Results 4,941-4,960 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I also have had representations from the Senior Citizens Parliament and representatives of deferred pensioners on this matter. There seems to be a twofold problem here. First, pensioners had a right of audience to the industrial relations machinery of the State up until the 1970s. That right was removed on the basis that pensions in payment could not be reduced. Of course, that has now...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I have a brief question.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister said that if she accepted this amendment, some of the companies that are operating defined benefit pension schemes might decide to get out of those schemes because they will face a liability.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: The legislation we are considering will become law in the next week or two. Does the Minister anticipate a rushed exit from defined benefit pension schemes between now and when the legislation is signed by the President? I do not see that happening somehow.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following:“9. The Principal Act 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.".".

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I think the Minister accepted in her reply that there is a genuine problem. A company which is in a perfectly healthy financial state can decide tomorrow morning, for whatever reason - it might be subject to a takeover or it might want a temporary boost to the share price if it is a quoted company - to wind up the defined benefit pension scheme. I have received correspondence in the last...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: My amendment, No. 4, makes substantially the same point. As the law stands, a company which is financially healthy, or whose parent company is financially healthy, can simply allow a pension fund to run down and close it. We propose that no company which is financially healthy should be allowed to close a defined benefit pension scheme under which people have legitimate expectations until...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: Amendment No. 1 is in my name. I understand that amendment has been ruled out of order. I wish to comment briefly on it. I got the notification, as usual at the last minute, which I accept. I will try to find some way of moving this amendment again on Report Stage to deal with the situation of the 50,000 to 60,000 people who have lost all or part of their pensions since the Minister took...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: Can I speak to the section?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: On the section, I ask the Minister about double insolvencies. In a press release which accompanied the publication of the legislation the Minister stated: Historic double insolvencies will not be covered by this legislation [that is the Waterford Crystal case, among others] but are covered by the Insolvency Directive. This means that in those [past] cases, pensioners' entitlements will not...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: To clarify, what the Minister is saying is that the levy, which is intended to prop up double insolvency payments, will not apply? The funding for the Waterford Crystal workers and other historic double insolvencies will not be accessed from the new levy but rather it will be done out of general funding.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Live Register Numbers (11 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 83. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who signed off the live register over the first 11 months of 2013; if she will provide a breakdown of the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53244/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (10 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: 364. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality following a request for Garda clearance, the way it occurred that a person (details supplied) in County Clare was assigned the criminal convictions of a person in County Tipperary; when this matter will be rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52742/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (5 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: How many of the 150 redundancies in Pfizer will be compulsory? What training support will be given to those who find themselves out of a job as a result of these redundancies? The Government has been well aware of the potential difficulties associated with the patent cliff. Has it had discussions with pharmaceutical employers in the country about the possible implications in this regard...

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (5 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for the opportunity to raise this matter. Yesterday morning 150 staff from Pfizer's Newbridge plant were called in by management to be told that there would be 150 redundancies. The unions have expressed concern about the scale of the proposed redundancy and the shortness of the notice, and I agree with them on that. I understand a meeting is to take...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: Excuse me?

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: My information is that it was done more recently.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: If it was, I accept that but I am just pointing out-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I am pointing out the difference between the treatment of these people by the State - which the Government can change - and the treatment of those who have to provide for themselves. If my information on that is wrong, I apologise. I disagree profoundly with those commentators who suggest that the way of the future is the total elimination of defined benefit pension schemes. That will...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Willie O'Dea: I am sure there is one thing on which Members on all sides could agree, namely, that pension schemes in this country are facing a considerable crisis. It is long past time for a mature, national debate on the subject. There are six people of working age for every person over the age of 65 years. By 2060 that figure will have changed dramatically to just two people of working age for every...