Results 21,441-21,460 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: That is not the way to provide for the economic-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I do not believe that I am holding any script in my hand.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I am not holding any script because I believe strongly in the social insurance principle. I have said to the Senator, and it may be news to Sinn Féin, that all the parties in this House down the years have supported the creation of a strong pension framework for older people which comprises two parts from the point of view of the social welfare system, a social insurance-based contributory...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Regarding Senator Cullinane's remarks on section 3, it is one of the charms of being in the Seanad that there are opportunities for erudition which are not often available in the Dáil. It is very welcome to be part of this very detailed debate on these points. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance provides a one-off payment to eligible families. It is not intended to meet the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I am replying to a Senator.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Senator Cullinane made statements which failed to reflect the full extent of the social welfare payments made in respect of children. It is important in a fair debate for the Senator to acknowledge the ingredients of the ¤20.2 billion which is paid by taxpayers to those on social welfare.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is an important support. I am happy to have provided in the budget for additional funds for hot-meal services in schools which are very important. I admit to have taken funds from direct cash payments to provide for services to children in school. The underlying issue in the debate on social welfare is the correct balance between cash...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I do not have the figures immediately to hand but the Senator may be aware that it has been a departmental policy for the past number of years that where the level of the abuse or fraud is material, that is above a figure of, say, ¤20,000 or so, prosecutions will be made and prosecutions are taking place. The media in general report on such cases. Once a decision is made to proceed with...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: To be helpful to Senator Bacik, the various provisions contained in the Bill will come into effect in a number of ways. Certain sections require or specify a date on which the provisions of that section come into operation. For example, section 10, which relates to the minimum contribution payable by self-employed contributors, specifies that this measure will take place from 1 January...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Senator Cullinane obviously referred to it in his contribution. I am making the advice I have available to the Senator as to why I will not accept this amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Oireachtas social protection committee decides its own agenda. It is the committee's prerogative to discuss social welfare amnesties or overpayment recovery. I suggest the Sinn Féin members of the committee bring their proposal to the Chair of the committee and, in time-honoured fashion, it will be addressed.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Senator's amendment referred to committees of the Dáil. Every year the Comptroller and Auditor General publishes the amounts of money outstanding to the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners which he, along with the Committee of Public Accounts, would like to see recovered. This is a perfectly understandable part of public administrative policy. ...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I do not propose to accept these amendments. The normal cycle of social welfare legislation involves the enactment of at least two social welfare Bills per year. One Bill is enacted in December each year to give effect to the various social welfare budget measures which are due to take effect from early in the following year. A second Bill is enacted around spring or early summer to give...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I have never heard a serious Sinn Féin explanation of why or for whom-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: Are there people we are not aware of who are in need of a social welfare amnesty? There is ¤350 million in repayments owed to the Department of Social Protection going back quite a number of years. I presume the amnesty Sinn Féin wants is the strong suggestion that we should not collect that money-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: To be helpful to the House, the point I am making is that, from time immemorial, the Title of the winter social welfare Bill is the "Social Welfare Bill" because it is the one that deals with the budget. It does not take in a whole range of miscellaneous titles. The Senator expanded for a time on wanting to include in that discussion of "Miscellaneous" a broader perspective in regard to his...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 7th November 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Application Numbers (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I acknowledge that the time taken to process carer’s allowance claims at present is not satisfactory but I am satisfied that the Department is taking appropriate action to resolve the situation. A programme of backlog elimination is underway in carer’s allowance section where a number of measures have been implemented to improve processing times. Following the completion of a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Application Numbers (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance for anyone in the State who satisfies a habitual residency condition and a means test, has registered for employment, unless they have a physical or mental disability, and can prove unemployment, or anyone who is awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare or...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (19 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 6th December 2012, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...