Results 5,801-5,820 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Business of Joint Committee (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: As we have a quorum, we will commence the meeting in public session. You are all welcome to this meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Before I begin, I would remind members to please turn off their mobile phones. I propose that we go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters before returning to public session. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: We will resume in public session. I welcome Mr. Jerry Moriarty of the Irish Association of Pension Funds, IAPF. I will invite Mr. Moriarty to make his presentation in a moment, and then we will take a number of questions. Before we begin, I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: I thank Mr. Moriarty for his opening statement. I call on Deputy O'Dea.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: Mr. Moriarty indicated in his statement that only 20% of defined benefit schemes actually meet the minimum funding requirement. Is there a significant cost involved in regularising that and increasing that percentage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: It is that pain I want to ask you about. I take it that it is a global figure. For companies that are in a position where they may have to get back to a particular level and where there is employer input, is there a risk this would make such companies less competitive in the marketplace for whatever activity in which they are involved? Do we have any figures to underpin that? While Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: I appreciate that. I acknowledge what Deputy O'Dea is saying in terms of the global figure. If one is introducing a mechanism, it is necessary to ensure there are not unintended consequences whereby a particular company may lose competitive advantage in trying to meet the employer contributions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: I am not nit-picking with Mr. Moriarty but it is not just about what they can afford. The point I would make is that it concerns the cost base and competitiveness of a company with a defined benefit scheme versus a company which is trading against the first company but which does not have that scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: Mr. Moriarty understands this is a Private Member's Bill. I want to ask one general question. Are there any elements of the Bill that cause him concern?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: I was going to make that point. Mr. Moriarty referred to what might subsequently become technical amendments. If he has any information on those that he could send either directly to the Deputy or to the committee, that would be very useful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: I thank Mr. Moriarty for his attendance. He has been very helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: I welcome Dr. Laura Bambrick and Mr. Billy Hannigan. We have received the opening statement. I will allow the witnesses to make a presentation and then we will take questions. I draw the attention of the witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: I thank Dr. Bambrick for her opening statement. I will let each member ask a number of questions and either witness can feel free to respond. I remind members that this is not a general chat about pensions. It is specifically to scrutinise the provisions in Deputy O'Dea’s Bill and I ask that the questions would be formulated in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: Remarks were made about auto enrolment and total contributions that were somewhat an aside to the Bill. They will be dealt with in separate proceedings of this committee. We expect the Minister to come back to the committee on that. Some years ago the perception was that the total contributions would be over a 30-year cycle but because of the remedy the Minister introduced on the 2012...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: Let me stop Mr. Hannigan there. We are not dealing with the Government's proposal today. The Government's proposal is parked. That is its prerogative. This committee is dealing specifically with pre-legislative scrutiny of Deputy O'Dea's proposal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: Does Deputy O'Dea wish to make any further comments?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: Despite it being Private Members' legislation the Bill will go through the same process so there will be Committee, Report and Final Stage amendments. On the specific proposal made by Deputy O'Dea, if there are elements of the Bill the witnesses have significant concerns about, whether they are in terms of timelines and so forth, please make those known to the committee. While the Bill is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

John Curran: Yes. Deputy O'Dea is open to those amendments. The witnesses might have a look at it and come back to us if anything further arises. I thank Dr. Bambrick and Mr. Hannigan for their attendance today. We are sincere about that offer. If there is anything they believe should be changed, please correspond with us. I thank colleagues for their attendance. The committee is adjourned until 10...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (16 Apr 2019)

John Curran: 68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made on the needs of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America since the 2019 St. Patrick's Day visit; the extent to which ongoing negotiations continue to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17342/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (16 Apr 2019)

John Curran: 199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the location in which it is proposed to establish a new school in 2021 (details supplied); if a site has been acquired for this school; the catchment area this school will serve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17621/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (16 Apr 2019)

John Curran: 200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the land which is currently used as sports pitches by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22 is in the ownership of his Department; if so, his future plans for the lands; if none, if the school and local soccer club can continue to use the lands and pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17622/19]