Results 4,401-4,420 of 12,701 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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...

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

Willie O'Dea: The increase in FIS spending arises simply because more of the people entitled to it will claim for it. That means there has not been any improvement in the FIS scheme.

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

Willie O'Dea: There have been no changes. It is just that more people will be applying.

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

Willie O'Dea: There are no changes in the rules.

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

Willie O'Dea: There are no changes in the rules?

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

Willie O'Dea: There have been no changes to make it easier. The initiative is a follow-up to FIS, but there has been no change in the rates.

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 did not.

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 indicated it was almost €2 billion.

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

Willie O'Dea: Yes, but the Minister should answer for her Government's actions and the promises it broke-----

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 child benefit and every other issue.