Results 10,941-10,960 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Indecon Reports on Job Clubs and Local Employment Services: Discussion (2 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: I welcome the witnesses to the meeting and thank them for their attendance. This committee was delighted to be able to facilitate the ILDN and SIPTU, both of which have made excellent, compelling and comprehensive presentations today. I congratulate them on that. I have a number of general questions. Mr. Coffey mentioned in his submission that SIPTU had a meeting with departmental...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: The Government's summer legislative programme contains a commitment to introduce a patient safety Bill. Is the Taoiseach aware that 81 people were languishing on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick this morning? There were 52 people on trolleys in the emergency department and 29 people on trolleys elsewhere. I am raising this question in the context of last week's closure of a 17-bed...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: There are no beds in it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: It was very entertaining.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: 1. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the total contributions approach to calculating entitlement to the contributory pension will come into effect in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15534/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: This relates to the Government's announcement of a new system for calculating people's entitlement to contributory old age pension, namely, the total contributions approach. The Government gave the impression that this system would be in place from 2020. Is that still the position? If that is the Government's intention, when will we see the legislation providing for it?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: From the Minister's reply, I take it there is no guarantee that it will come into effect in 2020. As a result of the consultation, the necessity for legislation, Cabinet agreement etc., it may not kick in until later than 2020. I want to ask the Minister about one or two technical aspects of the proposal. I know it is in the course of preparation and the Minister mentioned a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: I appreciate the Government's ambition for 2020 but I am getting constant queries, as, I am sure, are other Members, from constituents as to when the new system will be put in place. I cannot tell them definitively, on the basis of the Minister's reply, that it will be next year, but that is the Government's ambition. Did the Department receive submissions in the consultation process...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: 3. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for community employment schemes; her further plans to address pension entitlements for supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15535/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: This question relates to the Government's recent announcement that it intends to change the focus of community employment schemes from activation to the social aspect. The Minister has informed us that she has set up an interdepartmental committee to consider how that should be done. I am trying to ascertain if this committee has met yet. How long will it be before we can expect proposals...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: I will get on to the CE supervisors in a moment but first I will address the Minister's reply. My reading of the Department's statement was that the situation had changed with regard to community employment schemes. Originally their primary purpose was labour activation. Now that we are down to nearly 5% unemployment, it is recognised that there is a tremendous social aspect to these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: On the CE supervisors, the Minister will be aware of the Labour Court recommendation, which is now 11 or 12 years old, that indicates that community employment supervisors should be paid pensions. There is also a Dáil motion that was passed by a majority of two to one in this House. The initial explanation from the Government for the delay in implementing the will of the Dáil was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: So the answer from the Minister is "No".

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: It is a separate issue. Why does the Minister not respond to the question?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: I have asked the Department four or five times and have had no response-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: It is an absolute disgrace.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: It is an absolute disgrace.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: 26. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address issues in relation to bogus self-employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15529/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: Two issues have been raised, the first of which is how significant a problem this is and whether the numbers are increasing, stable or decreasing. I could argue with the Minister's contention in respect of the numbers but Deputy Bríd Smith has done that. It is currently a significant problem and it is growing. If anything, the evolution of the gig economy will only facilitate the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pensions Reform (4 Apr 2019)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister said the Strawman proposals are not conclusive, which I accept. However, I notice Strawman does not advert at all to the possibility that the pension will be delivered other than by one of a small group of companies in the private sector. Strawman does not accept the possibility that it will be delivered through a public body.