Results 121-140 of 175 for long speaker:Claire Kerrane

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (17 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: ...working remotely for the last year or two are going to be put in a difficult position as regards going back to the office. We need to ensure that work-life balance is maintained. We have gone a long way with remote working, thanks to Covid in a lot of respects. We need to ensure that we keep hold of that for the benefit of our rural communities in particular. I urge the Minister to...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: ...and that is important. Many of the tweaks and changes that are needed particularly in regard to the RSS and Tús could be made by simply engaging with the co-ordinators and the supervisors without a long drawn-out review. I appreciate the RSS will be reviewed. That needs to be done in a timely manner. I ask that an update be given on that. I raised the issue of the referrals...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I understand that the long-awaited Tusla review on refuge provision is due to come before Cabinet next week. This is welcome. Action on the lack of refuge spaces and capacity across the State has been delayed on the basis that this work had not been completed. County Roscommon is one of nine counties across the State to have no refuge spaces for women or children. Together, Roscommon,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I hope the report, because it is long-awaited, will be published as soon as possible after the Minister receives it. As she knows, there are considerable difficulties. I have never believed the court was the right place for child maintenance to be agreed. We know that where a court order is made for maintenance, it does not necessarily mean payments are made. It falls on the lone parent...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Claire Kerrane: .... Obviously the funding of €250 million is standstill funding but when we takes out the transitional period, we are looking at an amount of €180 million across five years which is a fairly long time. I urge the Minister to engage with her own local LEADER companies, although I am sure she probably does that anyway because there is an issue whereby LEADER companies literally...

Gender-based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jan 2022)

Claire Kerrane: I have never struggled so much, as someone not in this House too long, to put words together to speak tonight because it is simply difficult to find the words. This day last week, all of us, as an entire nation, were brought to a stop. A young woman with her whole life in front of her, with hopes and with dreams, had her life stolen from her in broad daylight along a very popular walking...

Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...for a Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension, including the Non-Contributory and Contributory payments, specifically the marriage requirement and explore removing this clause to acknowledge long term partnerships and dependent children and that the report shall be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection within...

Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2021)

Claire Kerrane: .... It is also an issue for a widow receiving a widow's pension and who is working and paying PRSI. She cannot access that illness benefit despite being very sick with Covid-19. She ended up with long Covid and could not get illness benefit. This is an anomaly. When people are working and paying PRSI, they should be able to access illness benefit. I have written to the Minister...

Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2021)

Claire Kerrane: I wish I did not have to table long amendments relating to reports but, unfortunately, a report is the only way to raise this issue in the Social Welfare Bill. There was no agreement initially that this would be looked at, and I have raised the matter previously. We do not even need a report if the Minister wants to go ahead and introduce the measure. Unfortunately, however, this is the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...to struggle through their days while facing real challenges every hour. These are people whose mobility is gone in some cases, those who are suffering from dementia or those who are coping with long-term illness. That is a tough and lonely situation for anyone to be left in. It is time for the Government to show up for those depending on home care services. The first thing we must...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (7 Dec 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 627. To ask the Minister for Health if he his attention has been drawn to the long delays at a primary care centre (details supplied) for Covid-19 booster vaccinations; the steps he will take to avoid such delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60502/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (1 Dec 2021)

Claire Kerrane: 199. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to reopening the Covid-19 testing centre in Athlone, County Westmeath to save persons from having to travel long distances for a Covid-19 test given the current difficulties for persons seeking a PCR test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59381/21]

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...this payment, but where a person is blind for life, he or she should be entitled to it, full stop. I ask the Minister to examine this matter. Regarding a State pension for family carers and lifelong carers, the Minister mentioned after the budget that she was considering this possibility and was hoping to make progress. Will she update us? I presume she will engage with stakeholders...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report of the Commission on Pensions: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...Relations Commission involving people who are forced to retire at 65. How much of an issue is that for workers? We all welcome that the commission has been clear on the need for a State pension for long-term or lifetime carers, as Ms Duffy calls them. The Minister seems to be fairly adamant that she wants to get this introduced. The last time she spoke in the Dáil on this, which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report of the Commission on Pensions: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...deal of work went into it, and I thank the witnesses for that. I agree with much of what is in the report, especially regarding the need for a pension for carers. That has been an issue for a long time and it is something that must be sorted out as quickly as possible as well as the need to allow for PRSI to be accrued by those who remain working beyond the age of 65, to examine...

National Ambulance Service: Motion [Private Members] (16 Nov 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...service 24-7. I am grateful that the NAS not only listened but acted and did so very speedily. Now is the time the Government has to act. While that was a positive and a good news story at long last for west Roscommon, we have an issue in that there is a total lack of resources nationally. This is stretching ambulances and paramedics on duty to the absolute limit. Every day,...

Rental Sector: Motion [Private Members] (19 Oct 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...now over €718 per month and in County Galway rents have surpassed €1,000 per month and are now approximately €1,300 per month. Rents are out of control. They have been out of control for a long time now and they are only going in one direction. Yet, this Government is doing nothing. The Government can reiterate the help-to-buy scheme as many times as it wants...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Provision of Local Employment Services: Discussion (29 Sep 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...with the Department's plan as regards the second tender and everything else? What will employment services look like post-tender? Will it be a case of short-term unemployed people going here and long-term unemployed people going there? Does he acknowledge that the new model being proposed is moving away from a not-for-profit approach? I asked a question on a job being the only outcome...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (23 Sep 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...Why are caretakers coming second? Why could both categories not have been dealt with together? Could I have a clear timeline for the delivery of everything? Those affected have waited for a very long time for equality and a fairer system. I welcome the progress that has been made. Pensions are really important to school secretaries and caretakers.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Claire Kerrane: ...the fuel allowance. This is particularly important given the thousands of people who have lost their jobs due to Covid. There is also an issue when people get sick, and this will affect people who have long Covid, and go on to illness benefit as they cannot qualify for the fuel allowance. We need to widen the net in respect of the fuel allowance. I also ask that the Government, in its...