Results 16,001-16,020 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I thank God I provided a little extra money for hearing aids because Members on the other side of the House do not hear what I am saying.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: The scheme has been changed. Postgraduates will not now be facilitated and people will not be paid during the summer months.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I do not know of any person who has either been unemployed or left school and went straight into a postgraduate course. Even Senator Norris does not have a doctorate. People start at the beginning. That is the reason we have second chance education. The scheme was initially to ensure people had a second level qualification – in the main, the leaving certificate. Progression towards a...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: It is very easy to throw up points regarding photographs, information and the rest. We are talking about one specific issue whereas several other amendments will look at other issues. They cannot all be dealt with. Even our Lord could not do everything that everybody in the world wanted, and I would not proclaim to have such high office presently.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: There is a God, they say. I hope, when I am six feet under, the Senators will say: "Well, at least she was a nice girl and she listened."

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I have not got the judgment of Solomon but, when a decision had to be made, it was. I have made the necessary decisions.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: In life, not everybody is happy with all the decisions they must make. I have done my utmost to target the scheme and ensure it is guaranteed and will facilitate people with a second level education and a third level primary degree, the initial reason the scheme was set up. It was to allow people into the market. I agree with the Senators that many have taken huge personal initiatives. I...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: He will complete his primary degree, of which I assume he has two years done. I hope he will have success in his examinations at the end of the academic year. He will be supported, in addition to having the book allowance, when he comes to the third or fourth parts of his primary degree, depending on whether it is a three or four year degree programme. Many who have benefited from the scheme...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I do, I believe in attainment. However, I also believe a number of schemes that started off as very good ideas have lost the basis for their initiation. This has happened to many schemes because we have added to them during the years. There was a need for some schemes, such as this one, but there is not necessarily a need for all schemes. The philosophy behind the creation of some schemes has...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: That is very easy to say.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I was told to cut the photographs. That is fine; I do not have a clue how much money is provided for my press service. However, nothing like €3 million is made available to the entire information service which includes Comhairle and all the services provided. This will not work that way. It would be fine if it was simple but a more long-term view must be considered. It would be very easy...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: —cut the information services of my Department and scrap the Family Support Agency. If that was the case, as I stand on my two feet here, the Senators opposite would have the House tossed because that would be another issue to get worked up about. I am a realist on this issue. I am not, at the moment, in a position to change.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I am not in a position to change. I had to issue another press release early on, in November, to advise of changes with regard to the schemes. I am not in a position during this debate to accept the amendment proposed by the Senators. I have always said that when decisions are made I look at their implications and always consider reviews and pragmatic proposals. I did not realise that Senator...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: No matter what the Senators say, some listen and they have lists of things that must be done. When the opportunity arises, they will be done.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I do not think that my mind will be changed or that I will be able to persuade the Members of the Opposition to change theirs. We will leave it at that. I am not in a position to accept the amendment. Amendment put. Tá

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I can see why this amendment is a hardy annual in discussions on the Social Welfare Bill. Heretofore, the rate of the increases has been well above that of inflation. Annual inflation is at 4.8%. The minimum rate increase is above that and takes inflation into consideration. I appreciate that there have been increases in some household expenditure but there have been reductions in many other...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: The Minister for Finance would be delighted if he could get the crystal ball into which Senator Hayes is peering regarding inflation at the end of the year.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: Yes. We could bet the whole Department on the horse and then we would have no problems.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: Yes, and I would be a recipient from my own Department when finished. Many items have increased in price and others have decreased. The information made available through the household budget survey and through the CPI has indicated that prices of essential clothing and footwear have declined over the past year by 7.8%. Likewise, the costs of furnishings, household equipment and routine...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Mar 2003)

Mary Coughlan: I certainly take into consideration the Senator's view on the national anti-poverty strategy. The strategy has been very comprehensive, and most people, be they elected representatives or pillars of the community, have accepted it. A review of the strategy is now taking place, and will go before the European Commission by July 2003. That will afford an opportunity to me and anyone else...