Results 7,061-7,080 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I did not say it had not been improved; I said it had not been-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, I must be clear. I have been clear that the care credit is an improvement. What I am pointing out is that there is a danger in moving the goalposts. The 40-year threshold is a concern because there is a wider frame. There is a moving of the goalposts in moving to a 40-year period instead of 20. That is a concern and it will mean that potentially not as many will benefit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Let us move on. We will move on to the 40-year requirement. Mr. Duggan indicated that there had been a signalling for 20 years, from the 1990s until 2012, in advance of the change in the threshold from 260 to 520 contributions. My concern is that potentially we are talking about a two-year period of signalling if we bring forward the total contribution approach in 2020, whereby the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No. To be clear, this is the same thing. Care provision is being added to the mix, but when it is added, the requirement goes up. We are not saying we are going to add it and give it equal status. If we were to be consistent, we would be looking at a 30-year requirement in line with the original vision for the total contribution approach. We would then accept 20 years of care credits as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is exactly what I am suggesting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me. Mr. Duggan has given his opinion. He has said nothing has been decided, but it seems that ideas are set in his mind. He has made his opinion and preference very clear. However, it is for public consultation and us, as representatives of the public, to put forward perspectives. I do believe that if we are genuinely serious about recognising care-giving as a contribution, as I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is the extended opinion of Mr. Duggan, whereas I want to ask questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Before asking questions I wish to make two very brief points. The sustainability of society as recognised in our Constitution, depends on home life and care which is part of the common good. The question of sustainability is not simply an economic exercise, it is more substantial. We need to look at the intergenerational question to a wider degree. There is a wider section of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Because it was an opinion, I needed to respond to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am very concerned about the 40 years. Those who have insecure employment, returning emigrants and immigrants have gaps in contributions and the lead-in to the change of adding ten years will really affect anybody between the ages of 40 and 50 years. In that regard, I will ask all my questions now. What are the changes in respect of voluntary contributions? The threshold for making...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Women are 40% less likely to have a private pension. They do not tend to benefit from that tax relief. There is at least €3 billion there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is fine. I thank the Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is there a timeline on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is it likely to affect the budget? I know that is a political decision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the extension of the age, for example, France recognises the age people start work. It was stated some measure may need to be looked at around facilitating part-time workers. Should we be requiring full-time availability for work in those later years or have a measure such as jobseeker’s transitional where the requirement is waived to facilitate part-time working attachment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It increased to 520 in 2012. There was a three-stage increase which brought it to 520 in 2012.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There were changes to the bands in 2012, in particular the shift to 520 contributions, which raised concerns. There were people who in 2010 believed they would be accessing at least a minimal pension or would be somewhere on the pension bands who, following the shift to 520 in 2012, had fallen out of the system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: State Pension Reform: Discussion (14 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think the point Mr. Scully is making is that there are people who still have concerns and that while some of the 2012 concerns have been addressed, this one has not.

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for bring the Bill to the House. I look forward to debating it and progressing it as expeditiously as possible because, as other Members have stated, it has been a long time in the making and undertaken a significant journey to get to this point. There is much to welcome in the Bill. I particularly welcome the recognition of the importance of access for all to...