Results 141-160 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (14 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Are there any other comments or questions on that issue?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (14 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Have the trade unions queried that wording?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (14 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Amendments Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (14 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Does the Deputy have any further questions or comments?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (14 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Does any other Member wish to comment?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Business of Select Sub-Committee (14 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Apologies have been received from Deputy Clare Daly. Her substitute at today's meeting is Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members are requested to ensure, for the duration of the meeting, that their mobile telephones are turned off completely or switched to aeroplane or safe mode. In accordance with the standard procedures agreed...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (14 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: The topic for debate today is Committee Stage of the Technological Universities Bill 2015. The main purpose of the Bill is to provide for the establishment of technological universities which is a new type of higher education institution to be formed through the consolidation and merger of existing institutes of technology. The Bill also provides for the revision of the governance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Business of Joint Committee (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: As we have a quorum, I call the meeting to order. Apologies have been received from Deputy Michael Conaghan. I ask members to switch their mobile phones to flight or aeroplane mode. I wish to inform the committee that correspondence has been placed on the database. We will now go into private session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: We will resume in public session. Today we will discuss the humanitarian assistance scheme in terms of household flooding. I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the position on privilege. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If witnesses are directed by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: If members agree, I will take questions from Deputy O'Dea first because he will be obliged to leave for Question Time in the Dáil. Is that agreed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: I wish to say something on that, but I will allow Deputy Harrington in first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Before Ms Faughnan responds, I have some questions. I would advise caution in regards to the means test. I submitted a parliamentary question recently on income levels and the response from the Revenue Commissioners was that 51% of incomes are at €30,000 or less. Therefore, I disagree that €70,000 is a middle income. Perhaps it is an average income in a double income...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: I would not argue against the issue of the thresholds being looked at, but we must look at the issue in the context of 51% of incomes being €30,000 or less.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: I accept that but at the same time, it should be acknowledged that the means test compared to the exceptional needs system generally, where people are literally struggling, and I deal with them all of the time-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Can I finish my point please?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: I am sorry, Senator, you can come in again after I make my point. The reality is that people have exceptional needs all of the time and, as public representatives, we deal with such people regularly. I am currently advising a constituent whose home was not flooded but who cannot afford to fill the oil tank to provide heat for her children. In my opinion, that person has an exceptional need...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: It is a very high threshold.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: The scheme is discretionary and circumstances vary. In some cases, the damage is minor. My point is that €70,000 is a generous threshold compared to most other hardship schemes. That is all I am saying. I am just making a point, with which Members do not have to agree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: I accept all of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Humanitarian Assistance for Household Flooding: Discussion (13 Jan 2016)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes, but a millionaire is obviously in a very different situation-----