Results 1,521-1,540 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: However, MARP has been in place for slightly more than a year. As for the €55 million that was paid last year, the Minister indicated she intended to phase out that payment over the next four years, when those concerned return to work. What will happen in the case of those who do not return to work? How is the Minister working with the banks to ensure that the people for whom she is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With regard to the report, I am quite happy to wait until the new year when the Minister is back from the negotiations on the youth guarantee. I wish to clarify something. As I understand it, the budget states that €14 million will be invested from the youth guarantee scheme.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Maybe I am a bit lost here. The Minister is putting €14 million into the youth guarantee scheme, and the Government is committed to that. Some €32 million is coming out so there is an €18 million shortfall as a result of the Minister's deductions on social welfare payments. Is the Minister relying on other Departments, such as the Department of Education and Skills, to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am accepting that, if that is what the Minister is saying but I need to know.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I heard the Minister say that the €32 million in savings will be spent many times over. I am delighted to hear that but that needs to be said and put on the record because the word does not need to go out to our country and young people that this Government is cutting services for and trying to make savings on the back of our young people when they are our greatest human resource now...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I appreciate that and am very grateful to the Acting Chairman. Some may know that I have a job creation initiative that has been running since 2009 in Oranmore. One of the most productive and demanding courses that has come out of that is Momentum. I compliment the Minister on those courses. There is huge interest. In the past few days, I met two people who said that they now have work...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am pretty much finished. We need to be more flexible around not allowing anybody with part-time work to also register as unemployed. There should be a renaming of that category, which would give a boost to morale.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I just want clarification from the Minister that she will be laying a report before the House.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister is welcome to the House and it is good to have her here. My amendment proposes: "The Minister shall, as soon as practicable, lay before each House of the Oireachtas a report on the measures taken to ensure that the €32 million being deducted through educed social welfare payments for the 18 to 26 year age group would be ring fenced and re-invested in productive targeted...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: My entire speech that I had prepared is focused on the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is my first time to speak in this debate and I would like to use this opportunity.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Young people who are already on the live register may be put off from taking up temporary employment due to a fear of going back to social welfare at a reduced rate. I know this is part of a broader debate but when we quote live register figures in Ireland, we also are citing, as the Minister knows, those who are in part-time work. That is a pity. That puts us down as a nation. There are...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I think it is the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I think it might be.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister and thank Senator Reilly for sharing time. I welcome the Bill on the basis that its aim is to achieve fiscal efficiency and democratic reform. I support that aim. The Bill gives me the opportunity to raise the allowances paid to parties and Independent Members from the public purse. The point I wish to raise is the continuation of that payment to political parties...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Tá sé go hiontach ar fad.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Táimid an-bhródúil.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I learned overnight that Galway Airport has been purchased by Galway City Council and Galway County Council. While there may be much merit in that, I am glad that some firm decisions have been made. I would like to know the plans for the airport and I request the Leader to ask the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, to come into the House to outline them. If it is being funded by Galway City...