Results 1,941-1,960 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It was very minor.

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I will rephrase what I said. There was practically no change. These are some of the issues we will raise on Committee Stage. As I said, we will not oppose the legislation on Second Stage. I have no intention of opposing increases for people on disability allowance and jobseeker's payments. The one point I will make is these changes only kick in from the end of March whereas the tax...

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: We will not oppose this Bill. As the Minister has outlined in some detail all of the favourable measures contained in the Bill, I do not see any need to rehearse them. I note that this year's increase in provision for the social protection budget is approximately 1.5%. That has to be measured against economic growth of more than 5%, which is what I understand the figure to be. As I will...

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: -----albeit in a very small way. It has been magnified enormously since then.

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, we opened the door. The door was open a long time in Northern Ireland and the UK as well. When I asked the Minister for the rationale for the two rates of payment, she more or less told me that all the people in this country between the ages of 18 and 26 are the sort of people who would prefer to sit at home watching "Judge Judy" than to go out and get a job or take on training. That...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: While the drop in youth unemployment is welcome, it is not solely due to this measure. There was a time before 2009 when, on turning 18, claimants were paid a rate of social welfare, namely, jobseeker's allowance, that was equivalent to what everybody else got. That was changed, initially in 2009 by a Government which was led by Fianna Fáil and of which I remember being a member. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 85. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she has taken to minimise the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes and child benefit between Ireland and the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46809/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I submitted the question because, as the Minister will be aware, approximately 135,000 Irish residents are in receipt of a British pension. Approximately 35,000 people in Britain are getting an Irish pension. I want to ensure the arrangements to pay pensions on both sides will continue seamlessly despite the decision of the UK to leave the EU.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I accept the Minister's point about people's intentions but is she aware of a report published today which was presented by a joint human rights committee set up under the Good Friday Agreement and concluded that the common travel area would benefit from greater legal certainty to ensure the smooth operation of reciprocal rights after Brexit? It also stated the common travel area is not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister referred to the analysis being conducted in her Department and the study being done on various scenarios including a no-deal scenario. Is it possible for the Minister to share that analysis with the House? We are all getting queries on this matter. We all need to reassure people who are coming to us. Can the Minister confirm that the present seamless reciprocal arrangements...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to equalise the rates of jobseeker's payments for those under 26 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46810/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Has the Minister plans to equalise the rate of jobseeker's payments for those aged under 26?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It was the way the system was changed suddenly and without any consultation.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I did not say there was.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 72. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to establish a separate agency to claim maintenance on behalf of lone parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46898/18]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Is there not a maintenance recovery unit in the Department which applies only to lone parents whose child is younger than seven years? Why has that not been extended in tandem with the changes in the lone parent allowance regulations? When the child is older than seven years the lone parent gets a different type of payment, jobseeker's transition, as opposed to lone parent allowance but...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It is not just a question of the Department chasing errant parents but of combatting poverty. The poverty statistics among lone parents, as the Minister is aware, are particularly stark. In many cases somebody is not in a position to go to court because their partner is violent. Even when they do go to court and do not get paid the Department tends to assess them for maintenance which the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: If that has changed the change must have been very recent because as far as I can see it is still the position. If somebody is in that situation they will not want to take the risk of getting an order for maintenance which they feel sure is not going to be paid and having it assessed against any lone parent allowance they will get. The lone parent allowance will not make anybody rich and...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: If the Minister assures me that the problem is fizzling out and most people are being accommodated, I will accept that. However, I am continuing to get a number of queries. The Department might be telling the Minister that all arrears are being paid, but that certainly does not tally with the information I am getting from my constituents. I accept that the Minister is not seeking to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 70. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to rectify issues relating to the payment of illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46897/18]