Results 4,241-4,260 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: The Tánaiste has been very vocal regarding the problem of low pay in the private sector. The legislation to establish a commission to examine this problem is not expected until sometime late next year. In view of the fact that the Tánaiste is so concerned, does this not imply a distinct lack of urgency in respect of this matter? Would it be possible for the legislation to be...

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: How many of the recommendations has the Government implemented?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Court of Justice Rulings (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 4. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she will address the issues arising from the Dano judgment in the Court of Justice of the European Union; her views at the possibility of benefit tourism here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47107/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Court of Justice Rulings (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am asking Minister if her Department has studied the Dano judgment and what actions, if any, it proposes to take on the basis of the judgment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Court of Justice Rulings (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I tabled a question and received a reply on 18 November, four weeks ago. It said the Department was considering the implications. Can I take it the Department has finished its consideration? The Minister seems to be saying that the judgment, as she understands it, simply underlines the position as it is. The Minister referred to limited exceptions. It makes sense that people with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Court of Justice Rulings (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I understand the Minister's point that it underpins our system. Does it do more if she decided to implement it in Irish law? Would it exclude some categories of EU migrant who can claim social assistance as our scheme operates?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I think it is approximately 200.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 1. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans on increasing the threshold for rent supplements in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47007/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: This question relates to rent caps. I wish to ascertain whether the Government is going to increase those caps in view of the fact that actual rents have outstripped the rent cap levels in various parts of the country.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Will he confirm that the Department's directive to community welfare officers in Limerick to allow flexibility represents a change in policy? I represent Limerick city and I am dealing with cases week in and week out. My experience is that no flexibility is being shown in the Limerick area. At the moment in Limerick, the rent cap for a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am glad that the Minister spoke to the district managers again yesterday because the directive issued in July had no impact in Limerick and I can state that quite categorically. The Minister of State referred to the fact that approximately 860 people in Limerick have moved onto the rent allowance scheme recently. However, if one studied that group, one would find that a great number of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 32. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to increase pension coverage here; if she will provide an update on the operation of the provisions contained in the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47003/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Poverty (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to address the increasing child poverty rates here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47005/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the criteria for granting the carers' allowance for persons who care for children with severe autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47006/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 39. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to transfer payments from her Department to an electronic system; if she has discussed this proposed change with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47004/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (9 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 286. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the cost of childcare in this country, if he will alleviate some of the burden on commercial rates on the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46880/14]

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Amendment No. 18 is interesting in that it highlights the fact that the more people lose their pensions under defined benefit pension schemes, the more it will cost the State. With respect, there is an even larger problem. I have said before that the country’s demography with an increased dependency ratio of 2:1 by the middle of the century means the State will not be able to sustain...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I recognise the fact that waiting times have shortened, but five months is still a long time, especially if one has a case wrongly decided. Seven months is even longer and these are the average periods, as Deputy Noel Grealish said. I could cite for the Minister a number of cases with which I am dealing in which it is taking considerably longer than these waiting periods. I am unconvinced...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 10:In page 4, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:“Amendment of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 3. The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 is amended by inserting the following after subsection (4) of section 311:“(5) (a) An Appeals Officer shall decide an appeal within a prescribed time of 60 working days from the date of receipt of the...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: As everything has been said, I will just make a few brief points. I am looking forward to the publication of the Government's impact assessment of tax and social welfare changes. What period this will cover, I do not know or care, provided it gives a comprehensive account of what we want measured and gives an indication of the priorities for changes in the future. There is no doubt that...