Results 27,821-27,840 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: Let me say this: it has been my objective as Minister for Social Protection to protect and safeguard as many defined benefit pension schemes as possible. Defined benefit schemes have been subject to enormous difficulties at certain stages due to collapses in various international equity markets. We have discussed on many occasions in the House the problems around the cost of buying German...
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, line 5, after "Acts;" to insert "to amend the Pensions Act 1990;".Amendment No. 22, which we have just discussed, will allow the Minister for Finance to draw down moneys from the Central Fund to discharge liabilities which may accrue to the State in the event of the winding up of a defined benefit pension scheme where both the employer and the scheme were...
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: This is signposting legislation.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: I believe the proposal is in order. The reference is intended to act as a signpost for people who are reading the legislation and does not have a particular significance.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: No.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: The Bill makes provision to allow the Minister for Finance to draw down funds in respect of any case of double insolvency that arose between the date on which the Robins judgment was delivered and the date on which the changes in pensions legislation were enacted, namely, 25 December 2013.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: Yes.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: I believe the Deputy misunderstands the point, which was also raised by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. In circumstances where the average pension is €10,000 we have sought to provide 100% protection for pensions of up to €12,000, save for arrangements that may apply in particular circumstances, for example, lump sums. That is what the legislation seeks to achieve. Pro...
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: Virtually everyone in this category will qualify for the State pension.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: I do not have the figures the Deputy seeks. As he will be aware, they will depend on the outcome, if any, achieved in the ongoing discussions.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: It is smaller.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: First, I wish to refer briefly to a matter Deputy Boyd Barrett raised this morning. I explained to him that the pension reforms we introduced to protect people's pensions in defined benefit schemes in Ireland were set at a level of €12,000 but it was 100% protection. The Deputy indicated that he believed people in Waterford Wedgewood had benefitted far more generously. I have not...
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: I am just giving the figures. The Deputy made some comments about the Irish system.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: From time to time, he should recognise that the Irish system is relatively generous in its social protection payments compared with many other European countries. I did not say it was perfect or that there was not a lot of room for improvements. I said it was relatively generous, including compared to many of the UK provisions the Deputy cited. I make no apology to the Deputy or anyone...
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: -----I say people such as Connolly and Larkin would-----
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: It is exactly to do with them.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: Deputy Coppinger was not here when I began my speech. It has everything to do with the amendments.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: I listened to the Deputy without interrupting her and she should have the same courtesy.
- Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)
Joan Burton: While courtesy might not be her strong point, the Deputy should show me the same courtesy I have shown to her.