Results 5,881-5,900 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017: Second Stage (14 Jul 2017)

Willie Penrose: Any penalty imposed by a court of law is part of a judicial function. The administration of justice in criminal matters is constitutionally confined to the courts and the selection of a penalty following conviction is an integral part of the judicial function. I was disappointed this got through because if one goes back to Cox v. Ireland in 1992, it was a case of game over, out to hell with...

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017: Second Stage (14 Jul 2017)

Willie Penrose: Yes. It goes without saying that a significant and worrying crisis has developed over the past few years pertaining to defined benefits pensions, and the Minister mentioned this. As I said, if things keep going as they appear to be going, it is a trajectory that will ultimately lead to a meltdown. They will all be wiped. Hardly any of them are left in any event. They are being wiped out...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (11 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 1392. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a low input permanent pasture grant a person (details supplied) will be paid to a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38673/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (11 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 1393. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied) will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38676/17]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Banking (11 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 1733. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the public banking investigation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37976/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 1910. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38674/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 1911. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38675/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Low Pay Commission Remit (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 33. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to amend the remit of the Low Pay Commission to provide for the achievement of a living wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39691/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Low Pay Commission Remit (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: As the Minister knows the living wage technical group said in July last that the wage required for a minimum acceptable standard of living in Ireland is €11.70 an hour. Can the Minister set out a pathway to close the gap between the minimum wage and the living wage, taking account of the fact that it cannot be done instantaneously but over a period of time as suggested by the Labour Party?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Low Pay Commission Remit (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: I was not confused. The living wage was based on the concept that we should provide an adequate income to enable individuals to afford a socially acceptable standard of living. The Low Pay Commission recommended a 30 cent increase in the minimum wage to come into effect in January which will bring it up to €9.55 an hour. Last year there was a derisory 10 cent. It is almost 18...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Low Pay Commission Remit (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: I welcome that commitment in so far as it goes and accept the Minister's bona fides but she should not tell me that there is not pathological opposition towards pay rises among some of her colleagues. I am clear about that and if she wishes me to name names, I will do so, if pushed. In all wage increases there is an opt-out provision for employers who will be unable to pay them because...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the employment legislation that has been transferred to her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39643/17]

Other Questions: Employment Rights (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: On 1 September, the Department was renamed the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The Minister is now the lead on employment rights policy and legislation, including 11 primary Acts governing employment rights and related policy issues. There are a number of issues, including if and when contracts and combatting bogus self-employment. What are the Minister's plans to...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: The first defeat of the Government was on the Labour Party motion that called for a legislative package to combat, in particular, if-and-when contracts and bogus self-employment and that sought their regulation. I am glad that the Minister is progressing this legislation. My colleague, Senator Gerald Nash, initiated the University of Limerick study of this matter. With regard to zero-hours...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: I will not waste time. If that were to be an absolute guarantee, it would be of consolation to so many. In this House we are all motivated by the very best ideas and aspirations but very often when we pass legislation, something happens and we are left outside trying to explain something that reflects badly on us. From the Minister's experience in business - fair play to her - she has seen...

Other Questions: Social Insurance (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 42. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to tackle bogus self employment; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the amount collected under the national training fund levy on employers is nearly 9% below profile; if this is also impacting on employer PRSI returns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39646/17]

Other Questions: Social Insurance (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: My colleague, former Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, set up a working group on bogus self-employment in July 2015, that is, over two years ago. It has not yet reported. Will the Minister indicate when this report will be forthcoming and will she outline what action will be taken? This aspect of bogus self-employment is a scourge, and there is only one set of losers.

Other Questions: Social Insurance (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: I am concerned that people are being forced to present as self-employed to get work. It is an issue in the construction industry. We are not all living in cloud cuckoo-land, because it is. The returns to the national training levy - the 0.7% levy was correctly applied - is now 9% or €21 million less than profile. Why is it less than profile when employment is increasing and there...

Other Questions: Social Insurance (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: The Minister will be aware that employers, trade unions, professional bodies and individuals made some 23 submissions to that working group. When will the working group report? Will the report be available to us soon, or what is the position, because that might be a help? I am all in favour of self-employment - people starting up their own businesses have provided 300,000 jobs in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (20 Sep 2017)

Willie Penrose: 52. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the JobPath programme in view of the ongoing decline in the live register and the level of unemployment declining rapidly below official projections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39645/17]