Results 21-40 of 1,034,885 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív06 OR speaker:Niamh Smyth) in 'Committee meetings'

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: On the amendment, was there no temptation to go to a clean €500? It would be much easier for everyone to remember. Cut-off, round figures are generally easier. We always seem to be very precise, even when a little generosity would do nobody any harm. On a more serious point, even though that is a serious point, I welcome section 3, which has been referred to. We have to know...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: Is the Deputy happy with that?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Cathaoirleach is going so fast through the sections that I am losing myself. I welcome the extension back to nine months. It was originally proposed to claw some of this back by going to six months for jobseeker's benefit. I welcome the fact it has been left at nine months, but I reiterate my concern that for those who do not get employment within the nine months there is a second...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: The Minister might furnish the committee with that evidence if she has it.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: Before we conclude our consideration of the Bill, do any members wish to put any final questions to the Minister or make comments? I have a question on the scheduling as well as the public interest. The Minister may not have the answer at the moment. There is now an intention to bring forward amending legislation to deal with the O'Meara case concerning John O'Meara, his family and his...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: Is it the Minister's intention to have it enacted before the House goes into recess?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: I understand that only a small amendment is required.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: I believe I speak on behalf of all the members here by saying that if the Minister wishes for and seeks a waiver on the pre-legislative scrutiny, the committee would be very amenable to that request in order to expedite the matter. It is a Supreme Court judgment-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: -----and we do not have a lot of flexibility in relation to that. We do not want to impede the passage of that legislation. If that request were made, the committee would look at it favourably.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It would be complex enough, would it not? The Minister has to draw the line somewhere.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yes, but there will be a line drawn somewhere.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Could the secretariat give us a copy of those relevant sections of the Act-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: -----to which the Minister is referring.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yes, but obviously, that does not apply today to as many people as this is going to apply to. In other words, this has to become administratively possible in a fairly simple form for people who are going to qualify and administratively possible for people who are not going to qualify because, obviously, there will be quite a few people. It is that fine line that is going to cause the grief....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will put it this way; nobody has ever come to me and cited that law. I know there are going to be plenty of people coming to me on this one. That is the difference. Money is involved. There is going to be a cut-off point and there are going to be judgments involved. When we are dealing with something that is black and white, such having contributions and whatever, it is much easier....

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: It may be helpful to have a briefing from officials when the Minister has the draft available to provide the type of clarity, which is important and has been indicated by Deputy Ó Cuív. We also need to try to facilitate the expeditious enactment of it if we can. We can find a balance between both sides on it.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Denis Naughten: I will put on the record that the committee will insofar as is possible facilitate an expeditious passage of this legislation.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I have one final question. Let us say a person qualifies. In the old days, if people qualified for a widow's pension, the way they lost that was if they got married. Now, presumably, they equally lose it if they become a cohabitant again. These are the kinds of blurred lines.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I accept that, but I am saying that these are the kinds of blurred lines that in my view exist around the definition of what is a new cohabitant or whatever. I would be interested in those definitions. I foresee that will be a challenge when it is not something very finite. Marriage is a legal contract, so it is very definable. In this case, however, I am interested to see where the lines...