Results 681-700 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: I wish various Deputies would take the Minister's word. We have a date of 18 January. That is when the Cabinet committee on pensions is meeting. We all know that an injustice has been done and the preparation of a report is ongoing in the Department. It is looking at the various options. I ask Members to acknowledge that the Minister has given a date on this. It will go to Government...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: I accept Deputy O'Dea's amendment.

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: 9 o’clock I do not intend to accept these amendments. I wish to point out that the current rate bands applying to the contributory State pension were introduced from September 2012, replacing previous rates introduced in 2000. The rate bands prior to 2000 were less generous and the improved rate bands introduced in 2000 were a feature of the economic and political environment at...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: No. It will be a meeting of the sub-committee on that date.

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: The Cabinet meeting will take place in January.

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: I am referring to the sub-committee.

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: I cannot accept this amendment. The legislation providing for exceptional needs payments is set out in section 201 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended, and provides that an exceptional needs payment can be paid to meet an exceptional need where the officer considers it reasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case. The legislation does not confer a...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: When the community welfare service came into the Department, there was a review. The review was used as a basis for guidelines in 2012-2013. We will keep this scheme under review and look at it again to see whether it supports those it needs to support. As I stated, it is important that the social welfare officers on the ground use their discretion in exceptional cases, such as those...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: I will convey the Deputy's concerns to the Minister.

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: There has been a lot of analysis, which is the reason we introduced a new scheme. What is important is that we specifically encourage the taking up of employment among low-income families with children. The objective of the working family payment is to minimise the labour market disincentives for parents to take up work, to prevent in-work poverty among households with children and to...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Order for Report Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: I thank Deputies Willie O'Dea and John Brady for their contributions. I do not propose to accept the amendment. Let me state why. In the context of budget 2018, it was decided to redesignate the family income supplement scheme as the working family payment scheme, which will give it more visibility as a payment aimed specifically at working families. The new name better reflects the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (6 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: 249. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52248/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (5 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: 415. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51794/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (5 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: 499. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51782/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (5 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: 507. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51931/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (5 Dec 2017)

Pat Breen: 508. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51932/17]

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Health and Safety Authority Expenditure (29 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: The table shows the funding allocated by the Health and Safety Authority for promotional activities regarding farm safety initiatives in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Table of Expenditure on Farm Safety Initiatives 2016 to 2018 Year Allocation * 2016 €384,000 (estimated) 2017 €287,000 (projected) 2018 €287,000 (projected)** *Note - that annual figures allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (28 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: 437. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 162 on 8 November 2017, when a person will be facilitated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50463/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (28 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: 667. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a disability allowance payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50516/17]