Results 281-300 of 1,062,449 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Michael Healy-Rae OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald OR speaker:Rose Conway-Walsh OR speaker:Eamon Ryan OR speaker:Seán Sherlock OR speaker:Bríd Smith OR speaker:Patricia Ryan OR speaker:Willie O'Dea OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Ivana Bacik OR speaker:Denis Naughten) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Thank you, time is up. Minister, please.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I know the Deputy is very familiar with Monaghan because he was lucky enough to get his wife there. She is a great woman from a great family.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Mattie McGrath: She sure is.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: There is a lot of interest in my county but there is nobody who knows more about Monaghan than I do - that is it as far as I am concerned. I was born and reared there and have lived there all my life. We will move on. I believe it was after a HIQA inspection that St. Brigid's Hospital was closed but it is now being-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Not true.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: -----repurposed and will be reopened with 28 people working there.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Mattie McGrath: It is not a hospital anymore.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Please let the Minister answer.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I will move on to the question the Deputy asked. I know the important role family carers play and am fully committed to supporting them in that role. I meet them regularly in my Department, including at the annual carers forum. I have heard first-hand over many years of the wonderful work they do under extremely difficult circumstances; probably the most difficult is where mothers have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Mattie McGrath: It is unacceptable that carers have to wait until next July, six months after everybody else, to get their increases. We can all be patronising and talk about what they do but they need the money now, not next July or August. Fully abolishing the carer's allowance means test is recommended by research from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. That is crucial. Once-off payments...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I want to be very clear. This amendment is to ensure that if there is a massive energy crisis, we would have storage facilities for LNG if required. I am talking about a massive energy crisis. It has nothing to do with fracking. This Government is opposed to fracking. My former colleague, Tony McLoughlin, brought forward a Bill to ban fracking. This is planning for all eventualities....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Ivana Bacik: No.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: Carers from all over County Wexford have asked me to make their position known. I have had calls from Duncannon, Duncormick, Kilmore, Rosslare, Oilgate, Enniscorthy, New Ross, Wexford town and all over County Wexford. They have asked me to represent the hurt, rage, disbelief and disappointment they feel at this Government’s choice not to reorganise and recognise their contribution...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I can be accused of many things but speaking out of both sides of my mouth is not normally what I do. I have been engaging with carers since I became Minister for Social Protection in 2020. I must say again that family carers play a hugely important role and I have been committed to supporting them in that role. I have worked hard in recent...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: That does not mean they get it. It is means-tested.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I am increasing the domiciliary care allowance to €360 per month and, most importantly, I am expanding the carer's allowance means test to €625 per week for a single person and €1,250 per week for a couple. These changes will mean that I have effectively doubled the income limits for carer's allowance over the lifetime of this Government, enabling thousands more carers...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Verona Murphy: Those were the carers’ words. I fully understand why they believe the Minister is speaking out of both sides of her mouth. It is a means test. It is on the means of someone else’s income, rather than that of the carer who is actually delivering the care. This is means-testing the income of the household. It may be means in which the carer does not even share. We are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I am well aware of the figures but there is a process here. Even the Deputy will accept that. I have been engaging regularly with the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, the NCSE and the local ETB, which I feel will also play an important role in this process. I can tell the Deputy about all of the fine buildings and investment that has gone into Monaghan in terms of education, including...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Mary Lou McDonald: Is that a "Yes"?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to providing a school in Monaghan but we have a process. I cannot click my fingers and produce a school. There is a process and I am engaging with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, on that process.