Results 5,161-5,180 of 5,269 for speaker:Joan Collins

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Question 395: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the salary of each director of services by local authority; his plans to reduce the number of directors of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15001/11]

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Question 410: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the portion, if any, of the €2 million funding approved in respect of the Cranmore regeneration project in County Sligo, in the current year that will be used for the repair or refurbishment of houses in the estate. [15378/11]

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Question 472: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality since the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's inception, the number of successful prosecutions that have been initiated by GSOC against gardaí that were not overturned on appeal; and the most senior rank of Garda successfully prosecuted. [15231/11]

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: These are the most punitive and draconian changes contained in the Bill. Many people have difficulties dealing with bureaucracy and filling out forms. If a person is suspected of fraud, he or she is entitled to due process and any due benefits. I know from my job that anyone suspected of fraud would be suspended with pay because no one can be left without access to money. Social welfare...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Many of the things I was going to say have been said and I will not repeat them. The explanatory memorandum states: "Sections 17 and 18 provide that where a fraudulent social welfare overpayment occurs". It does not state "proven" and the point is there needs to be due process. If somebody is suspected of fraud due process in court needs to be followed and in the meantime that person...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Usually internships are used by students to develop their curriculum vitae and to secure their qualifications. In my recollection it has never been used to take people off the dole. These people will not be regarded as employees except with regard to health and safety. The scheme is open to abuse by employers. As I continuously pointed out in the context of changes in the legislation...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: I thank the Minister for her reply. Her presentation was very enthusiastic but I am not convinced because of some of the reasons raised by Deputy Wallace. Internships are very specific and I know people who have gone from colleges in Germany to Brussels and Europe as part of their political studies. They may work there for six months before returning home to finish their studies. The...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: The Government should create jobs.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: This section has been debated already, but I would like to expand on a few points that were made earlier. It amazes me that, as a social democrat, the Minister for Social Protection can put this to the Dáil, when it is the essence of social democracy to advance the cause of workers rather than pulling back the advances made by them over the past number of years. I am in the same generation...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Nothing the Minister has said about this Bill has convinced me not to oppose it. It is a mean cut, particularly in section 6. I do not understand the logic of this. The Minister has stated that the debate started in 2008, and was based on the fact that-----

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: So in 1994 we were talking about raising the pension age to 68.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: The point is that it is being discussed now and there has not been any real debate, because I have not heard much about it in the past 20 years. The Minister specifically stated that the debate began in earnest in 2008 under the last Government, under advice from those economists linked into the Celtic tiger idea and the trade unions linked into partnership. The debate started at a time...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: I also request that the Minister remove section 6, which will end, from 2014, the transition year between the ages of 65 and 66 during which the State pension becomes available and enters into effect. This is an extremely regressive step and it is one of the meanest cuts contained in the legislation. As I recall, it was first recommended in Colm McCarthy's an bord snip nua report. I quoted...

Pension Provisions (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Is the Minister saying she is carrying on the cuts Fianna Fáil introduced, because she has laid out the process since 2009? Is extending the age for the State pension reflective of quotes from people like Colm McCarthy of an bord snip nua who, in the Irish Examiner in July 2009, stated that people used to snuff it at 70 but they have now decided to snuff it at 80, 85 or 90 and that...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Deputy Clare Daly made the point that there is no evidence that what is proposed in this section will lead to the creation of jobs. That is what the section is supposed to be about in the first instance. I would like to address this issue and also that which relates to pay. Earlier, the Minister referred to the fact that the section reverses the cut to the minimum wage. That is a welcome...

Business Regulation (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Does the Minister agree that the issue is one of income and demand rather than the wage levels in sectors governed by joint labour committees and employment regulation orders? There is no demand for restaurant and hotel services because people do not have money. For this reason, reducing overtime and Sunday rates, as has been proposed, will not have an impact on the hospitality industry....

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group published in July 2010 has been circulated to the chair or meeting administrator of each local authority to allow for the contents to be considered by the elected councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14776/11]

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Question 140: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the travel and subsistence charges that were refunded by the Local Government Management Services Board in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; the sum claimed by staff and members of the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14778/11]

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Question 141: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the submissions made to the local government efficiency review group are available for inspection; the way a citizen can access them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14784/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Jun 2011)

Joan Collins: Question 157: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Office for Local Authority Management is the headquarters of the County and City Managers' Association and provides management support services including administrative and secretarial services to the CCMA; the number of staff employed in the Office for...