Results 10,581-10,600 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The need for reform of the joint labour committee system was clearly signalled in the programme for Government. Mr. Kevin Duffy of the Labour Court and Mr. Walsh have produced a very detailed report setting out a reform mechanism. The relevant stakeholders, the employers and trade unions, are now participating in a consultation process on the report initiated by the Minister for Jobs,...

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The consultation process has not been completed yet. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to complete a poverty impact assessment on the proposals because we do not yet have those proposals. When we get those proposals the social inclusion division of my Department will carry out such an assessment. I do no have a date for the Deputy and I must wait and see what proposals are...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The challenges facing the Irish pension system are significant. The population share of those aged 65 and over is expected to more than double between now and 2050, from 11% to 26%. People are living longer and healthier lives with average life expectancy set to rise even further in the future, up to 88 years for women and 83.9 for men. In contrast, the share of the working age population...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The most important objective pertaining to older people and fuel property is to provide a much better standard of insulation for homes, both to reduce and prevent heat loss and to improve the comfort and standard of housing. As we know, many older people live in older properties. The inter-departmental-agency group has been asked to draw up an energy-affordability strategy. This strategy...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I said we need to examine this holistically. The critical issue for many who are dependent on the fuel allowance is to improve heat retention in their houses. I refer to problems such as dampness. The inter-departmental-agency group is drawing up an energy-affordability strategy. The heating allowance, while incredibly important to people, is not the only provision we should be examining....

Departmental Programmes (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Tús is a community work placement initiative which will provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Some €30 million has been provided in the Department's Estimates in 2011 to fund the roll-out of the initiative. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na...

Departmental Programmes (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I appreciate the Deputy's concern that people working in care need to be trained. People working in care generally or community organisations that deal with children or vulnerable adults must be vetted by the Garda. The Tús scheme was designed by the former Minister for Social Protection as a kind of urban copy of the rural social scheme. Many Deputies will be aware of the latter, which...

Departmental Programmes (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The important strategy is to provide people with options and opportunities. I would be distressed to find a younger person in their early 20s drifting onto social welfare as a permanent condition of their life. I am aware, as is everybody, of the huge drop in employment opportunities recently and most people are looking for work but if somebody on social welfare is drifting into long-term...

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: As I have just told the House in answer to the previous question, the Government is committed to tackling Ireland's economic crisis in a way that is fair, balanced and which recognises the need for social solidarity. The appropriate level of overall expenditure by my Department will be considered in the context of budget 2012 and subsequent budgets. This consideration will be informed by...

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The commitment in the programme for Government is in regard to welfare rates but the commitment is also to reform and to a comprehensive expenditure review. We had a discussion earlier on Tús and other programmes and options that are available to get people back to education, training and work experience. Part of the reforms I hope to see in the Department is to ensure that younger people...

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Suggesting to people that we will reform the social welfare system in a way that ensures people get options and opportunities is not in any way grandiose. I would have thought that was common sense because if we look at any community in any village or town throughout the country we see a wealth of resources available and a community spirit that is anxious to work with the local community and...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Increasing pensions coverage, particular among the lower paid and those with gaps in their employment, is a priority for the Government. The introduction of an auto-enrolment system is one of the best ways in which we can do this. An inter-departmental group, chaired by the Department of Social Protection, is developing the legislative, regulatory and administrative infrastructure required...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The evidence from other countries is that auto-enrolment is a very effective way of getting more workers to start providing for retirement pensions at an earlier age. There is very considerable merit in this system, but its introduction in 2014 will very much depend on the economic conditions at that stage. Younger people are often focused on acquiring a house and other commitments, such as...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: There are good models available and one of the best schemes that ever existed was the simple savings scheme with An Post. A person could basically save relatively small amounts of money for five years and get a return. This was dealt with in a very effective and comprehensive way. I acknowledge that An Post potentially would have a role to play in this, along with the NTMA. However, there...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The pensions industry is an important industry and employer in this country. It is a very important route for many people, providing for pensions through defined benefit and defined contribution schemes. The industry will continue to play an important role. That does not in any way prevent the existence of schemes being offered through State mechanisms such as the NTMA and An Post. We...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 39, 52, 58, 65 and 68 together. The challenges facing the Irish pension system are significant. There is an important and significant policy background to these changes which is that with increases in life expectancy, more people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. This has obvious implications for the future costs of State...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I do not know about the Deputy's experiences but I frequently meet older people who would like the right to work longer. Happily, as a society, we are all living longer. In terms of the contribution and commitment of this State, everybody in work paying taxation and PRSI is contributing extensively to pensions. Some 280,000 people are on contributory State pensions which cost €3.45...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The discussions currently with public sector workers are under the aegis of the Croke Park Agreement and unless I am mistaken, workers and their representatives were voluntary participants in the Croke Park Agreement discussions and the structure and nature of that agreement. The State is an important and a critical employer in this country and it should be involved in negotiations with...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Some people wish to work longer while some wish to retire earlier. There may be people who have no particular desire to work at all, although they would be few in number. We must provide a good system of pensions in retirement which, in particular, allow for the different types of lives people live. Women, for instance, often drop in and drop out of the labour force because they may take...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Deputy Collins referred to people who are 90 years of age. The proposal is that in 2014 the standard pension age would become 66 years. The only person aged 90 I saw recently who is actively working was pretty impressive and is probably a strong recommendation for people remaining very active, but active in a way that is appropriate to their physical condition, age and inclinations. The...