Results 20,401-20,420 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Would the Senator care to nominate which ones?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: He can send it to me in writing.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: How long do I have?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I did not think I would have as much time, but I will probably not have to use it all. I welcome the broad support for the Bill from the House. Senators have welcomed most, if not all, of the measures. They have asked why other things were not included. The nature of budgets, as everyone understands, is that they are always limited. Every line Minister always seeks more things than he or...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As to whether the measure will be retrospective to 2011, I will take advice on the matter. Many other people would like to have things done retrospectively and I do not want to set a precedent that may expose the taxpayer to further charges. I have not provided for councillors to opt in or out of paying PRSI contributions because nobody else has such an option.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I took the correct approach to local authority members by providing that they will receive fair and equal treatment as compared with other people who are self-employed or in employment. They will not receive special treatment or privileges. For this reason, they will not receive a refund as no one else is being given refunds, nor will they be allowed to opt in or out of paying PRSI because...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Senator Máire Devine raised the issues of youth employment and lone parents. I welcome her recognition that the Bill constitutes progress in some areas and that Sinn Féin will not oppose it. It is worth noting that youth employment has more than halved from approximately 30% to roughly 15% since my party came to office. It is falling faster than unemployment for other adults....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: If I was a lone parent or young unemployed person in Northern Ireland, I would choose the centrist parties in this State any day before I would choose the Sinn Féin-DUP coalition.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Christmas bonus has increased from 70% to 85% of a person's social welfare payment. A couple of Senators expressed a desire to increase the rate to 100%. While I share that desire, it is important again to point out that these increases must be paid for from other people's taxes and PRSI contributions. I do not know many people who are not pensioners or on other social welfare payments...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I will come to that issue in a moment. I am happy to answer as many questions as I manage to note. To finish the point I was making, we need to bear in mind that all these things cost money and all are paid for by other people who do not receive a bonus or may receive a much smaller bonus. The cost of the Christmas bonus is €220 million per annum and will be funded through a...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Similarly, policy decisions around direct provision are a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality under her legislation. I admire Senator Craughwell for his very brave advocacy on behalf of Oireachtas Members and judges who, of course, are among the most vulnerable groups in our society.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There are no proposals in this Bill to change the PRSI treatment of Oireachtas Members and judges but Senator Craughwell's point is well made. If the contributory principle applies, it should apply to everyone - even judges and Oireachtas Members. I would point out, and I know people in the House would be aware of this, that Oireachtas Members and judges already have very generous pension...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There are different arrangements for different people depending on when they enter these Houses and there are severance arrangements as well. The point is taken. One gap is around long-term illness and invalidity. If somebody has to leave either of these Houses due to illness or loses their seat and subsequently becomes ill, which is a bit more common, they are quite badly exposed so I am...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The redundancy payment was 60% at one stage. It used to be 20%. Employers pay a lot of PRSI. I totally see the case for restoring that but, again, I had to prioritise within the allocation I had. If I had an extra €10 million, there would have been a 25% increase in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. There would not have been redundancy payments but I would not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Data (30 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: At the end of October 2016 there were 56,163 families in receipt of family income supplement in respect of over 124,300 children. Of those families, the principal earners in approximately 3,720 cases are recorded as being in public service employments. Statistics are not maintained at a more detailed level which would enable a breakdown by government department as requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Services Programme (30 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Community Services Programme (CSP) is designed to address locally identified gaps in the provision of services to communities. Funding is provided to support the employment of staff to deliver these services. Pobal is contracted by my Department to undertake the financial and contract management for the CSP. To date, in 2016, 10 new social enterprise proposals were selected for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Applications (30 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Further to my response to PQ ref. 35336 of Wednesday 16 November, I am pleased to confirm that my department will review the eligibility to FIS of the lady in question upon receipt of the additional information referred to in the details attached to this question. Depending on the specific circumstances, my department advises that it may be necessary to refer the case to a local social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (30 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 8thDecember 2016. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (30 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The State Pension Contributory (SPC) is a social insurance payment. Entitlement is based on 520 PRSI contributions having being paid since first starting work and the rate payable is based on the average yearly number of PRSI contributions made over a working life. A person who does not qualify for the full rate of SPC would generally qualify for a reduced rate of payment of SPC. It should...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Home-makers Scheme (30 Nov 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working...