Results 3,661-3,680 of 12,585 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Order of Business (25 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: That is something that is also in the book.

Tributes to Retiring Member of Staff (25 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: Not in the Labour Party.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (24 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 109. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current number of participants in the JobBridge and community employment schemes, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41296/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (24 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 142. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the policy that persons in receipt of a jobseeker's benefit have their claim frozen if they go on JobBridge, meaning that if they had one day left on their claim, they would not be assessed during the nine month internship and would still have that one day left at the end of the internship, regardless of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (24 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension and non-contributory pension in Limerick city and county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41763/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (24 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 323. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel in the Limerick Garda Síochána Division in each of the years 2011 to 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41521/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (24 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: 400. To ask the Minister for Health the number of medical cards in circulation in the Limerick health area on 1 November 2014 and on 1 November 2015, in tabular form; the number of these that were issued, on a discretionary basis; to persons over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41523/15]

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I think the Minister is suffering from flights of fancy. I do not scoff at people getting extra opportunities, whether they be in Limerick or elsewhere. However, is there not something slightly artificial about a Minister for Education and Skills, in the dying days of a Government which is about to go out of office in seven or eight weeks, announcing billions of euro for schools? We have...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: -----if we did not recall the posters from one end of the country to the other, stating, " Vote Labour - No cuts in child benefit", and if we did not have the spectacle of the Labour spokesman on education going in front of the television cameras and signing a pledge that there would be no increase in student registration fees. Labour did not tell the truth then. There is no reason to...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister says that the trustees, when making a decision, are legally obliged to carry out a comprehensive review. If I go to a court in this country to seek a decision, be it the Circuit Court or High Court, the court is obliged to consider my case comprehensively and examine all aspects of it, and I can still appeal. Why should the trustees have the final word here? The Minister says...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I welcome the fact that there has been some improvement and that there are more people at work. I am sure the public does too and that it will express its huge gratitude to the Labour Party at the election.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 16:In page 16, after line 35, to insert the following: “26 The Pensions Act 1990 is amended by inserting a new section 48A as follows:“48A.An appeals mechanism for pension scheme members shall be put in place where trustees have decided upon reduced benefits for members, and such appeals mechanism shall ensure that any category of such pension scheme...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: It is true that technically it is the trustees who decide on the closure of a defined pension scheme. However, let us live in the real world. They do it in consultation with the employers. Effectively, it is the employer who closes it. Anyone who knows anything about the situation knows that to be the reality. I would not bring an amendment before this House that would result in...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The Government had already taken €2 billion out of the social welfare budget.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: You are giving back just a little of what you had taken away.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: That had already been taken away.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: What about all the Labour Party election posters stating there would be no cuts in child benefit, if it were elected?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I understand it perfectly.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The Tánaiste is the deputy leader of a Government that removed free telephone rental allowance, took away the respite care grant-----

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, restored it but after people had suffered for three years. The Government presided over the increase in carbon tax and the increase in VAT, from 21% to 23%, which disproportionately affected the poorest people. It took away the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. You are an absolute disgrace. It is little wonder people have shown in poll after poll what they think of you,...