Results 2,201-2,220 of 12,619 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Payments (29 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 622. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears will issue to a person (details supplied) in relation to a carer's allowance claim in payment since March 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23686/18]

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I second that.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: There is a specific commitment in the programme for Government to "introduce a uniform homecare service so all recipients can receive a quality support, 7 days per week". As Deputy Curran said, it is meaningless to say, as the programme for Government does, that the Government is going to increase the funding every year because the numbers are running ahead of the funding and the situation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (23 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 171. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to remove the immunity from prosecution provided to the EPA in section 15 of the EPA Act of 1992, as was recommended by the Ombudsman in 2011; his views on whether one of the key weaknesses in the operations of the EPA is its immunity from prosecution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No 1: In page 5, line 22, after “provisions” to insert “but not later than 12 months after the passage of this legislation by both Houses of the Oireachtas”. Section 1(2) says "This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order". We have been waiting a long time for this legislation to materialise....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I suggested that the legislation be enacted in no more than 12 months as an absolute outside limit. We want it to be operational within 12 months at the very latest. I take on board the points made, and I would be prepared to change it to six months at Report Stage. I am sure we could find a wording to accommodate the objection of the Minister. I am thinking out loud, but perhaps the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Do we have to pass the amendment to bring it back at Report Stage?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: In that case I will withdraw the amendment on the basis that I will bring it back at Report Stage with appropriate wording and providing for a six month limit.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I strongly support this amendment. I was minded to put down a similar amendment myself but saw that Deputy Penrose had put this down already. There are two ways to do this, the way that Deputy Penrose has proposed and perhaps a statutory instrument to set out exactly what casual work is and the instances where casual work occurs. I take the point that it is a charge on the Exchequer and...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I welcome this amendment as, for the first time, it enables witness summonses to be issued. However, it demonstrates the ludicrous position that this committee is in. It is a valuable amendment and a necessary addition to the law but if the Opposition had proposed that amendment it would have to be withdrawn on the basis that it is a charge on the Exchequer. We will have to re-examine this...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: As the Minister will be aware, an EU directive in this area covers such matters. What does that oblige us to do in this regard? I accept that five core terms are now being provided within the first five days instead of two months as was the case heretofore. What will the EU directive compel us to do?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I apologise for interrupting the Minister. Some of her officials appeared before the joint committee recently and they speculated as to what would happen on many matters. We did not discuss this particular part.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Smith's proposal is not unreasonable. It is quite reasonable that a person should get their contract on their first day in the job. I know of very few cases where people are told they are starting immediately or the following day. There is time to put this together. If Deputy Smith introduces an amendment on Report Stage, we will support it.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I know that the amendments have been ruled out of order, but I wish to make an observation in passing. Everybody agrees that the correct thing to do is to totally eliminate zero hour and if and when contracts which have been a means of engaging in huge exploitation, some of which I have witnessed. The way to eliminate them is to provide for a guaranteed minimum of three hours' work per...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “ “6B.(1)The Minister may, draw up, amend or revoke, in relation to determining the employment or self-employment status of an individual, one or more than one, codes of practice for determining said status. (2) The Minister shall, within six months of the commencement of the Employment...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I take the point that every case depends on its own facts. Of course it does, that is why we have an objective to measure facts against. I also know that many people want to be self-employed. We are not worried about such people, however, we are concerned with those who do not want to be self-employed but who, against their wishes, are designated as being self-employed. I take Deputy...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I oppose the section because it provides that if the employer, for whatever reason, fails to provide a statement of core conditions on time, which we all accept is very important, he or she will be guilty of a criminal offence with the possibility of a class A fine or a term of imprisonment. Looking at this as objectively as I can, while taking the point the Minister made earlier about a...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It is a bit ironic that we are compelled to sign up to section 9 because the Minister is steadfastly refusing to introduce, on her own initiative, reasonable amendments that will strengthen the Bill. We cannot put forward such amendments because we have been ruled out of order. We are in a position where we have no option but to accept section 9 as it stands.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I am subject to correction but it is my understanding that if we vote against section 9 today, the Minister can reintroduce it as an amendment on Report Stage. Does that give us time to submit appropriate amendments to the amended section?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 May 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It depends on when the amendments are published but it will be a very short timescale.