Results 31,461-31,480 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I am sure Members of the House will understand.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The rule of law is essential to democracy.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The Garda Síochána, which is charged with upholding the law, must also operate within the law. We owe the Garda a great deal. The force has been essential to the stability of this State and the preservation of security through some extremely turbulent times. Members of the force have lost their lives in the process. The difficult and dangerous job that members face must never be...

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I want to make two points in relation to this. First, had we not established a commission of investigation into these matters the Government would rightly stand accused, particularly by the people gracing the Opposition benches. I think everybody knows that. The Members know that themselves but we established the commission and we ensured these matters would be fully and appropriately...

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: A capital plan to be published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, next week will increase investment in road, rail, broadband, housing, other essential infrastructure, such as schools and primary care centres, and job creation, both in terms of indigenous industry through Enterprise Ireland and foreign direct investment through IDA Ireland, and will...

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The Government, in tandem with the people, is working to bring this country up-----

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: There are many things wrong with the country that we want to improve and make better-----

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: -----but there are also many things that the people have achieved. The Deputies opposite should at least have the perspective to be able to recognise and acknowledge these achievements. We have stability, recovery and renewal and we will realise our country's potential to be better for all. As Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party, I support the motion.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: It is now very much Labour's way.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: You got your answer, Micheál.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Sector Pensions (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The officer in question retired from the Civil Service on 4thSeptember 2009 under the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement. In line with the terms of the Scheme, the officer was paid the pension along with 10% of the retirement lump sum without actuarial reduction. The 90% balance of the lump sum will be payable when the officer reaches preserved pension age (i.e. 60 years of age)....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity.Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people. This strategy has been succeeding, with an increase of over 80,000 in employment over the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 172 together. Participants in certain employment schemes, including community employment schemes (CE), receive a weekly payment which is equal to the social welfare payment appropriate to their family size, plus a top up of €20, subject to a minimum payment of €208 per week. This income has been for many years treated in the same...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The final phase of the one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme reforms took place on 2 July 2015, when the maximum child age threshold of the scheme was reduced to 7 years. On that date, approximately 25,500 affected customers were supported by the Department to transition to a range of alternative income support payments. In the months in advance of the implementation of the final phase...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Data (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. Child Benefit is a monthly universal payment to assist with the costs associated with raising children. It is paid to around 616,000 families in respect of some 1.17 million children, with an estimated expenditure of around €1.9 billion in 2014. Child Benefit continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: Any increases in social welfare rates can only be considered in the context of the Budget and estimates process. A €20 increase per week in the rate of disability payments would cost approximately €254 million in a full year, while in relation to the respite care grant (RCG), the estimated cost of increasing the RCG by €325, from €1,375 to €1,700, is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The person in question is currently in receipt of means tested disability allowance. Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: When the original decision in this case was made on 28 October 2014, the client was advised of her right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days of receiving the decision. As notified to the Deputy on 9 January 2015, as the appeal was not received until 18 December 2014 the Appeals Officer decided the client’s right to appeal had expired. As correct...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 09 July 2015. The first payment issued to his nominated Post Office on 17 September 2015. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 11 September 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 25 August 2015, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...