Results 4,721-4,740 of 12,033 for speaker:Regina Doherty

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: As the Deputy is aware, payment issues arose under the illness benefit schemes last year when my Department transferred administration of the scheme from an old legacy IT payments system to the new core business IT platform which is managing many of its other scheme payments.  At the time I expressed my apologies to all of those who were affected, of whom there...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: All I can say respectfully to the Deputy is that I note his comments but the decision has already been made. We are well advanced in our work to transpose this directive and we will have it done by the end of March.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The Government's position on the recent motion debated in the House on the JobPath service was clearly set out in my contribution and that of others at the time. I note the views of the House on the matter. However, the position of the Government remains unchanged. My Department has entered into legally binding agreements with the JobPath providers and the Government will honour these...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I am sure the Deputy will be fully aware that Private Members' motions are not legally binding instructions on Government but what are legally binding are the contractual arrangements that the previous Government entered into with our two contractors among others with regard to activation in this country. I do not believe the Deputy and I are ever going to agree on this and so we will have...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I will say it again, it is the most successful activation programme that this State has ever had. He does not have to take my figures for it, he can take the CSO figures that were released today. We had the largest drop in long-term unemployment last year that we have had in years. That did not happen by magic. That happened because of all of our activation partners - Seetec, Turas Nua,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: There have not.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: What I cannot ignore are the contractual obligations the State has with two companies to provide very successful outcomes for in excess of 200,000 people who have gone through their doors.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: I also stated in the House previously that the termination of the contracts or a step away from any of the terms of contract would leave the State potentially exposed to millions of euro, but the Deputy's party has a magic cheque book, so that does not bother him. It also does not bother him that this is actually working.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: That people are getting work. Some 48,000 people have got work in the past number of years.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Could I respectfully tell the Deputy, seen as I am the one who is responding to his question-----

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: -----that asking a question requires an answer?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Asking a question requires the Deputy being quiet when I am speaking, and I being quiet and listening to the Deputy when he is speaking.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: JobPath Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: It is something we have a real problem with.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The transposition of the IORP II directive will result in significant improvements in the regulation and governance of funded occupational pension schemes in Ireland. While the directive provides for the possibility of a derogation from specific articles for smaller schemes, members of smaller schemes should have the same protections and oversight as members of larger ones. Money saved for...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: To answer a number of the Deputy's questions directly, I am aware that the then Minister Séamus Brennan granted a derogation. I do not agree with the Deputy's description of what that derogation achieved. During the financial crisis many large and small investment pension schemes suffered significantly not only because of the years-long disaster but also because of the lack of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: She can dish it out but she cannot take it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Payments (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: Illness benefit is a short term payment made to insured people who are unable to work due to illness.  The payment is funded by the social insurance fund (SIF) through the payment of PRSI contributions by workers and employers and, in the event of a shortfall between contributions received and benefits paid, the Exchequer.  The fund is central to Ireland’s system of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Payments (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: The primary legislative provisions for SAFE registration and identity verification are set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 (as amended).  These provisions require a person to satisfy the Minister as to their identity and allow for disallowance or disqualification from receipt of a benefit in the event that it is not done.  Given that my Department spends over...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Reform (19 Feb 2019)

Regina Doherty: As previously announced the Government intends to introduce Automatic Enrolment  by the end of 2022.  It will see employees without personal retirement savings automatically enrolled into a quality assured retirement savings system, with freedom of choice to opt-out. Delivering on a commitment made in the Government’s Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023, I launched...