Results 13,641-13,660 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to providing a safe working environment for all staff and members of the public who interact with staff in the provision of services. In that regard, it follows the relevant guidance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Health Service Executive and the Health and Safety Authority. There are a number of areas in my Department where staff are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (16 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently planning a phased return to the workplace later in September.  I am satisfied that the preparations for same are taking place in accordance with the Work Safely Protocol and will take account of any updates to that guidance as they become available.   Social distancing in our workplaces will be ensured and all the equipment necessary will also be...

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Fine Gael is a party full of ordinary decent public representatives doing their best for the people they represent. We were not born with silver spoons in our mouths. We are very much out there on the ground. We are in touch with people. We are helping people with housing, medical cards and the issues that matter.

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I just wanted to say finally that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has my full confidence. I can honestly say that his loyalty to this country and his dedication and commitment are second to none.

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: At the outset, it important to say the past few weeks have not been Fine Gael’s finest hour. I am disappointed that at a time when we should have been talking about one of the most successful vaccination roll-outs in the world, about our economy reopening and about hundreds of thousands of people getting back to work, we have instead spent most of the last eight weeks talking about...

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: He is one of the most decent men you could meet.

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: You only have to look at his record-----

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As someone who comes from just outside Clones, a few miles from the Border, I know the genuine fear that existed in communities at the prospect of a hard border returning to this island. There was one person more than anybody who fought on Ireland's behalf to ensure that did not happen. That was Simon Coveney. Often, that meant leaving his young family at three or four o'clock in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Jobseeker's Allowance is a means tested payment for people who are unable to obtain full time employment and satisfy the schemes qualifying conditions. The revised estimated expenditure for the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme in 2021 is approximately €1.64 billion. Social welfare legislation provides that where a person aged under 25 year of age claims Jobseeker’s Allowance or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Expenditure (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has utilised the services of the Common Purpose Ireland but not Common Purpose UK. Below in tabular format, and in chronological order, are details of the Department’s expenditure related to the period from 1st January 2015 to 7th September 2021 together with a description of the purpose for each engagement. Date Purpose of engagement Amount...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned has been in receipt of a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) payment since 25/04/2019 whilst his application for Illness Benefit (IB) dated 24/04/2019 was pending. The application for IB was disallowed as well as subsequent applications for Disability Allowance on 02/09/2020 and 12/05/2021 and Invalidity Pension on 10/05/2021. In line with standard practice,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The primary purpose of credited employment contributions is to preserve the continuity of a person’s insurance record during periods when they are unable to work and pay social insurance contributions in the normal way for reasons including illness or unemployment. Similar to other schemes operated by the Department, there are qualifying conditions which must be met before a person...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Civil Marriages (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the current health guidelines of 100 guests which applies to weddings relates to the social gathering following the marriage ceremony. A civil marriage ceremony is a distinct legal undertaking, with the minimum requirement for valid marriage being the attendance of the couple, the solemniser or civil marriage registrar and two witnesses over the age of 18. Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Government Communications (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I have met with the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) on two occasions since July 2020. These were on the 4th August 2020 and 23rd August 2021. I have been in touch with representatives of the MEAI on an informal basis as well as writing to them and to others who have made representations on their behalf. Through my engagement with MEAI, I worked to introduce a specific...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned applied for a Companion Free Travel Pass on 3 September 2021. Their application has been forwarded to be assessed by the Chief Medical Assessor. When a decision is made on their eligibility, the person concerned will be notified in writing without delay. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The domiciliary care allowance application from the person concerned has been finalised. They were notified by letter dated the 7th September 2021 that domiciliary care allowance has been awarded from 1st July 2021. Arrears due will issue with the September payment on the 21st September 2021. I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The 2021 Further Revised Estimate voted by the Dáil on 16th June 2021 allocated €135.7 million for the Work Placement Experience Programme in 2021. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 September 2021. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2022 (15 Sep 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will be aware that I will be considering a range of options for Budget 2022 over the coming weeks, taking account of available resources. While core rates for pensioners remained unchanged in Budgets 2020 and 2021, a series of targeted measures were introduced which sought to protect some of the most vulnerable groups, including pensioners. In recognition of research which...