Results 6,321-6,340 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Redeployment (14 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: My Department has limited sanction to recruit temporary clerical officers to cover critical long term staff absences. The staffing needs for all areas within the Department, including the Disability Allowance (DA) scheme area, are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: When the Dáil last met to debate this issue, the Labour Party made very clear our position.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: We supported the nomination of Deputy Enda Kenny.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: At times, this afternoon is beginning to resemble looking at a box set of old favourites, as the same speeches and interruptions are repeated.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: We supported the nomination of Deputy Enda Kenny as Taoiseach on 10 March to complete the proposal we made to the people in the general election, which was the return of the Labour Party and Fine Gael to government. We also made clear that we would take every subsequent vote on its merits in the best interests of the country. Specifically ahead of today’s vote, we made clear that...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: In addition, the vote on Brexit, with all its potential consequences for this country, looms large on all our agendas. The foundation document, which Fine Gael has circulated following its negotiations with Independents, has some welcome commitments but, in my view, is not progressive enough. I could not help but notice and welcome that its core theme, "a strong economy for a decent...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I also welcome the commitment, though vague, to the removal of the PAYE tax credit for very high earners and other measures to ensure the tax system remains fair and progressive. The Labour Party put forward precisely such a detailed plan in the election, built around the principles of ensuring more take-home pay for low-income workers while ensuring high-income earners continued to pay...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Hence, we are not in a position to support Deputy Enda Kenny’s nomination today as Taoiseach, but we acknowledge that Fine Gael has put forward a basis for progress. Fianna Fáil, in my view, has prevaricated while its members try to figure out what is best for themselves. That is why we will oppose the nomination of Deputy Micheál Martin today. His party has presented...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Irresponsible game playing on Irish Water is the closest thing I have seen to an act of national vandalism since old Fianna Fáil abolished rates in the late 1970s without developing any alternative model.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: We know how that set the country back both economically and in terms of developing the infrastructure Ireland needed. I am sorry to say, however, that now Fianna Fáil is at it again. Fianna Fáil should be sitting down with Fine Gael to see if a responsible, rather than a reckless, set of policy agreements can form the basis for a Government. In 2011, the Labour Party did not...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I will conclude on this. As regards today's vote, I ask Members not to waste the Dáil's time.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The next time the Dáil votes, it should be for the election of a Taoiseach. Many of the contributions today have been about play-acting and shadow-boxing. However, we do, and will eventually, need a Government that can govern on behalf of all the people of this country.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Registration of Deaths (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was enacted on 4 December 2014. The Act contains a wide range of provisions which are being commenced on a step by step basis. Section 13 of the Act inserts a new Part 5A into the Civil Registration Act 2004 which provides that an tÁrd-Chláraitheoir maintain a record of deaths of Irish Citizens who die while abroad. The provisions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Support Services (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to all citizens on a wide range of public and social services. One of the functions of the CIB, as defined in the Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007, is to directly provide or support the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 27th January 2016. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 12 weeks to process...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The application for carer’s allowance (CA) in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 5 March 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated post office on 31 March 2016. Any arrears of CA due from 5/11/2015 to 30/3/2016 will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The person concerned is required to attend the office of the JobPath company in Buncrana for activation purposes. He is not required to attend the Department’s offices for such purposes. The person concerned has been assigned a personal advisor who has assisted him in drawing up a personal progression plan which includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. The...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance (DA) from the above named person on 10 November 2015. The person concerned is currently in receipt of illness benefit. On 23 March 2016 a letter issued to the person concerned, advising that their current payment is slightly higher than their entitlement on DA. They have been asked to choose which scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2016 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €2.8 billion. It is a fundamental qualifying condition of both schemes that a person must be fully...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (6 Apr 2016)

Joan Burton: Self-employed persons are liable for pay related social insurance (PRSI) which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as the state pension (contributory) and widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory). However, they are not entitled to jobseeker’s benefit based on any contributions paid as a self-employed person. The...