Results 2,601-2,620 of 12,585 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Further Revised) (9 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: As another victim of the non-issuing of money messages, I also want to express my frustration. I am very glad that the Minister feels our frustration. There is another aspect to this. I take the Minister's point about issuing a money message but she said in her response that, in order for a money message to be issued, the Bill must have gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. Who decides...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Driver Test (9 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 250. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the public services card is required as proof of identity to sit the driver theory test; if an in date passport will suffice instead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47430/17]

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The foreign policy section of the programme for Government is grandly titled "Ireland and the world" and contains the following phrase: "we must articulate ourselves on the world stage, contribute to peace-building initiatives across the globe..." Did this statement trigger the recent proposed expedition to North Korea? Will the Taoiseach provide the House with an updated position on this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Eligibility (8 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 204. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when persons who are self-employed will be in a position to apply for an invalidity pension; if the contribution rule has been determined; her plans to provide the option of partial capacity benefit for self-employed persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47166/17]

Other Questions: Working Family Payment (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 65. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason she no longer plans on introducing a new working family payment, as committed to in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46857/17]

Other Questions: Working Family Payment (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I am not absolutely clear as to what the Minister is saying. Is she saying she is going to allow FIS to remain in place and supplement it with the working family payment, or that she is going to have a working family payment which includes the measures which we know as FIS currently? Does she accept that her party's general election manifesto pointed out that FIS can be very inflexible and...

Other Questions: Citizen Information Services (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 61. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the Citizens Information Board's refusal to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection to discuss the reorganisation of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS and the Citizen Information Service, CIS and the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the...

Other Questions: Citizen Information Services (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The question is self-explanatory. I am seeking the Minister's views on the refusal by the Citizens Information Board, CIB, to attend a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection to discuss the reorganisation of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS and the Citizen's Information Service, CIS.

Other Questions: Citizen Information Services (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: The consultant's report is very important. I have read it and I am sure all of my committee colleagues have read it too. There are a number of questions arising from it and I believe that the CIB should be prepared to come before the committee and engage on them, in fairness. There is a massive reorganisation going on. What the Minister says is true in that the Joint Oireachtas Committee...

Other Questions: Legislative Programme (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 60. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the heads of the Bill regarding protection for persons on insecure low hour contracts will be published; when the Bill will be introduced on Second Stage in Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46855/17]

Other Questions: Legislative Programme (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: It is the Government's stated intention to introduce the legislation referred to in the question before the Christmas break. I merely want to know if it is on target.

Other Questions: Legislative Programme (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: As the Minister will be aware, my party supports such a measure which we had inserted into and enshrined the confidence and supply agreement which is now 18 months old. We support it because of the increased casualisation of labour and the resulting insecurity. Naturally, we are concerned to progress it as quickly as possible. I, therefore, ask the Minister to make every effort possible to...

Other Questions: Legislative Programme (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the Minister's enormous workload and know that she is well up for it. We have every confidence in her to bring the Bill before the House this side of Christmas. When does she envisage the Social Welfare Bill being published?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: 51. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the report she has asked her Department to prepare on the post-2012 contributory pension band rates is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46919/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: This question relates to the recent motion, passed unanimously by the House, on changing the pension contribution rules introduced in 2012. The Minister will recall that in her counter-motion, she made certain commitments, namely, that she would examine the problem, ask her Department to study it and get back to her, and then report to the Cabinet. Has that process started? If so, at what...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I am happy with the Minister's reply. I am glad she has moved so quickly to meet her commitment and that the study has been done. I am glad she is almost in a position to make a report to the Cabinet. Can she confirm to me again, for the record, that it is her intention to do something about this issue in the short term and that we will not be waiting until next year's budget?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I am glad the Minister has not closed her mind to the possibility of doing something in advance of the next budget. The Minister referred to the total contributions system the Government is preparing to introduce. Is she aware of a report by KPMG, produced at the instance of the Department, that a total contributions system would mean even fewer people, women in particular, would get at...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: How did KPMG come to its conclusion?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Departmental Agencies Reports (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: Nobody agrees with that apart from paid consultants.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Departmental Agencies Reports (7 Nov 2017)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for her response. My recollection is that when we discussed this matter with the Minister at the committee, she confirmed that the board had signed off on the report. I am open to correction, but the information available to me is that when the final report was produced, the consultants had not engaged with anyone other than the executive of the board. It is also my...