Results 3,961-3,980 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Deputy Ryan is getting carried away.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It is very extreme.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: No.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It is actually the opposite.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: This directive has been in force since 2004 and it has not caused any difficulty. Neither the local authorities nor the Department report any issues whatsoever that have caused any difficulty. I have great respect for Senator Ryan and I read what he stated on Second Stage. I sincerely believe he is overstating this case. I accept his heart is in the right place and I acknowledge the great...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: There is never any difficulty with reports. I am not sure what legislative section could be inserted in that regard. A report on the progress of the legislation can be laid before the House at any stage. I can repeat what I said earlier which is that it is fully intended that this would receive the closest scrutiny, measurement and monitoring. I expect that reports on the monitoring of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: A number of issues, including the provision of information, have been raised. The Pensions Board provides an extensive information service through the provision of a range of free information booklets on occupational pensions and through its website, www.pensionsboard.ie. The pensions booklets and website cover a range of topics, such as pension options, what happens to a pension if one...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Pensions Board has confirmed that it is receiving full co-operation with regard to the information it wants. The board has very strong powers and there is no reason these powers cannot be strengthened. At least two pieces of legislation from the Department, one of which is called the social welfare and pensions Bill, come through this House every year and there is a regular opportunity...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: This survey was undertaken in respect of schemes with 1,000 or more active members in December 2006. I urge the Senator to study what it says. I regret that she was unable to get the information earlier. However, if they conducted the survey only last December, presumably the information was not readily available to them in advance of that work. Perhaps that was the reason they were not...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to be made to assist with essential, once-off costs which the applicant is unable to meet from his/her own resources. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case. The HSE West has advised that...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (29 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Farmers, and self-employed people in general, who were already retired when compulsory social insurance was introduced for this group in 1988 cannot benefit from contributory pensions. However, it is open to those who do not qualify for a contributory pension to apply for the state pension (non-contributory). The new enhanced state pension (non-contributory) for those over 66 years, which I...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (29 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: In order to qualify for state pension (contributory), a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions, namely:- have entered into insurable employment before age 56, have paid at least 260 weeks full-rate contributions paid and have a yearly average of at least 10 contributions recorded (taking paid and credited PRSI Contributions into account) from 1953 or from the date of entry into...

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (29 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Approximately 76 per cent of workers pay PRSI Class A at the rate of 4 per cent. A further 11 per cent of workers pay social insurance contributions at the Class S rate. These contributions which are subject to various thresholds, allowances and ceilings, accrue entitlement to a range of benefits and pensions under various social insurance schemes. The current employee PRSI ceiling stands...

Written Answers — Child Support: Child Support (29 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: There are a number of schemes which may be available to a grandparent caring for a grandchild depending on the individual circumstances of the case. Under Social Welfare regulations Child Benefit is payable to the person with whom a qualified child normally resides. This is normally the child's mother. However, where the mother has abandoned or deserted the child or has failed to contribute...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Maybe I will be.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Senators for this amendment. It is probably better for us to make departures in this area in the context of the Green Paper which I hope to publish some time in the middle of April. A considerable amount of work has gone into it. I have had the opportunity to look at some of the early drafts of the Green Paper which is very exciting. It fully rehearses all the options and does...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (3 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive. The objective of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of an eligible person living in private rented accommodation who is unable to provide for his or her...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (3 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 437 together. Approximately 76 per cent of workers pay PRSI Class A at the rate of 4 per cent. A further 11 per cent of workers pay social insurance contributions at the Class S rate. These contributions which are subject to various thresholds, allowances and ceilings, accrue entitlement to a range of benefits and pensions under various social...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: In February 2006 as part of its reform of the Health Sector, the Government decided that the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, as well as certain other functions, will be transferred to my Department. The transfer of functions will not change the role of the CWOs and SCWOs. They will remain community based and, in addition to providing financial supports to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I understand the Deputy is referring to staff absent on sick leave, suspension and study leave for the month of March 2007 and in receipt of full salary. There were 14 staff absent on sick leave in my department at full salary for this period at a total cost of €47,014.96, including employers PRSI. There were no staff absent on suspension on full pay for the month of March 2007. There were...