Results 221-240 of 1,311 for speaker:Sheila Terry

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Apr 2006)

Sheila Terry: I was happy to attend the opening of new offices for the gay and lesbian equality network, GLEN, on Monday, and was happy to see the Taoiseach there. I welcomed his positive comments, indicating support for legislation to provide for civil partnerships in the future. My only reservation is that it rings somewhat hollow in that we have had positive indications previously from the Government to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I join Senator Quinn in calling for a debate on pensions. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs is willing to facilitate that debate and we should discuss the report of the Pensions Board at an early date. Before considering mandatory pensions, which Senator Quinn appears to favour, many other actions must be taken. Many workers in this country have mandatory pensions. They had to join...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I wanted to support the amendments tabled by Senator McDowell.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I understand that. As regards the section, I wish to compliment the Minister on the measures he has taken to try to eliminate in some small way the abuse of tax relief incentives for pensions. That is one of the abuses that has been used by wealthy people. Neither the current Minister nor any of his predecessors intended this type of tax relief to be used for that purpose. Tax incentives for...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: It is difficult to make a point when I know the Minister cannot listen with both ears.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: We want to ensure ordinary workers will have adequate pensions when they retire. Will the Minister outline his views on allowing those workers to withdraw 25% of the funds into which they paid during their working lives tax free on retirement, thereby reducing their funds by 25%? Does it serve the workers well? We are concerned about the low incomes people will have to live on when they...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I support Senators Brian Hayes and Tuffy and others in their call for action on street crime, particularly following the incident on the M50 over the weekend. Although we give out about crime constantly, we have become complacent. It is as if we take it for granted but the time for talking is over. We need to see action taken against these armed criminals who now go about their business...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his reply and the way in which he is considering this issue with reform in mind, with which I agree. The figure for fathers contributing to the maintenance of their children is very low. It is not good enough that of the number of cases examined, only 15% of fathers are contributing. I would like to see an improvement in that figure and for fathers to become more...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 8: In page 18, before section 28, to insert the following new section: "The Minister shall, within 6 months of the commencement of this Act, prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the progress of his proposal to develop a second tier payment.". As time is pressing, I will ask the Minister to comment on his proposal in respect of the second tier...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 10: In page 20, before section 32, to insert the following new section: "The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the support provided by the Back to Education Allowance.". This matter was also debated in the Dáil. In light of the recent court case, what does the Department of Social and...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 11: In page 20, before section 32, to insert the following new section: "The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the position of jobseekers.". To facilitate the House, I ask the Minister to give his response on the position of jobseekers.

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response. I agree with the changes in title because they better reflect our modern way of thinking. It is good to see so many people back in the workplace, many of them for the first time, or even for the first time in generations. The initiatives facilitate people in getting back into the workplace. It is something which should be commended and kept under review...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 12: In page 25, before section 41, to insert the following new section: "41.—The Principal Act is amended in section 27 by the insertion of the following new definition: '"pension coverage" means the number of people who are covered by pension plans;'.". As I said on Second Stage, the amendments to pensions are minor as far as I understand them. I am not sure how they...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I also thank the Minister for giving us of his time. Anytime we have had a Social Welfare Bill before the House the Minister has given his full time to the debate. He has never left the House and I want to thank him for his interest, and for the work he has put into the Department since he came into it. He has brought a breath of fresh air to the Department and I recognise his attitude to his...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4.—The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay a report on the effectiveness of Child Benefit and Child Income Support as a tool for tackling child poverty, before the Houses of the Oireachtas.". I compliment the Minister on his thinking since he came into the Department...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response and for outlining the benefits. Payments have rightly improved significantly in recent years. Senator McCarthy made an important point in that, while none of us wants to say that unemployed people or those on low incomes should not have social lives, there should be some training and management of funds, which was my initial point. The Minister cited the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 5: In page 7, before section 8, to insert the following new section: "8.—The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the review of social welfare payments for carers.". We have had an interesting debate on carers but the means test is something we must review throughout the year. The take-up...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: Could the application forms for these benefits be made as simple as possible? Some forms are most complicated and this poses a problem for many people. As the forms comprise many pages and the questions are not clear some people do not bother applying for the benefit. I am aware booklets are provided with these forms but it has been brought to my attention that the forms are difficult to complete.

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister. I did not intend to oppose this section because I agree with the Minister's proposal. I can understand why this payment was there in past years and I thank the Minister for allowing those on that scheme to remain on it. In light of our changing economic climate and our healthier, fitter and longer-living population it is right that this scheme be abolished and that only...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 6: In page 18, before section 28, to insert the following new section: "28.—The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, a report on the position of one parent families.". I proposed this because I am interested in the document launched last week and I have asked that we examine and debate it in this...