Results 3,801-3,820 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: When does the Minister of State intend to roll out the pilot scheme? Did he say it would be rolled out at the end of the month?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I support the amendment, which is a very sensible. As we are talking about money making schemes for the Department, will the Minister of State clarify a further point? If a person on social welfare is claiming for an adult dependant and that dependent receives a prison sentence, what is the position of the person claiming the payment? Does the adult dependant payment cease for the period...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: No. I am seeking clarification.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 31:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following:“11. The Minister shall, within 4 weeks of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas, reviewing all expenditure reductions or the ceasing of payments in relation to the household benefits package, including the gas allowance, electricity allowance, telephone allowance...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 39:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following: “11. The Pensions Act 1990 is amended by inserting a new section 48A as follows:“48A. A solvent firm shall not be allowed to close a defined benefit pension scheme except where the scheme has reached a minimum 90 per cent funding standard.”.”. We have had previous discussions about this...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister referred to unintended consequences. The only intended consequence of my amendments is to protect employees, who like the Minister himself, have been making bona fide payments into a pension scheme with a legitimate expectation that they will get a certain amount out after the sacrifices they have made over the years to pay in. The moneys could have been used for other...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I understand that. Again, the Department has made the point that it is the trustees who decide on closing down a defined benefit scheme, not the sponsor. In the real world, however, they do so at the behest of the employer or the company. I am not suggesting we should have a rule whereby the employer has to come up to 90% of funding if that is going to cause job losses, force the company...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: A category of pensioners, such as deferred pensioners, could be adversely affected by a decision of the trustees to change the terms of a scheme. However, they have no input into that decision which seems grossly unfair. The Minister of State said that if they are unhappy, they can take a case to the courts. There is an old saying, "The courts are open to everybody and so is the Ritz...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I accept that and thank the Minister of State. Again, on the appeals system, if somebody is dissatisfied, even after engagement with the trustees, do they have to go to court? Is there a facility to allow an appeal to the Pensions Authority?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 40:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following:“11. The Pensions Act 1990 is amended by inserting a new section 48A as follows:“48A. An appeals mechanism for pension scheme members shall be put in place where trustees have decided upon reduced benefits for members, and such appeals mechanism shall ensure that any category of such pension scheme members...

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: Which law? What section?

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: He is making it up again.

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The officials knew but they did not know.

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: Come on. Is that the best the Taoiseach can do? Answer the question.

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: He cannot find the section. It does not exist.

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: Was the Minister kept informed?

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister of State is canvassing hard.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (10 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 148. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when payment of arrears to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be made; the amount payable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39297/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (10 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 513. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 30 April 2015, the reason his Department has not advised on funding to establish a community centre in the Garryowen area of Limerick, despite the reply to the parliamentary question; when the Department intends to respond to the community in this regard; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Eligibility (10 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 594. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Sports Capital Grant application submitted by a school (details supplied) in County Limerick was deemed invalid due to a missing date on a page from the tender submitted; if this is the case, the reason the applicant was not permitted the opportunity to amend same before a decision was made on the application; and if...