are granted at source in the same way as the levy or existing relief. Elderly people are securing a tax relief of 20% but the levy is on the company not on the specific customer. The companies would have to recognise their customers' age profile, while...
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: Yes. That is what they are doing.
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: That is exactly what I am saying. The levy is clearly on the companies which will make up the shortfall by whatever means they decide, and they will pass on that charge.
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: No, they do not have to do so. If the companies are living up to their own standards by protecting the elderly, they clearly should not be tempted to pass that on. The bottom line is that I cannot say for definite. I presume that if a levy is added to existing charges to an insurance, the possibilities are that those charges will be passed on, or at least the temptation will be there to...
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: To respond to Senator Twomey first, this is not an attempt to fatten up the VHI for whatever ulterior motive may be down the road. Neither is it a quick-fix solution. I would prefer to call it an interim measure.
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: There is a bit of a difference. Sitting over there on the Opposition benches, it is a quick fix. Over here on the Government side, it is an interim measure. It was well thought out by the people to whom we referred in previous amendments, such as expert advisers and son on. Section 26 provides for the application of the levy on the health insurance companies. It has been amended since...
- Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: I was not aware of the issue mentioned by the Deputy. I will take it on board.
- Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: A pint of Smithwicks.
- Special Educational Needs. (2 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: The list of acceptable qualifications for home tuition providers has not been changed. The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable...
- Special Educational Needs. (2 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: I do not concede it is a backward step. The Department awards approximately â¬36,000 for home tuition. While I do not suggest we should count the cost in money terms, it underlines the commitment. The inspectorate made recommendations on foot of the fact that people with few qualifications were engaged in home teaching. Some exceptions were made in cases when parents have been unable to...
- Special Educational Needs. (2 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: I accept the Deputy's genuine concern. However, I must remind him why this change was brought about. Before the inspectorate made its recommendations there was a list of people providing tuition, including people without a leaving certificate or post-school qualifications and who had not previously worked in a school. It is a big forward step to insist that people with the minimum...
- Special Educational Needs. (2 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: I assume the Deputy's question relates to the recent decision to pause the increase in funding for the centre in question. I am pleased to advise the House that funding for the centre has not been blocked. Indeed, funding provided this year has allowed for an increase in the number of staff at the centre. The Department has put on record that it is anxious to continue to work with the...
- Special Educational Needs. (2 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: While the Minister has visited the centre, I have not yet had an opportunity to do so. As this matter comes within my area of responsibility, I will take the opportunity to visit the centre during the next six weeks. The pause in funding in this regard is the same as that which applies in respect of every Department in terms of spending given the current economic situation. We believe that...
- Special Educational Needs. (2 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: The Northern Ireland Minister for Education, Ms Ruane, was made aware of the decision. I reiterate the Government's commitment to education by way of its â¬1 billion investment this year in support of children with special needs. I am not in a position to state the length of the pause or what will be its impact. However, the matter raised by the Deputy is being prioritised within the...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (2 Jul 2009)
John Moloney: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.