Results 21,061-21,080 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department. There have been no appointments to any of the above statutory bodies since 22 November 2010 to date.

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department. The Social Welfare Tribunal There are no new appointments to the Social Welfare Tribunal scheduled for the period 14 December 2010 to 28 February 2011. The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The person concerned was refused jobseeker's allowance on the grounds that she does not satisfy the habitual residence condition. She was advised of this decision and of her right of appeal.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The information which formed the basis of the means assessment for fuel allowance in this case was taken from the claimant's income from employment for 2009. As the Department has no evidence of cessation of the claimant's employment, and he did not indicate cessation of his employment in his claim form, income for 2010 was taken to be the same as that for 2009, for the purposes of the means...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Payment of disability allowance, to the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer following an assessment by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for disability allowance. An appeal was opened and in the context of that appeal, her case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor who also expressed the opinion that she was...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on behalf of the Department. Neither I nor my Department has any input into individual decisions. The HSE has advised that the person concerned was refused a rent supplement on the grounds that his rent was in excess of the limit prescribed for his family circumstances. The HSE has further advised...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is the Department's policy to seek recovery of overpayments as soon as possible. In determining the appropriate rate of recovery of overpayments, the department considers all relevant facts or circumstances including how the overpayment occurred and a person's ability to repay. The department may withhold any arrears due to a customer including arrears due from another scheme or claim....

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In 2011, self-employed workers will be liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% - the same personal rate as is paid by ordinary employees. However, employers also make a PRSI contribution of 10.75% in respect of their employees, resulting in the payment of a combined 14.75% rate per employee under full-rate PRSI Class A. As a result, ordinary employees can build entitlement towards the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 June 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received back in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 10...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As I stated on Committee Stage, I believe there must be rolling reform of the rent supplement scheme and I have been involved in this since I came into this Department. I do not have a particular objection to the Deputy's proposal in respect of the tax clearance certificate and it should be considered in the ongoing review. However, it does not actually deal with the problem because if one...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Questions have been asked that are not relevant to the amendment. There will be no benefit to judges or public representatives. Sovereign bonds are issued by the Government and are perfectly safe. The Government has been at pains to state that there is no circumstance under which we will renege on sovereign debt. That is the right policy because that certainty allows us to do things such...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yes, but there is nothing to stop anyone buying them.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is the whole attraction.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I understand that would not be legal under EU competition law.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is exactly what we are changing. Until now, there was not the same attraction in buying Irish bonds.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Irish pension funds can buy non-Irish bonds.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I think it will. It is up to the industry to avail of the scheme once we bring it in. One could buy blended bonds, for example, which are a mixture. Many products could be made available. It seems to be to be a no-brainer that people should be encouraged to buy Irish bonds. The money stays in the country, there is a better return and pension funds become more solvent. Adjustments will be...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As the law is written there is no gain.