Results 3,741-3,760 of 12,585 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I would appreciate the information as to what exactly the rules are, particularly in relation to activation. What sort of activation measures are they subject to, in terms of being offered courses, etc.?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The only remaining requirement is one must be available for and seeking work.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I also welcome the restoration of the respite care grant. When the cut was introduced we pointed out that it would cause a great deal of hardship. I can testify to the fact that it has done so in the individual cases I have dealt with. Carers contribute an enormous amount to this country. I forget the exact figure but if they were to be paid properly, at the usual rate for the work they...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: In the meantime, we wish the Deputy the best of luck.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I appreciate what the Minister of State said about trying to recruit extra people to relieve the backlog and make the system more efficient but this is a fairly radical step. I share some of the sentiments expressed by Deputies Ryan, Ó Snodaigh and others. The Minister of State said the deciding officer makes the ultimate decision but in the real world, the deciding officer almost...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I never suggested that.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: We have received representations from the credit union movement specifically proposing such a change. Naturally, I welcome the amendment. We made approaches to the Minister about the matter and welcome this change. Regulations are needed in order to bring the provision into effect. When does the Minister of State envisage the regulations will be introduced? Incidentally, section 290 of...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: When does the Minister of State intend to roll out the pilot scheme? Did he say it would be rolled out at the end of the month?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I support the amendment, which is a very sensible. As we are talking about money making schemes for the Department, will the Minister of State clarify a further point? If a person on social welfare is claiming for an adult dependant and that dependent receives a prison sentence, what is the position of the person claiming the payment? Does the adult dependant payment cease for the period...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: No. I am seeking clarification.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 31:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following:“11. The Minister shall, within 4 weeks of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas, reviewing all expenditure reductions or the ceasing of payments in relation to the household benefits package, including the gas allowance, electricity allowance, telephone allowance...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 39:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following: “11. The Pensions Act 1990 is amended by inserting a new section 48A as follows:“48A. A solvent firm shall not be allowed to close a defined benefit pension scheme except where the scheme has reached a minimum 90 per cent funding standard.”.”. We have had previous discussions about this...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister referred to unintended consequences. The only intended consequence of my amendments is to protect employees, who like the Minister himself, have been making bona fide payments into a pension scheme with a legitimate expectation that they will get a certain amount out after the sacrifices they have made over the years to pay in. The moneys could have been used for other...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I understand that. Again, the Department has made the point that it is the trustees who decide on closing down a defined benefit scheme, not the sponsor. In the real world, however, they do so at the behest of the employer or the company. I am not suggesting we should have a rule whereby the employer has to come up to 90% of funding if that is going to cause job losses, force the company...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: A category of pensioners, such as deferred pensioners, could be adversely affected by a decision of the trustees to change the terms of a scheme. However, they have no input into that decision which seems grossly unfair. The Minister of State said that if they are unhappy, they can take a case to the courts. There is an old saying, "The courts are open to everybody and so is the Ritz...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I accept that and thank the Minister of State. Again, on the appeals system, if somebody is dissatisfied, even after engagement with the trustees, do they have to go to court? Is there a facility to allow an appeal to the Pensions Authority?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 40:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following:“11. 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 members...

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: Which law? What section?

Leaders' Questions (11 Nov 2015)

Willie O'Dea: He is making it up again.