Results 2,981-3,000 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: With respect, there are other schemes for which people can apply. One of the conditions of jobseeker’s benefit is to be actively seeking work. We will help somebody actively seek work but that person must be actively engaged in seeking work.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: Can I confirm that we are taking all amendments Nos. 8 to 21, inclusive?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: I do not propose to accept the amendments because they relate to section 68J, which provides for activation measures to the new scheme of jobseeker’s benefit for the self-employed when a person refuses to engage. I advise Senator Higgins the language is precisely the same in the old legislation as in the new legislation and it has to apply to both the jobseeker’s allowance and...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: Words are important.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: The purpose of the legislation is not to be any different. Given the jobseeker's benefit and allowance that currently exists for employed people, it was my initiative to bring this forward for self-employed people, probably because of my background. It certainly is not to make it any different or distinct; it is to make it exactly the same. I will ask the Senator for a favour, and that is...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: If I am wrong, I will be happy to accept all her amendments with regard to any reasonable measure. There is no trick here, although the Senator probably does not believe me. The only justice for saying that is to think of the people I am trying to reach. They are the people who created not only their own job but, in the main in this country, tens of thousands of jobs for other people....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: I do not propose to accept the amendment. This is because it would change the requirement of persons presenting for a payment in a social welfare capacity, in respect of themselves or another person, to have identified themselves or authenticated their identity by using a public services card. The Data Protection Commission finds that there is an entirely robust and legal basis for the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: That is not true. The findings are not about the PSI dataset but about the supporting documentation people use to identify where they live.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: That is for other specified bodies and it has nothing to do with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: I beg to differ. I do not believe this is an appropriate time or place for me to go into this on the basis that I am to be before the Dáil tomorrow and the joint committee in the coming weeks. The findings do not relate to the data set in any shape or form. They do not even refer to it. They relate to the database of supporting documentation. The only discrepancy in the finding is...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: The provision will amend section 307 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. It will provide that, in all cases where an appeal is made against a social welfare decision made by an officer of the Criminal Assets Bureau, the appeal will have to be submitted to the Circuit Court. The chief appeals officer has discretionary powers under section 307 to certify that the ordinary appeals...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: I know exactly what the Senator is saying.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: That is fine.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: That is not a problem. The example given by the Senator is so far down the scale of what we are discussing as to be irrelevant. We are talking about people who are being charged with very serious criminal offences. The Department becomes involved when it stops somebody's payment on foot of such charges. The amendment is simply to protect the chief appeals officer whereby he or she will...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: It is only for individuals and has nothing to do with bogus or false self-employment. The financial element does not come into play. This is just a protective measure to ensure the safety of our staff, particularly from a personal perspective.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Senator is referring to legislation introduced long before my time, as I am a new Deputy. I will look at this issue and revert to him. If he is referring to a particular company or individual, I ask him to provide me with the details, which will provide a focus for me. I do not believe it was the intention of this House or the Dáil at the time to treat anybody differently. It may...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: I hear the Senator.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who look after certain people in need of care and attention on a full time basis. As of end of July 2019, there were 82,015 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. The projected expenditure on Carer's Allowance in 2019 is almost €840 million. A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance payment is that the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Living Wage (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: At 18th July, the number of staff in my Department on a wage less than €12.30 per hour is 1,185. All staff in my Department are on pre-determined salary scales negotiated and agreed at central level.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Data (24 Sep 2019)

Regina Doherty: Work is ongoing in my Department to tackle false self-employment across the economy. In that regard I am currently reallocating resources to this issue to understand, measure and quantify better the prevalence of false self-employment and obtain a sectoral analysis of its level of incidence. It is not possible to provide figures on money recouped on the sole basis of false...