Results 19,441-19,460 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Attacking a €7 increase in welfare payments in 2009 the Tánaiste said it was the meanest possible increase and if it were the Titanic it would be women and children last.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No, last. What an apt description of the 2012 budget. There are very many inequitable decisions in the budget and I want to focus on two. By decreasing the fuel allowance, which is means tested, and is only paid-----

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: -----to lower income households Government has created a situation where retired bankers and other high-end pensioners saw no change in their welfare payments while all low-income households were affected. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, thinks it is great fun.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I know you do.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Hitting the weak at the expense of the rich does not seem to me to be fun.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Why are the rich being protected at the expense of the poor? A lot of the budget is focused against women and I will give one example. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, has pencilled in a saving of €45 million in a full year through a change in the rules of eligibility for the State pension. Based on her figures, this could affect over 50,000 people, 90% of whom are...

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: -----just because they reach pension age after 1 September 2012. What does this say for the meas the Labour Party has for mná na hÉireann? Why are we penalising women who contributed so much to our society?

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I ask the Tánaiste to explain to the House why women were targeted in so many ways by the Minister, Deputy Burton, in the budget.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Does a cut in the rate of the contributory old age pension not constitute a cut in rates? The Tánaiste said the measure applies to men and women equally which is totally disingenuous. Everybody knows that the proportion of women who start work, leave it for a period, and then return to work is much higher than men. The cut does not involve the total number of contributions. The Tánaiste...

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: -----he or she will get a full contributory pension. However, under the arrangements of the Minister, Deputy Burton, if one works from the age of 25 to 35, leaves work from the age of 35 to 55, and then works from the age of 55 to 65 one will lose €29.80 in pension entitlements.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is not a question of the number of contributions, rather it is a question of the averaging of those contributions over one's working life.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I suggest that the Tánaiste read the social welfare code before he starts making ill-informed statements.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: He said the budget is not anti-women. What about child benefit and one parent payment allowances?

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Normally one does not have to inform a Minister about policy.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will send the Tánaiste a list of all the cuts the Government has made that focus specifically on women. Why did the Minister focus on targeted cuts against women, children and those with disabilities in the budget?

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: What about the lone parent's allowance and child benefit?

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am talking about the average.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No, it is not.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is incorrect.

Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: If this is not having an effect, how is the Minister for Social Protection making a saving of €44 million?