Results 33,041-33,060 of 34,832 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: As I understand it this provision relates to people who have an entitlement but wish to increase it. Also, will this affect women who had to leave the workforce for a period?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: So it will not affect anyone currently in receipt of a pension.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Okay. Thank you.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I concur with Deputy Murphy. We were told that this legislation was a year in the making between departmental officials and Attorney General's Office. As I mentioned earlier, it was only published on 3 April. We were told last week by the Minister during the Second Stage debate that it was her wish that this would not be proceeded with until she obtained a bankable commitment on the child...

Job Creation (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: In regard to the private trainers the Minister will involve in this process, I understand from some of the people in the industry that there will probably be a condition in those contracts that a certain percentage of people being trained end up in further education or in employment or there will be a penalty in regard to the payment to them if they do not achieve that. Will there be a...

Social Welfare Fraud (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Minister for her information and I am pleased by her confirmation that what is often referred to as a control saving as a result of fraud is not actually cash saved, but is instead a notional saving in a future year. Will the Minister identify some of the high risk areas in question? We discussed some of them this morning, including the 1,400 people at the ports and so on....

Social Welfare Fraud (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: That is NERA's job.

Social Welfare Appeals (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I understand that appeals take time. One of the main issues with which we deal in our constituency clinics is the amount of time it takes for an oral hearing especially when a medical report or additional medical information is required. Some time ago a report indicated that in approximately 50% of the cases going to the appeals office, something is granted by that office. In other words,...

Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister has actually given us the answer that most people wanted to know, even though she said officially there was no additional test. She has proved the point I wanted to make in the question by saying that in 2010 the percentage of disability allowance claims that were refused was 54%, in 2011 it was 58% and in the first three months of this year it has risen to 60%. The figure is...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I have a difficulty with the approach being taken by the Minister in this regard. The lender and the borrower are involved in a transaction and the taxpayers are also involved. The Minister must protect the taxpayers' money in this scheme. However, I note that people are getting into more financial difficulties because they may be unemployed. I note from the briefing note on this...

Community Employment Schemes (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the findings of the reviews she commissioned in relation to community employment schemes; the schemes that have been earmarked for closure and cuts in materials and training grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20721/12]

Community Employment Schemes (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I am disappointed with the Minister's response, primarily because of the lack of information in it. Essentially, she summarised where we have been over the last couple of months on this issue. I tabled this question because I wanted to receive some information. I understood we would receive this report at the end of March. The Minister has said that the assessment is nearing completion....

Job Creation (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress made in developing the Pathways to Work plan; if private contractors will be used; if any personnel training, personnel adjustments and redeployments are planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20722/12]

Job Creation (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister just about squeezed in the last little bit when she mentioned private contractors doing some of the work. Could she give us a little more detail on what is intended by this? Given the importance of addressing unemployment, is there not a case to be made for partly lifting the recruitment embargo in this area? The Minister stated approximately 9,000 people are to leave the...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: I understand the need for commencement dates, but will the Minister indicate which provisions she expects to commence in this calendar year? I do not need to know the day, week or month. Which will be commenced next year or the year after? The Minister has twice mentioned the issue of people from outside the State entering the country through ports and airports to claim social welfare to...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister might explain where the bulk of her concern lies. Obviously, she has a feel for the issue. Do these amendments relate to the major access points into the country used by people who abuse the system?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister spoke about the extensive powers of social welfare officers. We have heard reports of inter-agency operations and are familiar with checkpoints involving gardaí and Customs and Excise agents alongside social welfare inspectors who are there to determine whether individuals are claiming social welfare payments. Given that such inter-agency groups are operating successfully, why...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: They can work as part of inter-agency groups to investigate drivers on the side of a main road.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: Are these powers included in this Bill or are they separate?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister focused her comments on ports and airports. Will this measure increase the power of the social inspector on the street or road when a vehicle is being stopped?