Results 4,261-4,280 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: We are discussing amendments Nos. 2 and 3 and also some of the subsequent amendments which are very closely related. We seek a report on all expenditure cuts, and I do not mind whether we take 2011, 2008 or another year as a starting point; I just want a review carried out. I think the Minister said in her reply that a social impact assessment report on tax and social welfare changes is...

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

Willie O'Dea: Can the Minister of State say when we will see that report? When will it be published, and will it inform future Government policy in this area?

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

Willie O'Dea: When will the report be published?

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

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 2:In page 3, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:“Review of all expenditure reductions 2.The Minister for Social Protection shall review all expenditure reductions within her Department resulting in a reduction in a rate of payment or the ceasing of a welfare payment or scheme since 2011, review options for restoring those payments to their previous...

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

Willie O'Dea: I have been told about €1.8 billion has been taken out over the past number of years. I am not seeking to make a political point. A number of groups came before the committee and a number of representative organisations approached us directly, all of whom were advancing their priorities. When talking to, listening and receiving correspondences from those groups, I noticed the extent...

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: The Government made a commitment in the programme for Government that during the course of its lifetime it would substantially reduce poverty rates. In view of the facts that one in five children under the age of 17 years and one in six adults lives below the poverty line, and that 130,000 children have fallen below the poverty line in the last four years according to the recent UNICEF...

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: It is part of the programme for Government.

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Is the Ceann Comhairle telling me I cannot ask a question?

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am asking a question about Government policy.

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am asking about a commitment in the programme for Government.

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Can I not ask about that?

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: That is what I have asked, and I would like an answer.

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: That is a different issue. I asked about child poverty not unemployment.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: It was pointed out to the Minister that the reference to the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 should be amended to refer to the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013. Is this change being provided for in the amendments?

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: It is proposed in amendment No. 22 to insert a new section after section 48A which, according to the amendment, is inserted by section 10 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013. When I consulted the Act, I found that section 10 dealt with supplementary welfare. It is clear that section 48A is inserted by section 10 of Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: The time for producing consolidated legislation, even online, is well past. Essentially, the proposal is to backdate the provisions of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 to make them effective from the date on which the Robins judgment was delivered. I assume that is a correct interpretation.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: To what date are the provisions of the 2013 Act being backdated?

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: In that case, the Waterford Crystal workers will be covered because the issue in that company arose before the 2013 Act came into operation.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: The point in respect of the Robins judgment is that the EU directive on insolvency was interpreted by the European Court of Justice in the Robins case. The decision of the court was that in the event of a double insolvency in a defined benefit pensions scheme, anything less than 49% protection would not be acceptable. The Government has decided to provide 50% protection.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I appreciate that 100% protection is provided for pensions of up to €12,000. In addition, many people, albeit not everyone, will have paid PRSI and, therefore, qualify for the State pension.