Results 7,101-7,120 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: The amendment refers to that section. The Minister's response is that further regulations will be developed based on Revenue guidelines. Our amendment seeks in the context of those procedures being spelled out that due process is followed, the rules of natural justice are applied, and the right of the overpaid person to be heard is vindicated. The Minister said the procedures would be...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: We will not press it now.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 13: In page 33, line 13, after "196" to insert "whichever is the lesser amount".This amendment relates to the rate of reduction that one will seek to recover from the person who is overpaid, having taken into account their circumstances, as provided for in the Bill. The Minister has discretion to choose between a rate that cannot exceed 15% of the net weekly income or an...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Minister. We appreciate the reasons she has given especially when she said that it is possible at times where there is agreement to get more than 15%. Therefore, I can understand the reason the Minister would not accept our amendment, which proposes to add "whichever is the lesser amount", because there are times when it could be more.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: That has been a very helpful exchange.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: No.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: We submitted a new amendment on the basis of that to the Bills Office but it did not come back so I am not sure what the problem was. We were told and resubmitted an amendment on the basis of that ruling although we could not really understand how a definition of overpayment would involve a charge on the Exchequer. I have a question about that.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: Okay.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 11: In page 32, line 10, to delete "person." and substitute the following:"person;(h) any other debts owed by the overpaid person.".This amendment refers to the circumstances of the person who is overpaid and adds what we think is a significant circumstance the Department should take account of prior to making arrangements regarding how the person will repay the amount...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Minister for that explanation. Perhaps it is because I am still relatively new but if the answer is "Yes", I am still not clear why the Minister would not accept spelling it out. Is she telling me it is implicit rather than explicit? Why would she not accept spelling out that other debts owed by the overpaid person will be taken into account? Are there other sections where it...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: So the Minister is assuring us that it will become very clear in the regulations that the financial circumstances will be taken into account? Is that what she is saying?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Minister for her response. Senator van Turnhout and I are not opposing the section, as we see it as important. Our amendments come from a concern to ensure that transparent and fair procedures are operating. The Minister has indicated an appeal for the assessment is allowed and this is stipulated in law but I have another question. The Minister has indicated that this is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Minister for her response. This amendment and the other amendments do not question the Minister's right to recover overpayment. It is a significant sum of money each year and it forms part of the reform agenda, which I accept. As was pointed out, that is a much better alternative to civil court proceedings. The Minister stated that she was not accepting the amendment because a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: People would therefore have the right to appeal the assessment of the overpayment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I move amendment No. 9: In page 30, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:“ 'days' refers to working days for the purposes of this Act.”.I welcome the Minister to the House. This first amendment is a simple and straightforward amendment, which has been tabled by Senator van Turnhout and me, to clarify the meaning of "days" within this section of the Act. We simply...

Seanad: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Quinn. It is great to have him with us. I also want to extend my good wishes to the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon. It has been wonderful to debate these issues with him in recent times. He has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to them. Like the rest of us, he is on a learning curve in this regard. I regret he is not with us today. I ask the Minister...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I seek clarification on a number of questions I raised on this section on Second Stage. It concerns the effect of the transition status on one-parent family payments as claimants transfer to jobseeker's allowance. Will one-parent families with a child dependant aged between 18 and 22 years in full-time education continue to receive income support on transition to jobseeker's allowance of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (13 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the Minister. It is great to have the opportunity to debate the Bill, which incorporates many changes in light of the Minister's commitment to reform, something I always like to acknowledge. I welcome her efforts, particularly those to allow for the transition of lone parents to the jobseeker's allowance scheme. Senator Healy Eames identified many of the aspects. I love the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome all the beautiful young faces who have just joined us in the Visitors' Gallery. I have a question on a topic that affects some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Last November our Independent group tabled a motion on the social welfare appeals system. During the debate we highlighted a number of concerns that are shared by Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, and raised in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recognition of Traveller Ethnicity: Discussion (12 Jun 2013)

Katherine Zappone: How would the Senator name this separate ground?