Results 21-40 of 1,311 for speaker:Sheila Terry

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response. I regret that he is not accepting the amendment today but he has said he will consider it in future if necessary. My amendment should not cause any trouble for anyone, but would strengthen the powers of the Pensions Board. It would be a good provision when and if the board encountered any problems with a company in trying to secure information. I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his work in this area since he took over his current portfolio. It has been a pleasure to work with him as he is always open and willing to listen and has agreed with many of the points I have made. We will need more time to take on board some of the recommendations that will hopefully come from the Green Paper. Beidh lá eile, as they say. I also wish to thank the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2007 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I move recommendation No. 1: In page 159, before section 102, to insert the following new section: "98.—Any property whose value is less than €450,000 shall be exempt from stamp duty provided that the purchaser is a first-time buyer and he or she retains the property as his or her principal private residence for a period of not less than 5 years."." I welcome the Minister to the House. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: This week, on the Order of Business and during the debate and on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007, Senators raised the issue of children who go hungry. I ask the Deputy Leader to request that the Minister for Education and Science come before the House to allow me an opportunity to highlight a policy adopted by one school on lunches and the breakfast club, which is unacceptable and...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: Even before the breakfast club started, children were told to eat their lunch at 10.30 a.m. and did not have anything else to eat for the rest of the school day.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: The school, which is located in a disadvantaged area not far from the House, is engaging in unacceptable sharp practice. It is a matter of teachers not being willing to give up some of their lunch time to supervise the children while they eat lunch. The children are not allowed to eat in the playground during lunchtime and will go hungry as a result of this policy, which will have a cost to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I did not address amendment No. 12 when I was speaking. I thank the Minister for his response and look forward to the results of the survey. The purpose of my amendment was to ensure the Pensions Board has the authority to compel companies to give this information. I know the Minister said companies are complying with the request on a voluntary basis, but I can show him responses to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: Why has the Pensions Board not provided me with this information since 1995? Why can it not answer the simple question about deferred members with frozen benefits? It can only lead me to believe that there is some kind of cover-up, as I said yesterday. Why must one become a Member of either House to try to get information from various Departments? It is not good enough that a statutory...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: No.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: The Minister referred to problems in areas where large numbers of local authority houses were built. I could point to many very badly built housing estates where individuals on low or no incomes were housed. There are some in Tallaght and Blanchardstown, with which I am familiar, and others throughout the country. One of the main problems associated with such estates was the lack of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I have listened to the debate and to the Minister's comments and do not think we will gain anything by spending further time on the issue. I do not agree with it and do not understand why we need to insert this provision in our legislation because local policies can deal with the problems involved. We also live in different times from those we experienced 20 years ago, when unemployment was...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 11: In page 46, to delete lines 28 and 29, and substitute the following: ""(fa) to perform the functions conferred on the Board by this Act; (fb) give balanced and impartial information to consumers regarding pension products, including, not limited to— (i) tax relief, (ii) operators' charges, (iii) tax implications of leaving a sum of money in place, and (iv) the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response and share his regret that he was not able to act more quickly on many of the good recommendations included in the lone parents proposals document published in February 2006. I understand what the Minister has said and realise that much work must be done across a number of Departments to ensure we get this right. We are dealing with a critical area and I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 5: In page 5, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "1.—The Minister for Social and Family Affairs shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this targeted supports Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the introduction of targeted social and community supports for young carers.". As the Minister will be aware, a sizeable number...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: Is it 300 or 3,000?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I agree with the Minister that we need to address this problem. To have 3,000 people caring for so many hours of the week and to have 300 caring full time is unacceptable. No child should have to do this and give up his or her education and social life. The children who do this are wonderful, but that is what they are in this context — children. We are depriving them of an awful lot....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 6: In page 5, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "1.—The Minister for Social and Family Affairs shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the impact of the individualisation of the means-test for Carers Allowance applicants.". We have probably covered this ground in referring to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I thank the Minister for his response and will not press the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: I move amendment No. 7: In page 5, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "1.—The Minister for Social and Family Affairs shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the success of the rent supplement and rental accommodation schemes.". What progress has been made on the rental accommodation scheme and will the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Sheila Terry: Progress is slow. I am not sure whether that is the fault of the local authorities, although it probably is, or whether this proposal will be a success. The length of time it takes to accommodate all these people under the RAS will determine its success. Anything that can be done to increase its delivery will be helpful but I am sceptical as to how it will work out.