Results 2,361-2,380 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Offices (7 Mar 2018)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister should respond to what she was asked, not what she is-----

Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Offices (7 Mar 2018)

Willie O'Dea: -----pretending she was asked.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Offices (7 Mar 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise the very important issue of 58 social welfare branch managers in the State. I believe they are being treated very badly by the Department. They have not had an increase in remuneration since 2008. In the interim they have had to take on a lot of extra responsibilities, which involved the employment of extra staff,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I read the guide and found it pretty useful. From Mr. Duggan's statement, it seems that one of the primary purposes of the card is to be an anti-fraud device. He emphasises that very strongly. We know social welfare fraud is a phenomenon here just as it is in every other country. The level here is relatively low, at around €40 million a year, which is not insignificant but it is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: To get back to basics, as I understand it, under the old system, before the advent of the card, someone goes through a SAFE 2 process. If they are looking for something they produce the information required under the SAFE 2, which is outlined. Mr. Duggan was just about to read it out. Under the current system, however, if one applies for something, one goes through the SAFE 2 process and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: With the SAFE 2 process now people automatically get a card. They do not have to look for one but if they are applying for something else, they do not necessarily have to use the card once they can produce the SAFE 2 information.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Public Services Card: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: How did they do it before the advent of the card?

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (21 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 204. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears will issue in relation to a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8831/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: -----deprived of employment rights gained over many years and at the same time the Exchequer is losing money.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I take the Minister's point but, as Deputy Penrose said, most people have no choice. If one signs a piece of paper under duress stating that one is self-employed because one does not get the job otherwise, there is not much good going to the scope section afterwards. That is the problem. Something must be done on a broader scale to prevent employers from engaging in this abuse - and it is...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 38. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to deal with the issue of bogus self-employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8466/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister understands the concept of bogus self-employment. I have been approached by groups of people on many occasions - one as late as last week - who are working as employees in the normal way who were suddenly told by their employers that from the following week they would be self-employed. That has certain devastating consequences, obviously, for the employees themselves and also...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister states that robust measures are in place to deal with this. I am certainly not aware of those robust measures and they do not seem to apply in Limerick, whatever about the rest of the country. When I asked people what did they do, somebody who approached the Revenue Commissioners was told it was a matter for the employer. As for approaching the scope section, if the scope...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Income Inequality (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: When I referred to the certain measures in place to try to close the gap, I meant those that are in place. I acknowledge the two new pilot schemes but they are not, in my view, nearly radical enough to change the trend. It rose from 15% up to 22% in 2015. In 2016, there was another increase to 26% or 27% at a time when the economy was growing rapidly. The Minister can correct me if I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Income Inequality (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a recent ESRI report (details supplied) and in particular the high rate of deprivation being experienced by lone-parent households and persons with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8465/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Income Inequality (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I raise this question in view of a recent ESRI study of 11 European countries which found a significant gap in the rate of persistent deprivation experienced by lone parents and adults with a disability, as opposed to the rate suffered by other adults. The gap in regard to lone parents is 26% in Ireland, which is the worst of the 11 countries and compares with an average of 5% to 20%...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Income Inequality (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I will come back to the issue of lone parents. The Minister mentioned various measures which are in place for adults with a disability. Those measures have been in place for some time and they were certainly in place in 2015, when consistent poverty among adults with a disability rose from 14% to 22%. As the Minister indicated in her reply, it has increased again in 2015 and 2016 to 26% or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 58. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to continue with the roll-out of the public services card; the number of services for which it is necessary in view of the fact that an investigation is under way by the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to the card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8310/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 63. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ensure that those that are the first to receive a pension under the total contributions approach will not be significantly financially disadvantaged and suddenly faced with a lower pension than they otherwise would have received under the yearly average approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance Fund Review (20 Feb 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 66. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reform the social insurance system to a system based on the contributory principle as outlined in a document (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8309/18]