Results 481-500 of 1,092,849 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Réada Cronin OR speaker:Eoin Ó Broin OR speaker:Fergus O'Dowd OR speaker:Heather Humphreys OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Leo Varadkar OR speaker:Brendan Smith OR speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Norma Foley OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Patricia Ryan OR speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice OR speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Catherine Murphy OR speaker:Johnny Guirke OR speaker:Pádraig O'Sullivan OR speaker:Simon Harris OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú OR speaker:Paul Murphy OR speaker:Mairead Farrell OR speaker:Martin Kenny)
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Danny Healy-Rae: We welcome social welfare increases for the people who benefited but one group for whom we are all disappointed is carers. They do such Trojan work minding an elderly or disabled parent or sibling, for example. They do great work but because their husband or wife works, they do not qualify for the carer's allowance. We are disappointed about that for so many people. We all supported the...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Maurice Quinlivan: The most recent budget was an opportunity to address some of the challenges faced by social protection payment recipients, especially carers and those with disabilities. It was an opportunity to address the challenges facing those who are carers, a cohort of our people who have been let down by this Government time and again. Being a carer is work, often a labour of love, but it is work...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Seán Canney: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Social Welfare Bill as it goes through the House. It is important to acknowledge that there is a lot of good in this Bill. It follows on from other improvements made over the years in relation to social welfare payments. I, too, acknowledge the work of staff in social welfare offices throughout the country who are at the beck and call of...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Paul McAuliffe: I start by talking about the progress of Ireland over the past 20 years. There has been a lot of discussion in the House about poverty. However, the SILC report published prior to the budget indicated that those at risk of poverty was 10.6% in 2023. That is a historic low and is down from 20% in 2005. We have halved the number of people at risk of poverty over 20 years. The number of...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Rose Conway-Walsh: A progressive social protection system is the equaliser that attempts to level the playing field. In real terms it is the difference between a life of poverty and drudgery and a life in which potential can be reached. It is a safety net for our citizens and a net too many people are now falling through. This Government's budget is a lost opportunity to enact a progressive social protection...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Paul Murphy: I first object to the guillotining of this Bill. It is a sign of the arrogance of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that after 100 years in power, either together or by themselves, they routinely ram important Bills through the Dáil without proper scrutiny. I suspect we will see more of it next week as well. They do it because it is politically convenient for them. I turn to the...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Ruairi Ó Murchú: Many of us have spoken about those who do a large amount of caring work in our families and communities, including for those with disabilities. It is fair to say that we have to examine the means test. This is not the first time the Minister and I have engaged on the issue. I am coming at this from the point of view of delivering something that is sustainable. We know the large amount of...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Gary Gannon: I will use the majority of my time to discuss poverty – childhood poverty and poverty of the parent or guardian – and the missed opportunity of this budget to go some way towards addressing it. Hundreds of thousands of people continue to be left out of what the Government refers to as Ireland’s economic recovery post crash, a myth told to countless struggling families...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Fergus O'Dowd: I have a short time. I welcome the budget and especially the work the Minister has done over the years. It is a fact that the Minister is hardworking, efficient and effective. I also pay tribute to her staff around the country. As a TD and public representative for 50 years, and I suppose I drive everyone mad by ringing up about clients, but I have to say on the record that the Minister's...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Mattie McGrath: On a point of clarification, is there something happening other than Hallowe'en at Hallowe'en? We want the Bill finished by Hallowe'en.
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Heather Humphreys: There will be a treat when you turn up at the door.
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Mattie McGrath: Is the Minister going trick or treating?
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Heather Humphreys: I do not know what tricks you have up your sleeve. There will be some treats.
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Paul Donnelly: I prefer "Help the Hallowe'en party" rather than "Trick or treat". It is an old Dublin phrase. Unfortunately, this budget has failed to make the correct and necessary adjustments needed to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable in our society, including carers, children and people with disabilities. I have spoken to many people regarding the budget as, I am sure, has the...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Seán Sherlock: I note the Minister's pressing need to have this Bill promulgated prior to the recess. There was a time when social welfare Bills would be a source of great debate in this House. I have noticed in latter years the debate has become shorter and shorter.
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Heather Humphreys: Bigger budgets.
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Seán Sherlock: I acknowledge the work of the Minister in providing protections for vulnerable people in society through the payments she has instigated in the past number of years, in particular. We have to come to a stage where there is some maturity in these Houses around acknowledging where there is a strong social welfare package that gives people more resources and money to meet their everyday...
- Child Protection: Statements (15 Oct 2024)
Violet-Anne Wynne: I have for weeks now been talking about the increases in the worrying and concerning culture that exists in this House. There is a notion that we can throw away the people's money, for example, as if we do not absolutely need it in important areas such as housing, health, childcare, disability and basically ensuring that people have access to the very least or the basics of essential...
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
- Social Welfare Bill 2024: Second Stage (15 Oct 2024)
Heather Humphreys: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." While the rate of inflation has eased, prices of everyday items remain high. It is still expensive to do the weekly shop, to fuel your car, pay your bills and make ends meet. That is why this Government put together a budget that supports families and our most vulnerable, and puts money back in people's pockets. I will now turn to...