Results 4,281-4,300 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: The view taken by the authorities in the United Kingdom was that in all cases the amount to be guaranteed would be up to 89%. The Minister has correctly noted that the State pension system is much more generous than the system in place in the United Kingdom and that 100% protection is being proposed for pensions of up to €12,000 per annum. Notwithstanding this, it is valid to point...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: As I understand it, the Tánaiste is taking the provisions introduced in the 2010 Act and making them retrospective to 2007, the date of the Robins case. Is that the correct interpretation?

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am just asking the Tánaiste whether the effect of the amendment is to make the provisions set out in the 2010 Act for double insolvency retrospective to the date of the Robins case in 2007.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: Perhaps the Tánaiste can tell us why the amendment or change did not appear in the original legislation and has only appeared on Committee Stage. It seems to be an important amendment. This is an amendment to private pension provision. I tabled a number of amendments on Committee Stage in regard to private pension provision, such as one to provide for an appeal against the decision...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 29. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons are having their social welfare benefits terminated on the basis of not replying to a voicemail from her Department; if this is in accordance with the law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46402/14]

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: That is because the Taoiseach will not answer the question.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (2 Dec 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 384. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for 1 November 2013 and 1 November 2014 for the Limerick health area, the number of medical cards in circulation; the number of which are issued on the basis of the exercise of discretion; the number of which are allocated to over 70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45849/14]

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (27 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I do not intend to move my remaining amendments.

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (27 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 1:In page 6, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following: “ “stillborn child” means a child who, at birth, weighs not less than 500 grammes or has a gestational age of not less than 24 weeks and shows no sign of life, and “stillbirth” shall be construed accordingly. These also include an unborn child who dies in the womb of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (27 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 59. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the schemes that are currently in place to support persons in difficulty paying their mortgage; if new schemes are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45703/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (27 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: 195. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government If extra housing options are available for those on the housing list who spent time in industrial schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45583/14]

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: On amendment No. 8, in the name of Deputy Joan Collins, the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 gives permission to a number of public bodies to seek PPS numbers. Irish Water was added to the list of public bodies under legislation in 2014. Since Irish Water will no longer require PPS numbers is it not appropriate that facility be taken away? That is what the amendment proposes. For...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: We cannot discuss them at any length because we have been told they are not relevant to the Bill. I understand the Minister said recently that she intends to introduce updated legislation on pensions, or was it guidelines. What is the mechanism to allow us debate some of these very important matters? My colleagues and I wanted to speak about the disgraceful way in which deferred pensioners...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I am not arguing for the introduction of the British system here, I am arguing for a slight change in the Irish system to assist appellants.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I will press it.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I note the Minister was giving me advice on how to help my constituents. I thank her for that but-----

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: -----I will muddle along as usual.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister. She says the present system is a help to applicants. Due to the delays they can submit new evidence to strengthen their cases and so forth. Her point is that the present system assists appellants because, as time passes, if one gets further evidence and so forth one can strengthen one's initial case. However, if one takes that argument to its logical conclusion, it...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: This is a version of a Private Members' Bill I advanced recently. Unfortunately, the Government did not think it could accept it. It proposes that, from the time a social welfare appeal is made, there be a maximum of 60 working days - 12 working weeks - in which a decision should be made. The information available to me is that in the period from October 2013 to September 2014 there were...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Willie O'Dea: I support the amendment as well. It is eminently reasonable. Where I come from, unfortunately, we are not unfamiliar with the phenomenon of loan sharks and the activities they get involved in. We are not unfamiliar with the experiences of people who get on the wrong side of loan sharks. I have no doubt that this scheme has kept people out of the clutches of loan sharks. It seems to work...