Results 21,641-21,660 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: I believe they have heard of it.

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

Joan Burton: There was no budget.

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...

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

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 111 together. In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare last year, which has been asked to recommend cost-effective solutions as to how employment incentives can be improved and better poverty outcomes achieved, particularly child poverty outcomes. The Advisory Group...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Arrears (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was established to provide the necessary supports to assist people in mortgage distress. The approach differentiates between mortgage information and mortgage advice. The first two elements involve the enhancement of the website and the establishment of a Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline within the Citizens Information Board (CIB),...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 3 June 2011. The medical evidence supplied with her claim was referred to one of the department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion, based on the information supplied, that the person was not medically suitable for disability allowance. The deciding officer accepted this opinion and the claim was refused and the person...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: It is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. The details requested are currently being compiled and a response will be issued directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Services (12 Dec 2012)

Joan Burton: The Government had to make very difficult decisions in the course of Budget 2013. In order to protect core weekly payments which people receive such as pensions, disability and carer’s allowance we had to look very carefully at other additional payments such as the respite care grant. The respite care grant is paid to approximately 70,000 people each year, with some 5,000 people in...