Results 3,201-3,220 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Order of Business (9 May 2017)

John Curran: The programme for Government features a section entitled "Giving Vulnerable Young People the Best Chance in Life" which states, "The new Partnership Government has an opportunity to change our approach from expensive reactive interventions to proactive supports". It notes that prevention "will also help to alleviate pressure on our vital public services". Underpinning this, the document...

Order of Business (9 May 2017)

John Curran: We are waiting for those.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (9 May 2017)

John Curran: 213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will approve the sale of an old school building (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will investigate this delay and take the necessary steps to ensure approval is forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21850/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (9 May 2017)

John Curran: 366. To ask the Minister for Health if provision has been made for improvements to a health centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21463/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Business of Joint Committee (4 May 2017)

John Curran: As we have a quorum we will meet in public session. Apologies have been received from Deputy Maria Bailey. Everyone is welcome to the meeting of the Joint Committee on Social Protection. I ask members if they could fully turn off their phones or to put them on flight mode as the phones interfere not only with the meeting itself but also its recording. I propose we go into private...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: We are joined by Mr. Justin Moran, head of advocacy and communications for Age Action and Mr. Gerard Scully, senior information officer of Age Action. Members have been circulated with the opening statement as well as a document entitled Towards a Fairer State Pension for Women Pensioners which was originally submitted by Age Action in February. I ask the witnesses to make their opening...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: I thank Mr. Moran for his statement. Colleagues will ask a number of questions, which I will take collectively before reverting to Mr. Moran.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: I would like to put a few points to Mr. Moran and Mr. Scully. I thank them for their attendance at this meeting and for their submissions. Mr. Moran said in his opening statement that "in the October budget, Age Action is asking the committee to support two specific proposals". I assure him that as this committee addresses the pensions issue, it intends to draw up a report with proposals...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: I would like some clarification on that point. If that were changed in budget 2018, without compensating for the missed years, the cost going forward would be an additional €10 million per annum? Is that what Mr. Moran is saying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: A sum of €10 million would have to be provided in the 2018 budget to allow for those bands to be reinstated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: I want to follow up one or two points with Mr. Moran. He attributed a comment to the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, that in moving to a total contribution basis there would be winners and losers. As I said to him at the time, that is assuming the pot is exactly the same. Mr. Moran has already made that assumption. As regards moving from the annual averaging system, and notwithstanding that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: Anyone else?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: I wish to make the following comment for Mr. Moran's information and that of the committee, and to follow on from a point made by Deputy O'Dea about total contributions. If a person worked 52 weeks a year for 40 years, he or she would have made about 2,000 contributions. Recently I asked the Department for a breakdown on how many people in receipt of a pension had made total payments of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: In terms of voluntary contributions that people can buy and pay for, typically that category of worker would have been self-employed. What happens if he or she falls out of the scheme? Is there scope to expand the scheme of voluntary contributions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: Yes, that is what I asked. Either of the witnesses or both of them can answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: I am sorry for interrupting the witness. It is not easy to get into voluntary contributions. Not everybody can pay them. One has to come from a-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: Yes. Is there scope for the voluntary contribution to be expanded beyond the limited groupings of people it currently applied to? Should that area be explored? Its cost doubled in recent years from somewhere between €200 and €300 to €500 per year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: Deputy Mitchell should take a note of that point because the committee will be concluding with a written report and, in terms of the committee's conclusions and recommendations, such issues would merit consideration.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: Deputy O'Dea's point is well made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pension Provision: Age Action (4 May 2017)

John Curran: I thank members for their contributions. I thanks Mr. Moran and Mr. Scully for their attendance and the frankness of their answers. The opening statement will be published on the website and the evidence given today will form part of a report on this issue which it is hoped will have some impact on budget 2018.