Results 8,321-8,340 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am asking about a commitment in the programme for Government.

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Can I not ask about that?

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: That is what I have asked, and I would like an answer.

Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: That is a different issue. I asked about child poverty not unemployment.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 2:In page 3, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:“Review of all expenditure reductions 2.The Minister for Social Protection shall review all expenditure reductions within her Department resulting in a reduction in a rate of payment or the ceasing of a welfare payment or scheme since 2011, review options for restoring those payments to their previous...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I have been told about €1.8 billion has been taken out over the past number of years. I am not seeking to make a political point. A number of groups came before the committee and a number of representative organisations approached us directly, all of whom were advancing their priorities. When talking to, listening and receiving correspondences from those groups, I noticed the extent...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: We are discussing amendments Nos. 2 and 3 and also some of the subsequent amendments which are very closely related. We seek a report on all expenditure cuts, and I do not mind whether we take 2011, 2008 or another year as a starting point; I just want a review carried out. I think the Minister said in her reply that a social impact assessment report on tax and social welfare changes is...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Can the Minister of State say when we will see that report? When will it be published, and will it inform future Government policy in this area?

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: When will the report be published?

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: As everything has been said, I will just make a few brief points. I am looking forward to the publication of the Government's impact assessment of tax and social welfare changes. What period this will cover, I do not know or care, provided it gives a comprehensive account of what we want measured and gives an indication of the priorities for changes in the future. There is no doubt that...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 10:In page 4, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:“Amendment of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 3. The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 is amended by inserting the following after subsection (4) of section 311:“(5) (a) An Appeals Officer shall decide an appeal within a prescribed time of 60 working days from the date of receipt of the...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I recognise the fact that waiting times have shortened, but five months is still a long time, especially if one has a case wrongly decided. Seven months is even longer and these are the average periods, as Deputy Noel Grealish said. I could cite for the Minister a number of cases with which I am dealing in which it is taking considerably longer than these waiting periods. I am unconvinced...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Amendment No. 18 is interesting in that it highlights the fact that the more people lose their pensions under defined benefit pension schemes, the more it will cost the State. With respect, there is an even larger problem. I have said before that the country’s demography with an increased dependency ratio of 2:1 by the middle of the century means the State will not be able to sustain...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 29. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons are having their social welfare benefits terminated on the basis of not replying to a voicemail from her Department; if this is in accordance with the law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46402/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (9 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 286. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the cost of childcare in this country, if he will alleviate some of the burden on commercial rates on the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46880/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 1. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans on increasing the threshold for rent supplements in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47007/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: This question relates to rent caps. I wish to ascertain whether the Government is going to increase those caps in view of the fact that actual rents have outstripped the rent cap levels in various parts of the country.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Will he confirm that the Department's directive to community welfare officers in Limerick to allow flexibility represents a change in policy? I represent Limerick city and I am dealing with cases week in and week out. My experience is that no flexibility is being shown in the Limerick area. At the moment in Limerick, the rent cap for a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am glad that the Minister spoke to the district managers again yesterday because the directive issued in July had no impact in Limerick and I can state that quite categorically. The Minister of State referred to the fact that approximately 860 people in Limerick have moved onto the rent allowance scheme recently. However, if one studied that group, one would find that a great number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I think it is approximately 200.