Results 18,881-18,900 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Our pensioners still recall the loss of the Christmas bonus under Fianna Fáil.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy O'Dea will be familiar with what occurred at that time.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: When that cut was made, Deputy O'Dea was very hurt by it. Deputies on all sides put forward strong views on the budget. It is difficult to take any income away from people, particularly those who are completely reliant on social welfare payments. Naturally, I am very sympathetic to all of those who are struggling in very difficult circumstances. However, the fact remains that cuts must...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Bill contains proposals to recover moneys that can go towards payments that are due not just to the social welfare system but also to pensioners and carers.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Up to now, we have only been able to recover €2 per week from people. There has been a great deal of debate in respect of carers, those on disability allowance and jobseeker's benefit and pensioners. Recovering €2 per week from somebody who has been defrauding the social welfare system is simply not good enough for our pensioners. I do not understand Sinn Féin's logic in...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputy McDonald and others in Sinn Féin have been very vociferous in attacking the Labour Party. They have a long history of complex involvement in civil strife and insurrection. Labour is a social democratic party. This means that we cleave to the parliamentary, democratic way.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Those in Sinn Féin may not always have followed that particular route but I welcome the fact that they are going to follow it now.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: However, they are ill placed to criticise any of the democratic parties in Dáil Éireann.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Yes, really.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Those parties have stood by the Republic down through the years and have pursued policies of non-violence. We will not discuss the matter any further. However, Deputy McDonald is not entitled to hold out-----

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: -----an explanation in favour of complex situations of inter-community violence. We do not have time to discuss this matter in detail but, as a social democrat, I have always believed in the ballot box. I will not apologise to those in Sinn Féin for that. I am sure the other Deputies in the House are also of the view that they do not need to apologise to Sinn Féin. Deputy...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I do not propose to accept these amendments. I am informed by the office of the Parliamentary Counsel that the Title, namely, the Social Welfare Bill 2012, is sufficient in terms of the various provisions therein. The proposed amendments, including those in the name of Deputy Ó Snodaigh, are also covered by the Title. In the circumstances, there is no need to include a reference to...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: My apologies; I was a bit confused. I thought the Deputy was raising a substantive amendment.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: He can also oppose the section. It is a decision of the Ceann Comhairle's office.

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Deputies Halligan and Ó Snodaigh share a common concern about preventing people from getting into arrears and debt. The allocation to the Citizens' Information Board, including MABS, has increased by over €1 million for 2013 from €45.7 million to €46.8 million. I concur with Deputy Halligan about the valuable services that MABS supplies, including its assistance in...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 3:In page 3, subsection (4), line 17, to delete “Section 13” and substitute “Sections 13, 15, 16 and 17"Section 1(4) of the Bill as published provides that the measures contained in section 13 relating to the recovery of overpayments by deduction from weekly social welfare payments will be brought into effect by way of a commencement order. It is my...

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: With regard to the situation in respect of lone parents, we had very detailed discussions on this last year. One of the most important reforms to the social welfare system is the effort to create a situation where lone parents here move to a situation that exists in most other European countries and also the North, where their exclusive status as lone parents ends as the child reaches...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Insolvency Payments Scheme Applications (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: A claim under the insolvency payment scheme was submitted on line on behalf of the person concerned on 25 October 2012 in respect of arrears of holiday pay and minimum notice. The Department is currently processing on line claims received in June 2012. Every effort is being made to process claims as quickly as possible but, unfortunately, it is likely to be a number of months before the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Applications for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) were received from the person concerned in respect of two children on the 17th August 2012. These applications were referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found that the children were not medically eligible for DCA. Letters issued on the 3rd October 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Applications (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. FIS claims, both new and renewal, received on or after the 5th November 2012 are currently being processed on receipt. An in-depth business process improvement (BPI) project has recently...