Results 15,121-15,140 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: On 29 February 2012, there were 24,101 customers in receipt of the allowance in respect of 25,914 children. This compares to 23,596 customers who were in receipt of the allowance in respect of 25,243 children on 28 February 2011.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: The Chief Medical Advisor in my Department has been retained on a temporary contract beyond retirement on a salary scale of â¬83,887.30 â â¬102,152 p.a. His salary is abated to take account of his pension rate of payment. One of my civilian drivers is employed on a salary rate of â¬631.75 per week. He was previously employed by An Garda SÃochana and is in receipt of a Garda pension....
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Order for Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I move: "That Committee Stage be taken now." Question put and declared carried.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I do not propose to accept this amendment. I am informed by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel that the current Title of the Bill, that is, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012, is sufficient in regard to the various amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and the Pensions Act 1990 that are to be included. The various Committee Stage amendments that have been proposed...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, subsection (4), line 18, to delete "Section 3" and substitute "Sections 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 19". The purpose of this amendment is to provide that a number of the provisions I propose by way of Committee Stage amendments come into operation by way of commencement order. In addition, arising from the Committee Stage amendment which I propose to...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Ports as well.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: These provisions will be ready to go almost immediately, whereas other changes will take a number of months to implement. For example, the provision moving the social welfare week from a six-day week to a five-day week akin to the working week will be enacted in July. Regarding inspectors at ports and airports and inspectors questioning landlords, the critical aspect that I am trying to...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Social welfare inspectors do not have the necessary powers. This Bill gives them those powers.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Those powers may not be sufficient.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: They are included.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: The list includes ports, airports, landlords of rent supplement tenants and identity cards.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: In the office.
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: A number of Deputies asked about the mortgage interest supplement on which I will give some background. The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of their sole place of residence usually because they have lost their job. The supplement assists with the interest portion...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: Deputy Healy Rae spoke about the large volume of applications for social welfare supports, and a number of Deputies mentioned the issuing of the personal services card. The systems of the Department in a number of areas are currently being updated, as I mentioned in the House before in reply to parliamentary questions. I appreciate there has been a major increase in the volume of...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: If it is helpful to the Deputies I will outline the process, briefly. They may be aware there is a code of conduct on mortgage arrears. Those of the Deputies who may have attended the very good free legal aid centres, FLAC, conference on this issue recently, or people who have worked in debt settlement, will know one must get the lenders to engage. At present, we are paying more than â¬50...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: It has been agreed that the code of conduct on mortgage arrears applies to the mortgage arrears lending activities of all regulated entities except for credit unions. By and large, the credit unions have agreed to this but equally, by and large, they do not offer full mortgages. In fairness to them, however, they have been putting mechanisms in place. People tend to have loans with credit...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: We have a structure which has been developed. However, one knows from talking to people that there is still a belief there is not enough engagement by the lenders. The mortgage arrears resolution process is to help lenders. I refer in particular to the work done by people in the MABS offices. Obviously, the mortgage, the roof over people's heads, is the most important element and the...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: I reiterate that the code of conduct on mortgage arrears has been agreed with all lenders and with everyone licensed to lend, whether in this country or in other countries in the European Union. However, the contract is between the mortgage holder or borrower and the financial institution. The relationship of the Department of Social Protection is not with the banks but with the individual...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: The best way to do that is to have the mortgage arrears resolution process managed by MABS. As the Deputy probably knows, most banks now have dedicated desks and sections to deal with customers in debt difficulties. Some people seem to suggest that people should be able to walk into a social welfare office and get an arrangement, where the Department of Social Protection would simply pay...
- Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)
Joan Burton: It is regrettable that Deputy Fleming did not make those representations to the previous Government because I do not think it engaged at all. I refer to the Cooney report and various other reports and I do not recall very much happening at that time. Perhaps the Deputy was not engaged in this subject at the time and he has become more engaged since he changed over to being in opposition. A...