Results 29,961-29,980 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The reduction of employer's PRSI on those earning €356 or less a week was a commitment in the programme for Government. While it is important to create new jobs, it is also important to maintain existing jobs. This reduction in employer's PRSI, which will last until the end of 2013, applies to existing and new jobs. Everyone knows from the economic collapse the difficulties in getting...

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The need for reform of the joint labour committee system was clearly signalled in the programme for Government. A very detailed report, the independent review of employment regulation orders and registered employment agreement wage-setting mechanisms, setting out a reform mechanism was finalised in April of this year and circulated to members of the Government in the usual way. The relevant...

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The need for reform of the joint labour committee system was clearly signalled in the programme for Government. Mr. Kevin Duffy of the Labour Court and Mr. Walsh have produced a very detailed report setting out a reform mechanism. The relevant stakeholders, the employers and trade unions, are now participating in a consultation process on the report initiated by the Minister for Jobs,...

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The consultation process has not been completed yet. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to complete a poverty impact assessment on the proposals because we do not yet have those proposals. When we get those proposals the social inclusion division of my Department will carry out such an assessment. I do no have a date for the Deputy and I must wait and see what proposals are...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The challenges facing the Irish pension system are significant. The population share of those aged 65 and over is expected to more than double between now and 2050, from 11% to 26%. People are living longer and healthier lives with average life expectancy set to rise even further in the future, up to 88 years for women and 83.9 for men. In contrast, the share of the working age population...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The most important objective pertaining to older people and fuel property is to provide a much better standard of insulation for homes, both to reduce and prevent heat loss and to improve the comfort and standard of housing. As we know, many older people live in older properties. The inter-departmental-agency group has been asked to draw up an energy-affordability strategy. This strategy...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I said we need to examine this holistically. The critical issue for many who are dependent on the fuel allowance is to improve heat retention in their houses. I refer to problems such as dampness. The inter-departmental-agency group is drawing up an energy-affordability strategy. The heating allowance, while incredibly important to people, is not the only provision we should be examining....

Departmental Programmes (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Tús is a community work placement initiative which will provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Some €30 million has been provided in the Department's Estimates in 2011 to fund the roll-out of the initiative. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na...

Departmental Programmes (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I appreciate the Deputy's concern that people working in care need to be trained. People working in care generally or community organisations that deal with children or vulnerable adults must be vetted by the Garda. The Tús scheme was designed by the former Minister for Social Protection as a kind of urban copy of the rural social scheme. Many Deputies will be aware of the latter, which...

Departmental Programmes (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The important strategy is to provide people with options and opportunities. I would be distressed to find a younger person in their early 20s drifting onto social welfare as a permanent condition of their life. I am aware, as is everybody, of the huge drop in employment opportunities recently and most people are looking for work but if somebody on social welfare is drifting into long-term...

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: As I have just told the House in answer to the previous question, the Government is committed to tackling Ireland's economic crisis in a way that is fair, balanced and which recognises the need for social solidarity. The appropriate level of overall expenditure by my Department will be considered in the context of budget 2012 and subsequent budgets. This consideration will be informed by...

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The commitment in the programme for Government is in regard to welfare rates but the commitment is also to reform and to a comprehensive expenditure review. We had a discussion earlier on Tús and other programmes and options that are available to get people back to education, training and work experience. Part of the reforms I hope to see in the Department is to ensure that younger people...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I thank the Deputy for the amendment. However, for reasons I will explain, the definition being proposed is not required in the Bill and, therefore, I do not propose to accept it. While previous Social Welfare Acts have contained a definition of "the Minister" for the purposes of those Acts, it has not been considered necessary by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to include such a...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, line 36, to delete "1 July 2011" and substitute "2 July 2011". These are minor amendments to sections 3 and 23 of the Bill to align the commencement dates applying to the overall provisions of each of these sections with the date given in the table accompanying each section. The main provisions contained in section 3 provide for a halving of the lower rate...

Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a ghabháil ar son Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre do mhuintir agus do chlann Brian Lenihan. On behalf of the Labour Party, I offer my sincere condolences to Brian's family: his wife, Patricia; his children, Tom and Clare; his mother, Mrs. Ann Lenihan; his brothers, Conor, Niall and Paul; his sister, Anita; and his indefatigable aunt, Mary O'Rourke, a former colleague...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: Through FÁS Employment Services, responsibility for which has been transferred to my Department, a fully integrated nationwide range of services and supports is available to Employers and Jobseekers. Employers Employers can access a wide range of Jobseekers by using FÁS Employment Services. FÁS Jobs Ireland provides a service for employers who wish to register with FÁS and advertise job...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: The Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) is one of a range of activation supports and policies with the objective of assisting social welfare recipients to improve their life chances by facilitating access to self employment, work experience, education and training. The STEA is designed to provide immediate support for a person who qualifies for Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) and who wishes to...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 to 116, inclusive, together. On 1 January 2011, my Department assumed responsibility for making redundancy payments from the Social Insurance Fund. There are two types of redundancy payment made from the fund i.e. rebates to those employers who have paid statutory redundancy to eligible employees and statutory lump sums to employees whose employers are...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of an oral hearing. The person concerned has been notified of the decision. However, the file was returned to the Appeals Officer by the Department with a query in relation to the Appeals Officer's decision. The Appeals...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Burton: In 2010, just over 550,000 people were members of a defined benefit schemes. In the same period, almost 260,000 people were members of defined contribution schemes. At the end of 2010 there were over 187,000 Personal Retirement Savings Account contracts in force, which represents an increase of 16,252 contracts over 2009. The most recent coverage figures available from the Central...