Results 9,701-9,720 of 19,379 for speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I would support the amendment, if it was allowed, to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, and there is no cost to the Exchequer. On amendments Nos. 9 to 19-----
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I wanted to indicate that I wish to speak on the amendments on pensions issues.
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I take the opportunity to say that I will consider tabling an amendment to deal with an issue that has come across my desk about overpayments being sought which are more than 20 years old and the reason the physical files are not longer available. Northside Community Law Mediation Centre has highlighted a specific disproportionate and unfair approach where charges have been made against a...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Yes, for Report Stage.
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I do not wish to delay the proceedings. I raised this issue with the Minister on Second Stage. I had a long conversation when the pensions legislation was passed last year as I argued for a different priority order than the Minister. There is an urgency in terms of the lobbying we and others have received in recent weeks because the IASS scheme and the changes asked of its members seem to...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: There are practical changes that could possibly be helpful, for instance I have dealt with a number of cases where people applied for an invalidity pension, which has a higher threshold which they would not meet instead of applying for a payment with lower thresholds. They would have appealed the case before they contacted our office. If the officer reviewing the case notices that somebody...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I raised a number of issues when we discussed this previously and on Second Stage. The Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, said at the time that he would look at the form that is sent to people to ensure-----
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Yes, it is on appeal rather than review. Also, when explaining to somebody who has been refused a payment the explanation should be quite clear. It might say that the medical documentation was not sufficient. What does that mean to a lay person who brought in a letter from their doctor? In most cases, it should be from a consultant. In the event that they get a cursory letter from the...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following:“Amendment of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 3. Section 290(3)(c) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 is amended by the insertion of “the Parish of the Travelling People or any credit union for the purposes of the Lough Payment Scheme, or” before “any other body that...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: The Lough payment scheme was simply the title. It was operated by others as well.
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I hope the Minister will be able to facilitate the request.
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I will withdraw it at this stage but I might table it again on Report Stage.
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: It was for the sake of a future social welfare Bill that we sought clarification on the back to work family dividend. When the Minister came to office and took up the portfolio of social protection, one of the first issues we dealt with as a committee was that of a single work-related payment. At the time the Department decided to reduce the number of schemes in order that they would be...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I argued with the Minister about this matter on Second Stage and beforehand when the cut was made. I contend that my amendment is relevant to the provisions of the Bill because this is a Social Welfare Bill. The decision taken about my amendment reflects the peculiar nature of how this House works. Restrictions on Deputies is one of the issues that arose during the Constitutional...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Does the Minister have an estimate of how much the back to work family dividend will cost the Department this year? If these changes to FIS and the back to work family dividend are not contained in the Bill, will they be dealt with by ministerial order later?
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Does that cover FIS?
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: As we noted with the last measure, it is always welcome when a Government cops on and reverses a cut, albeit only a partial reversal in this case. The €5 restoration to child benefit each month does not do anything to offset the €400 million taken annually since 2009. It is a substantial cost. In the Minister's budget speech, it was mentioned that this was the first of two...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I welcomed this provision on Second Stage when the announcement was made. I had raised the issue with the Minister only a few days prior to that. At that stage the announcement had not been made. It is clearly welcome. It was a pity the Minister did not take the opportunity to reverse the original cut made to the income disregard from €146.50 down to €90 as that was a...
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Even if in draft form it is much better than trying to jump through hoops. I have a copy of it but it is one-----
- Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh: -----I got from FLAC or some other organisation a few years ago. I did not get it from the Department. It is useful. I makes it easier for us when producing amendments.