Results 2,161-2,180 of 12,619 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Does the Minister agree that less than 10% of the money "lost" by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is a result of deliberate fraud?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I take it the Minister agrees with my contention that less than 10% of the money lost by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection relates to deliberate fraud. I think the figure is €40 million as opposed to several hundred million euro, which is lost as a result of errors on the part of the Department itself or of genuine mistakes on the part of individuals. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I know that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: We cannot have people saying that fraud amounts to €500 million. We all know who said that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Is the Minister suggesting that they will stop because there is a list?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 38. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to publish the names of those who have been convicted of committing welfare fraud in excess of €5,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26411/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: As the Minister is aware, there was a great deal of opposition to the proposal first announced by her predecessor to publish the names of people who had been convicted of welfare fraud. She will also be aware that there is a section which provides for this in the famous Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017, Committee Stage of which we are still awaiting. I want to find...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason under the total contributions approach to pensions that is due to replace the current averaging approach, the baseline for qualification is forty years despite previous indications that it would be 30 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26410/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I tabled this question to elicit some clarification on the Government's proposed total contributions system for contributory old age pensions. A baseline of 30 years was discussed initially but the recently published Government paper refers to a baseline of 40 years. I understand from some comments made by the Minister at a committee meeting that the matter has not yet been finalised. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It is reassuring that the final determination has not yet been made on whether the baseline will be 30 or 40 years. In view of the fact that the self-employed only started making pension contributions in 1988, no self-employed person will qualify for the full pension in the year in which the new system kicks in. Does the Minister accept that such a scenario would be unfair? The Minister...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I simply made the point that a 40-year baseline would discriminate against the self-employed who only joined the contributory pensions system in 1988, as the Minister correctly noted. I have another question on an issue about which I and other Deputies are receiving queries. The first hurdle to overcome before qualifying for a contributory old age pension is to have 520 paid contributions....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: They are only used in calculating the amount of a pension.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Benefit Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Can I take it that the Mangan report is effectively a dead letter now? Does the Minister have plans to make further changes? I am not referring to increases, but to structural reforms in the child benefit system. For example, one of the suggestions in the Mangan report was for larger amounts to be paid to lower income families. However, I recognise that this would be a form of means testing.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Benefit Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 34. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address her recent comments on child benefit; her plans generally for this universal payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26409/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Benefit Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: My question concerns recent comments made by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, that she was prepared to look at the question of child benefit payable to people on salaries of more than €100,000 per annum. When the Minister says she will look at something, I presume she means that she will either means-test it or tax it. I have tabled...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Benefit Reform (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for making the position crystal clear so now we all know exactly where we stand. Would she agree with me that the universality of child benefit stems from the fact that we are talking about horizontal equity? In other words, resources are taken from people without children and given to those with them because the latter obviously have more expenses. Any means-testing or...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Boyd Barrett did not get an answer to his question on cannabis.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 52. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the back to school clothing and footwear allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26407/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 63. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address issues in relation to defined benefit pensions; if her plans will deal with the situation being currently experienced by workers in a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26404/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment (19 Jun 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 64. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the severe poverty and deprivation being experienced by lone parent households, particularly in the context of budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26406/18]