Results 7,601-7,620 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Guarantee (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for the reply but I do not know whether I am any the wiser. Perhaps when I read the record and see what has not been said, I will know. As the Minister well knows, the pledge of €6 billion by the European Union, welcome though it may be, is regarded as totally inadequate. Taking a pledge of €6 billion over a period of seven years, Ireland will receive a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Guarantee (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: When will the youth guarantee scheme be in place? Answer the question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Guarantee (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: The total of €64 million over two years is €32 million per year, and the Government has committed €14 million for the first year which, added to the €32 million amounts to €46 million. This is way short of what is required. Will the Minister indicate when a properly functioning youth guarantee scheme will be in place? On the previous occasion we had...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Guarantee (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: So they are all being reallocated from within the Department.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 4. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her Department's policy on the use of Garda checkpoints to counter welfare fraud; the criteria being used by her Department in the deployment of gardaí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50876/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: Last October the Minister announced a policy initiative directly involving the Garda in the investigation and combatting of social welfare fraud. What I want to ascertain here is whether that policy has been put in place, where, and how successful has it been?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: If I understand the Minister's reply correctly, the multi-agency road checkpoint system has been in place for a quarter of a century but this is a new initiative.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: It has not yet come into operation. Discussions are still ongoing with the Garda. Is my understanding of that correct? Speaking on Newstalk, on 16 October last, the Minister referred to this recruitment of 20 extra gardaí who, she stated, would be concentrating on areas such as airports, etc. She went on to state that the Department will also be looking at areas such as checkpoints,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I am asking about the new initiative, not the multi-agency checkpoints.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I refer to the Minister's own words. She said nothing about industrial estates. She stated that the Department will be looking at areas, such as checkpoints, in estates - nothing about industrial - and on roads, early in the morning. Is the Minister telling us that this will be part of the present multi-agency system or will it be a separate initiative by the gardaí, on behalf of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: We know all that. Will the Minister answer the question?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: Will the gardaí be able to stop persons on their own?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: Will the gardaí be able to have these checkpoints on their own, not as part of a multi-agency system?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: So they will be stopping persons on their own.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: To clarify, the Minister is saying the gardaí will now be able to operate on their own at checkpoints in estates, etc.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: Why confine it to the Garda? Why not send in the Army?

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 9. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of persons who will be affected by the cuts to jobseeker's allowance in 2014; the amount of money she estimates it will save in the full year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50826/13]

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister will be aware that people aged under 26 years suffered pretty drastic cuts to their job seeker's allowance or benefit in the recent budget. I am trying to ascertain how many people have been affected and what it has contributed to the State. The Government took almost €3 billion out of the economy, so what contribution has this reduction made? What savings will be...

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: It is acknowledged that many of the people adversely affected by the budgetary changes will not, because there are 30 applicants for every available job, be able to secure employment. It is also acknowledged that the number of available education and training places will not be sufficient. What will be the position in respect of a person who cannot get a place on a training or education...

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (28 Nov 2013)

Willie O'Dea: May I ask a final question?