Results 1,881-1,900 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Disputes (9 Sep 2020)

Damien English: I reiterate that Ireland's system of industrial relations is voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial relations issues lies ultimately with employers, workers and their respective representatives as appropriate. I could not be any clearer and I said twice in my opening contribution that I expect all sides to engage with the industrial relations process. That...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Disputes (9 Sep 2020)

Damien English: I thank both Deputies Nash and Munster for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to respond on behalf of my Department and its Minister, Deputy Humphreys. 3 o’clock I understand the dispute relates to issues, including a collective agreement, among others that have developed over the past couple of months. I emphasise that Ireland's system of industrial relations is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (30 Jul 2020)

Damien English: I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from this lady on 23 July 2020. On 28 July 2020 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility.  On receipt of this information a decision will be made on her DA application and the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance (29 Jul 2020)

Damien English: The latest figures available for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) show that as at 30th June 2020 there were 43,478 individual customers receiving the payment in respect of 48,038 children. On June 30th 2020, there were 725 applications on hand pending decision. The processing targets for DCA section is to finalise 90% of applications within 10 weeks. In June, this target was exceeded...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (28 Jul 2020)

Damien English: Following a successful appeal, the gentleman concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 20 February 2020.  Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on 30 July 2020.  Any arrears due from 20 February 2020 to 29 July 2020 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course.  He was notified of this decision on 22 July 2020. I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (28 Jul 2020)

Damien English: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on 30 June 2020.  The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (28 Jul 2020)

Damien English: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on 26 June 2020.  The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (28 Jul 2020)

Damien English: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the lady concerned on 28 April 2020.  The claim was refused  on the grounds that the medical...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Correspondence (28 Jul 2020)

Damien English: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension (28 Jul 2020)

Damien English: Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. The department received a claim for IP for the lady concerned on 19 December 2019.Medical eligibility has been assessed and she satisfies the medical and the contribution conditions for the...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: I am pleased to be appearing in the Seanad as the Minister of State with responsibility for employment affairs and retail businesses to bring forward the Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020. The €2 billion scheme is a cornerstone of the suite of supports being announced by the Government as part of the July stimulus package. It is focused on SMEs, which is key. I want to be...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: They do.

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: I will try to answer as many questions as I can. I will also deal with Committee and Report Stages. I thank Members for their support for the Bill. I sense that there is general support for it, although some have concerns and worries about the ability of the banks to respond to the situation. The discussion is similar to that which we had here two weeks ago. It is a recognition by...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: It is available, but only as of four weeks ago so it would be hard to judge the full drawdown. My understanding is that it is available. I will check it because the Senator has raised it.

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: I will check it. I am telling the Senator what it is about and I will check it with the Minister. Senator Higgins asked about the EU recovery plan and what it can be used for. She made a good point about using that funding for public investment and public services. A major part of the response following Covid-19 will be building public capacity and investing in our public services, our...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: Again, there will be interest at a lower cost, and we have to work on that as well. The benefits of the scheme are to be passed on to the SMEs and our job is to ensure the focus is on them.

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: This is about interest rate reduction. Currently, banks can loan to those companies at a certain percentage rate. This scheme will mean that the banks will be lending at a lower interest rate. The profits and benefits from that will go to the businesses and that will help them stay open, trade and create jobs. That is the focus here. The Senator wants to have a conversation about the tax...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: We did not rule it out of order. After the legislation passes through the Houses we will complete agreements with the banks. Agreements will be signed between the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, ourselves and the banks, which will detail what they intend to do. We will have tables that will show the benefit of the scheme and the guarantee. The legislation is intended to provide...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: Let us also be clear that we are concerned that if we do not have this credit guarantee a lot of businesses might be in a position where they cannot access funding. They might fail and we would lose jobs. We want to do this, it is a business support and that is what we are trying to do here. Most people understand the necessity of doing that because this lending might not happen without...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Damien English: We are trying to support businesses and support the banks in getting money out to them at a cheaper rate. That is what we are trying to do. There is no cost to the State if the loan is successful, and that is a success all around because we want businesses to be sustained, to survive, thrive and grow. I accept that the banks still have a lot of work to do to rebuild that trust between them...