Results 25,241-25,260 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Income Eligibility for Social Housing Supports: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I welcome the changes introduced by the Minister. They are very timely. The old limits, which were set in 2011, belonged to a totally different world. Over the years, when I asked when these changes would take place, I got the tired old answer that the matter was being studied. For those who were suffering under incredibly low thresholds, being told that the system was being looked at did...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Was due consideration given to the model that the witness intimated was available in other European countries, where what one got was pay-related, with a basic state pension and a pay-related top up on that funded by the state through the state system and through contribution there? Were comparisons carried out between that method of funding - which presumably is on a pay-as-you-go basis -...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It may have but it did not tell us the inflation factor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The thing is we can look back, and when it was stacked up, it looks kind of attractive. Someone puts in X and gets Y.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am a bit older than most people here, but if I go back and look at what seemed like a large sum in 1980, it would look like joke money today. I will put this in an even more scary way. I keep all the Government Estimates for 2002 in my office. The amounts were tiny and the inflation rate is huge. The figures the Department gave were not that impressive at all when a constant rate of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: There was a proposal ten years ago to standardise tax relief at 33%. That meant if a person were paying 20% or 40% tax, he or she would receive 33% tax relief. The advantage of that was the people at the bottom end of the wages scale were not, once again, being hit. What the union representative is saying is that the State contribution is not going to be anything real. Most people who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is one factor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I made a choice that turned out to be very fortuitous. I was in precarious enough employment as it was, but surviving was more important than worrying about what would happen when I got to 65 years. As it happened, I did not have to worry. I am still working at 65. I took a big risk in one way, but then I did own my house.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is probably true, but the people on the low end of the surviving gig are people who would see the greatest pension would be to get a property. They would be very tempted anyway. When they get to 66, the State will say "Tough, you did not take the option." The great thing about PRSI is that it has to be paid as it is mandatory. I see this more as an industry-led gig than being State-led.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Which it is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department and the Government were involved in this process, but the Oireachtas was not. We do not have to buy in. We can write any report we like. We can go back and say the original model put forward by ICTU was correct, whereby it would be State controlled. The CPA is all fine and good, but all the people from outside on it, advising the Government and so on, will be from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am saying the employer, the employee and the State should contribute, given the State is the basic payer in any event, to this------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I might put it in simpler terms. Are the Nordic and continental Europe models, which provide for State occupational pensions, better?

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Harbours and Piers (15 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: 25. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress that has been made with the development of improved pier facilities on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62719/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (15 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: 47. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital and current allocation to her Department for 2022; the expenditure to date of both the current and capital allocation including carry forward from 2021; the main underspends under both headings; the reason for same; if it is intended to carry forward unspent capital from 2022 to 2023; and if she will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (15 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: 132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress that has been made to date to ensure that areas without mobile phone signals get mobile phone coverage; the discussions that have taken place between his Department and the industry on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62723/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (15 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: 255. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who has a mixed social welfare record consisting of A, B and D contributions and can satisfy the minimum conditions for a pro rata pension for a person with mixed insurance is entitled to have their pension assessed under the total contribution system, including up to 1,040 ordinary and caring credits; and if...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (15 Dec 2022)

Éamon Ó Cuív: 271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made to date with the review of the terms and conditions of employment of PhD worker students; when it is expected that contact will be made with the various PhD stakeholders such as two groups (details supplied) to seek their views; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62938/22]