Results 2,641-2,660 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I do not disagree with the sentiments expressed by the Deputy. My absolute policy priority is child poverty. It is way ahead of all the other responsibilities I have, for which I make no apology, because at the start of the 21st century, as the Deputy said, even one child living in poverty is one child too many. The debate that has been raging about statistics is one with which I must contend...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: That question relates to the Pensions Board. Before I take it, I wish to advise the House that I do not have a prepared answer for Question No. 48, for which I apologise. There must have been some confusion as a result of a postponement last week, which is totally on my side. I apologise to the House for that and I can deal with this matter at another time.

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Pensions Board was asked to review, in consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the position and regulation of income continuance plans. These products often interact with occupational pension schemes and it was considered necessary to establish the facts of the situation and to clarify the position for the bodies with an interest in this area, namely, my...

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The Watson Wyatt report found that 238,000 people are insured under these plans, with 85% of the plans arranged through employer sponsored or voluntary groups. I am anxious that the schemes come under some form of monitoring and regulation. The report recommended that they be brought under the Insurance Ombudsman, now called the Financial Services Ombudsman. My Department and the Department...

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: That is often the case. They are often a bolt-on product and part of it. However, for the moment we are treating them as insurance products and that is the reason we are considering sending the issue not to the Pensions Ombudsman but to the Financial Services Ombudsman. That is the route we will take and I trust it will make a difference. More than 200,000 people are involved and their...

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: These insurance policies are essentially private arrangements entered into between employer and employee. I will examine whether the ombudsman can play a role with regard to the existing stock, but I doubt we can make much progress in that area because retrospection is difficult when establishing new responsibilities. That said, it may be open to me to ask the ombudsman, when he takes...

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I do not have a formal reply, but I am happy to deal with the question, if the Deputy wishes.

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The issue of reassessing savings derived from means-tested non-contributory pension payments when reviewing estate cases has been discussed many times and the Department continues to study and examine the situation. Deputies have put the case that, where people with savings from their non-contributory pensions die and their estate is examined, we should find some way to disregard the block of...

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I am not particularly aware of the specific case, but given that the Deputy has raised it, I will make a point of studying it. The Deputy might be aware that I am examining the area of non-contributory policy in any case. As I said to the committee last week, the number of people on non-contributory pensions is reducing each year and obviously those on contributory pensions is increasing...

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I will study the case in question and find what lesson can be learnt. If all the payments come from means-tested payments, that should not lead to a claw-back in most cases.

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I will look at how it operates in practice. In principle if savings come from means-tested payments, they should not be of such a scale as to necessitate a claw-back, unless the person is extremely frugal, and it is hard to be frugal on means-tested payments.

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I will consider the matter. The principle is solid. Every case is considered on its merits under the present law. However, the broader area of non-contributory pensions needs examination.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: Since 1997, with the first national anti-poverty strategy, the Government has adopted a strategic approach to reduce and eliminate poverty. The need for a strategic approach reflects the complex nature of poverty which is multi-faceted in its causes and effects, and, as a consequence, requires a multi-policy response. It has been a priority of successive governments to reduce and, if...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: With more than 1 million children living in this country, one must approach the figure of 65,000 with caution. A series of debates is taking place on how to measure poverty. The ESRI produced a list of eight basic deprivation indicators, including not having a roast or its equivalent once a week; not having a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day; having to go without heating due...

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: The construction federation operatives pensions scheme operates as a registered employment agreement under the Industrial Relations Acts. There is a statutory obligation on employers to register eligible employees in the scheme and pay the necessary contributions. Since its inception in 1965, the scheme was a defined benefit scheme with flat rate contributions and benefits, which could only...

Pension Provisions. (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: In the long run, the scheme which has been agreed between employers and employees will be better for workers and their families. Currently, approximately 65,000 people are in the scheme, while 80,000 are eligible to join it. Deputies will be aware that a high degree of self-employment exists within the industry, which in itself causes further difficulties. I have suggested that employers who...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I welcome the publication by the Combat Poverty Agency (CPA) of its new report "The Distributional Impact of Ireland's Indirect Tax System" and the associated policy statement "Promoting Equity in Ireland's Tax System". The focus of the report is on whether and to what extent the Irish system of indirect taxation, namely VAT and excise duties, is regressive. The report outlines that over the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 54 together. The major discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents" which I launched in March this year, addresses the social exclusion and risk of poverty faced by many such families and their children. The report puts forward proposals for reform of the income support system for all parents on a low income. The report proposes the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 81 together. The Back to Education Allowance or BTEA is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. In 2002 the Government in view of the expenditure...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (20 Jun 2006)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 82 and 83 together. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive, a weekly or monthly rent supplement is available to assist eligible people who are unable to meet their immediate accommodation needs through their own resources. In recent years, a significant...