Results 141-160 of 1,979 for speaker:Nicky McFadden

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?

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

Nicky McFadden: That is very good. I welcome the measure.

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

Nicky McFadden: I move amendment No. 23: In page 7, before section 8, to insert the following new section: "8.—The Minister for Social and Family Affairs shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the progress to date in replacing the One Parent Family Payment with the new parental allowance for all low income families.". I welcome the...

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

Nicky McFadden: I welcome the measure but given that there are so many lone parents, how is it proposed that 30 facilitators will be able to deal with so many lone parents case by case? I welcome the Minister's approach and what he is trying to achieve but does he believe €6.5 million is sufficient to deal with the existing need?

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

Nicky McFadden: I have grave concerns about the logistics of the operation of the scheme from the point of view of there being so many lone parents. The Minister referred to dealing with people case by case. I am concerned that people may not be looked after in a proper manner.

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: 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: Order of Business (13 Mar 2008)

Nicky McFadden: Hear, hear.