Results 2,521-2,540 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister might have misunderstood Deputy Brady's point about lack of uniformity, which is staggering. I could guess how certain people in my constituency would be treated by different social welfare officers, depending on whom they go to. There is a very wide interpretation of the rules on hardship etc. I can be more specific about the report I want and can put a timeline on it. We...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I will withdraw the amendment on that basis and will return with an amendment on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: There is no doubt that fuel poverty is rampant in this country. The figure of 28% is frightening because it is more than one in four. It has been exacerbated by the cuts to the fuel allowance but the partial restoration, however small, is very welcome. I do not know if doing a report on the matter will bring any immediate improvements but I do not see any reason a report would not be done....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The report the Minister refers to was prepared under the aegis of another Department. Is that right? I believe it was the Department of energy.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: However, as I understand it, there is no report that specifically homes in on social welfare and the fuel allowance. What the proposer of the amendment has in mind, if I interpret him correctly, is that we have something to show the impact of the cuts on the actual levels of fuel poverty and how much of an impact it would have on fuel poverty on an incremental basis if those cuts were...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I was about to ask the same question. If Deputy Gino Kenny were to amend his amendment for Report Stage to specify a six month timeframe rather than three, would the Minister be disposed to accept it?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Perhaps Deputy Kenny might resubmit a new amendment at Report Stage specifying a six month timeframe.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Just a point of clarification, is the Deputy making a comparison of our rates of employer PRSI as opposed to those in other countries across the EU? To make that comparison, would we not need a similar comparison of workers' rates of PRSI? The employer and the employee pay PRSI. What is important is the combined amount. That comparison would be useful but we would need a comparison of...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I would be the first to support it if it was both.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: One-Parent Family Payment (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Do I take it from the Minister's reply that if people claim that theirs is a violent or abusive relationship, their word will be taken and that they will not have to produce any documentation, Garda reports and so on? May I take it that will be the position?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: One-Parent Family Payment (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: As regards liable relatives in the context of receipt of the jobseeker's transition payment, it does not apply to lone parents in receipt of the payment because the legislation was never changed when the age of the youngest child to qualify for the lone-parent family payment was reduced to seven years. Does the Minister have plans to amend the legislation to provide for this? It makes no...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: One-Parent Family Payment (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 32. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the safeguards in place to ensure lone parents in receipt of the one-parent family payment are not required to seek maintenance from those who have abused them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50710/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: One-Parent Family Payment (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I raise this question because, as the Minister will be aware, one of the criteria for receiving a lone parent allowance is that the lone parent can receive maintenance from his or her former partner. My understanding is that it is the policy of the Department that people will not be required to pursue an ex-partner who has been violent or abusive. Unfortunately, while this may be the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: One-Parent Family Payment (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I welcome the Minister's initiative in this regard and wish it every success. She is correct that there is a disconnect within the Department, centrally and locally. I have come across cases where barring or protection orders had been submitted, yet a local social welfare officer insisted on the person in question pursuing a maintenance claim. On the liable relative provisions,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Employment Service (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: My understanding is that one of the criteria for jobs clubs or the LES is to place 30% of participants in full-time jobs. Would the Minister agree that, in view of the drop in unemployment and the fact that the LES generally deals with people at the furthest distance from the labour market who, for one reason or another, find it very difficult to get long-term employment, that this is rather...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Employment Service (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 30. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for the future of the local employment service and jobs club; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50709/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Employment Service (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: There is growing concern that the local employment service and jobs clubs are being increasingly marginalised by JobPath. I seek an assurance that the local employment service has a future, and that it will not be abolished or privatised.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Employment Service (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for that assurance. She will be aware that the local employment service deals with people other than those on the live register. It deals with walk-in clients and people who are genuinely seeking employment but who are not on the live register, for whatever reason. The Minister will agree that it is important to provide a public employment service for everybody seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Eligibility (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 55. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the qualifying conditions for exceptional needs payments have changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50499/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Income Supplement (29 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 56. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rationale behind renaming family income supplement to the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50500/17]