Results 1,921-1,940 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If they cannot afford it, they should not be in it and they should not expect the State to pay the rent for them. We are not a rental agency. The rent supplement is in place to support people who when they entered rented accommodation could afford it because they were in employment, but who have since lost their jobs and cannot pay the rent. It is designed as a short-term support....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am not sure the Senator understands the position. We will give the money to those who have been in rented accommodation. We will not turn down people who were previously in rented accommodation.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Where were they?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If somebody living at home wants to seek rented accommodation but cannot afford it, he or she cannot afford it. The same is true of somebody not working or working. I am sorry, but the State is not in the business of helping anybody who wants to leave home to find rented accommodation. We are in the business of supporting people who previously were in rented accommodation and are finding...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In 2008, it was estimated that there were approximately 15,000 asylum seekers or failed asylum seekers in the State. While they are resident here, such persons have a right to access public health services and free primary and second level education. Their basic needs as regards their rights to access health and education services are also met and they are provided with accommodation and a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: As I stated, it is a small amount. These people cost €250 million in one year alone. When the habitual residency legislation was introduced it was assumed that anyone who did not have a right to remain in the State did not have a right to habitual residency. All we are asking in this section is that it should be a precondition of entitlement to access many social welfare benefits that...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If someone does not have the right to reside in the State, he or she should not have the right to build up social welfare entitlements. They have access to accommodation, basic health and basic education at substantial cost. We must recognise their human rights and that is why people go through an intensive legal process. It is important this legislation sets down the precondition that...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: In response to Senator Bradford's question about equivalents around Europe, the equivalent legislation in the UK is the only example I have to hand. This requires that claimants for social welfare must have a right to reside and habitual residence. Both criteria must be met. Some of the questions on the asylum process are more relevant to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: The Supreme Court indicated that it felt a person in the asylum process did not have residency status. I accept what Senator Norris has said. Such a person has a right to be in the country but not a right to reside in the country. This is the argument we are trying to protect here. On the question of the Government making legislation, that is what Governments do. The chief appeals officer...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: At no stage did I try to indicate that the right to reside was the only element. The right to reside does not at all mean that one would automatically qualify for habitual residence. It is a precondition that should be satisfied before the other circumstances are taken into account. The fact is the chief appeals officer indicated it was open to introduce legislation, which is exactly what...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: There is much evidence for a lack of competition in the dental industry. The first is the fact so many people are travelling abroad, the second is the McCarthy report, which indicated that the Government scheme may actually be contributing to higher prices, and the third is in regard to the recommendations made by the Competition Authority, which have not yet been implemented. These...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I have had to repeat every single answer I have given Senator Doherty. I said cutting it for one year would have no long-term impact. Indeed, the international trend is for governments not to get involved at all in funding dental care except for those who cannot provide it for themselves, who will be covered by the medical card. I accept there are not many benefits for a worker under the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: I am sure the Seanad would prefer to deal with this year's budget instead of trying to predict next year's.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: This section provides that when entitlement to mortgage interest supplement is being determined on the supplementary welfare scheme, if that person has already received a mortgage interest relief or any subsidy paid by the local authority, that would be taken into account.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: First, no one is pushing young people out of the country, nor is there any evidence that large numbers of them are emigrating. What emerged today in the quarterly national household survey is that two thirds of young workers who came here from eastern Europe, who have lost their jobs, are returning home. That is why there is an increase in the number of people leaving the country. There is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Most other European countries are experiencing the very same-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Most other European countries are experiencing the very same difficulties with unemployment as we are. Places such as Australia and Canada really only want people who are well trained and who fit into specific categories. They specify what they want. We are not talking about young people who have worked and we are not talking about people who were on jobseeker's benefit. Let us take the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: Where a person qualifies for jobseeker's benefit, where he or she has a work record then he or she will get the full amount.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If I might finish, where people move-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Mary Hanafin: If a person moves from jobseeker's benefit to jobseeker's allowance, he or she holds on to the full rate because it is a recognition that he or she has worked. The Senator also inquired about how we can treat a 25 year old and a 26 year old differently. Of course we will not, because the measure applies to those aged up to 24 years of age. Two different age groups are involved. It is...