Results 1,821-1,840 of 1,979 for speaker:Nicky McFadden

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the House to discuss the serious matter of the way in which the EU Commissioner for External Trade, Peter Mandelson, is talking about Irish agriculture, particularly beef producers.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: If he is allowed to continue, the repercussions for Irish farming are very grave. The lifting of the ban on the importation of Brazilian beef into Europe is very serious. I attended a meeting last night with members of the IFA. It will affect the changing face of Irish culture if we are not careful. We need to be serious about this issue and perhaps the Leader would treat it with the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I move amendment No. 24: In page 8, before section 9, to insert the following new section: "9.—The Minister shall, within one month of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the progress of the National Carers Strategy.". We spoke yesterday about the fact that we will have the strategy report by mid-summer. I wish to ensure it will contain a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: Yes, very much.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: My proposed amendment No. 26 states: "The Minister shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the possibility of the introduction of a cost of disability payment for people with disabilities." That is self-explanatory. I ask that the Minister to please lay such a report before the House.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the officials from the Department for their support and explanations. I also thank the Minister and my colleagues on the other side of the House for their time.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I move amendment No. 15: In page 6, before section 3, to insert the following new section: "3.—The Minister shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the prospect of removing the Habitual Residence Condition from the Child Benefit payment.". I welcome the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Cullen, back to the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: FLAC attended the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs and expressed its views. Many people have come to me and my colleagues in the Labour Party and Fine Gael and have expressed their concerns. I do not accept what the Minister says but I know where he is coming from.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I move amendment No. 16: In page 6, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4.—The Minister shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on how the Rent Supplement Scheme could be improved to— (a) make it more responsive to beneficiaries needs, (b) reflect rental market changes.". Given that we had a detailed...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I move amendment No. 17: In page 6, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4.—The Minister shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the number of eligible persons and proportion thereof availing of the Family Income Supplement.". I am aware that this scheme is not availed of as much as it could be....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I did not notice.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I move amendment No. 18: In page 6, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4.—The Minister shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the number of eligible persons and proportion thereof availing of the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, among low income families.". As I said on Second...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: But not for lone parents.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I appreciate the amount of money that has gone into the scheme. While I will not press the amendment, I ask the Minister to specifically consider the category of lone parents to ascertain whether they, in particular those working part-time, can be accommodated.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I move amendment No. 21: In page 6, before section 5, to insert the following new section: "5.—The Minister shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, an information report detailing— (a) number of persons expected to benefit per annum, (b) the estimates of amounts that will be transferred out of and to be received by the Social...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I presume there will be retrospective effects. The Minister said approximately 100 people would expect to benefit. Will the cost be paid by the social insurance fund? This provision is overdue since our accession. Why is it being fixed now and what was the trigger for this? Those who are waiting may have been waiting for 35 years. What is the estimated cost of this proposal?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: Will the European Commission pay the relevant amount into the social insurance fund?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: That is good if that is the case.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: I move amendment No. 22: In page 7, before section 6, to insert the following new section: "6.—The Minister shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on supports available to individuals in receipt of Illness Benefit.". Section 6 provides that a person transferring back to illness benefit will be entitled to a full...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: How much will the improvement cost per annum and how many cases are expected to benefit per year?