Results 7,801-7,820 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Supplementary Welfare Allowance Eligibility (19 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: There is no record that the client has applied for a Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance. She is currently in receipt of a One Parent Family Payment at the maximum rate for her family circumstances.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (19 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The self-employed pay PRSI at the class S rate of 4%. These contributions provide cover for long-term social insurance benefits including the State pension (contributory) and the widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension. They do not provide access to benefits such as treatment benefits which include a contribution towards the cost of hearing...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I am aware of the Bara Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered last month and my Department is assessing its implications on data sharing arrangements, if any. Social welfare legislation provides a legal basis for the sharing of data between DSP and other specified bodies. My Department shares information with these bodies for the control of social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Neither I, nor my predecessors, have introduced any legislation containing a provision amending the Data Protection Acts at any time in the period 1 January 2000 to date. The primary responsibility for the Data Provision Acts rests with the Minister for Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (19 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of disability allowance (DA). All recipients of DA will receive their Christmas bonus of 75% of their weekly amount, subject to a minimum bonus payment of €20.00. The bonus payment will be included in the normal weekly payment due to be paid on 2 December 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Bodies (19 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Two new statutory bodies have been established since February 2011, namely; - the Pensions Authority, formerly the Pensions Board, which was established on 7 March 2014,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (19 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: The Pensions Board, the Citizens Information Board and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman come under the aegis of my Department. All schemes are unfunded statutory schemes with ultimate responsibility for benefits vesting with the Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as part of overall Public Sector pension arrangements. Accordingly no deficit...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: They are good jobs at high wage levels. The Deputy should take the time to read the reports.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Yesterday was a landmark in Ireland's recovery for two reasons. First, the rate of unemployment fell below 9% for the first time since those dark and difficult days that Fianna Fáil led us to in December 2008. In all honesty, people would be very foolish to take Fianna Fáil at its word now. There is nothing about significant improvements in social welfare in Fianna Fáil's...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: -----but it was a disgrace. In January the minimum wage will increase by 50 cent per hour, the second increase during the Labour Party's participation in the Government. In addition, I and the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Nash, have launched a campaign for a living wage, and that has been supported by a large number of both employers,...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: I thank Deputy Willie O'Dea for tabling these two amendments. It is important to note that the decision to wind up a defined benefit pension scheme does not rest with the sponsoring employer. It is a matter for the trustees of the pension scheme. The trustees of pension schemes are duty bound to act in the best interests of all the scheme members regardless of their other roles and duties....

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Where a proposal is made to reduce or restructure benefits, trustees must have undertaken a comprehensive review of the scheme with a view to its long-term stability and sustainability. Such a review includes asking the employer for contributions sufficient to ensure scheme funding and the employer must have declined to pay those contributions. Trustees must notify in writing the scheme...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: In Fianna Fáil's pre-budget proposals it proposed to spend €154 million on pensioners. We have spent vastly more than that figure, with an increase in the rate of €3 a week. We restored the Christmas bonus and improved-----

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Hold on - you can dish it out, dear, but just hold on until you hear on what you signed off yourself.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Listen; calm yourself.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Fianna Fáil further proposed to improve child benefit by the same amount by which we had improved it, namely, €5 per month.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Fianna Fáil talked about increasing the respite care grant, which we did.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Finally, there was its proposal on one-parent supports. It was miserable, even for Fianna Fáil. From where did it get the sum of €33 million? We trebled it. Do you understand, dear Deputy O'Dea, that our social welfare package in the budget amounted to about €500 million? Do you understand that?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: Deputy Willie O’Dea can have lots of views and condemn everything. However, he has to remember that it was Fianna Fáil that cut the weekly social welfare payment, blind pension and carer’s allowance by €16.40. Admittedly, it was during hard times, but have I heard one word of an apology from the Deputy? Is there one word about restoration? Fianna Fáil had...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Joan Burton: And restored it.