Results 4,761-4,780 of 12,635 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Tánaiste for his clarification. As I said, these questions are being raised on every doorstep, as I am sure my constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, will confirm. In respect of people on social welfare, pensioners and people on low incomes, do I take it from the Tánaiste's reply that the question of their ability to pay will definitely...

Order of Business (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: You are certainly practising it.

Other Questions: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: It was greater.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for the history lesson, but let me elaborate on her knowledge of history. Under the old scheme as introduced by the previous Government, if somebody was unable to access a training or education place, his or her social welfare was not reduced; now it is automatically reduced and that is the fundamental difference. There were many people under the age of 26 who could...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: The difficulty is that the budget change was presented as a measure whereby if a person under the age of 26 could not get a job there would be a place in training or education readily available which he or she could avail of and get an increased allowance, 60% more in most cases. However, there are not enough training or education places for the young unemployed. By the Minister's admission...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: No, I did not.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: On a point of order, we introduced an entirely different measure.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I do not want the Minister to mislead the House. We introduced an entirely different measure whereby if one could not access a course one's social welfare did not reduce.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Yesterday somebody said the Labour Party is reduced to lying openly in the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I will withdraw it on the basis that the Minister withdraws her assertion that the scheme she is introducing is exactly the same as the scheme we introduced. It is not.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister used it in defence of her arguments, therefore she is implying it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I made no assertion.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I simply quoted somebody who said-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I withdraw it on the basis that the Minister withdraws her assertion that the two schemes are exactly the same.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Does the Minister accept that the schemes were different? The Minister quoted it out of context.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Send it to me.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 4. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under the age of 26 years now in receipt of reduced jobseeker's allowance; if this change has reduced the number of persons unemployed under the age of 26 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17794/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am sorry that the question is somewhat ambiguously drafted. I will explain what I am trying to ascertain. It relates to the substantial reduction in social welfare payments to people under the age of 26 on the basis that they should be encouraged to apply for jobs or training places. I am trying to ascertain how successful the change has been.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: It is very significant now. It takes six months for appeals.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Domiciliary Care Allowance Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 1. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will contact persons who have been refused domiciliary care allowance for the past two years in view of the decision of the High Court of 1 April 2014 that found serious flaws in her Department's handling of such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17793/14]