Results 10,481-10,500 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: I support Deputy Ó Snodaigh's amendment. Whether intentionally or not, section 18 implies all overpayments are due to fraud. That is not always the case. The amendment's proposal to insert the term "conscious fraud" is worthwhile. FLAC has made a submission to us about this section, going so far as to say the section "should be deleted as it has the potential to impose a punishment...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: I wish to clarify that when I quoted the FLAC recommendation that the section be deleted, I was not necessarily supporting it. I was merely stating that without the relevant clarification that is the extreme change one might seek. If a person is in receipt of, for example, €250 when he or she should have been in receipt of €200, the Department can claim the €50 but it cannot claim the...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: May I make a comment on my amendment?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: The Bill itself imposes a charge on the Exchequer because it allows the universal social charge to be deductible when assessing family income supplement. While the Government is ruling out a charge in respect of the amendment, it is imposing one itself in the Bill. The legislation is introducing a cut to jobseeker's assistance through the back door by not allowing the universal social...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: The old health levy was deductible. Is that not correct?

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: We are talking about this Dáil.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: We are dealing with this Social Welfare and Pensions Bill. As a representative of my party and an elected representative to this Dáil I am charged with the responsibility of examining this Bill and recommending amendments where appropriate and where possible. I am not interested in rehashing what happened eight or ten months ago. I was not elected to talk about what happened then. I am...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: If it has not been fully examined and an alternative means of bringing in funding is not found by the time of the budget, will the Government look at what I am proposing for the budget itself? If it is to be a tax, can it be dealt with by the Minister for Finance in his presentation to the Dáil? This can then guarantee that the income will not be deduced, as I said earlier.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: That is fine. I take the Minister's answer at face value. I expect she will impress upon the Minister for Finance the need to go that bit further in his legislation so the budget can counteract what has evolved because of this. I take at face value the commitments that were given before that might not have been honoured. If the Minister is doing that now, I commend her for it. I was not...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: Like the other speakers, I would like to hear the Minister's response to the issues raised by the FLAC submission.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: There would then not be a need to cut as much turf.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: In the Minister's answer in respect of the transition period to 2014 for the fuel allowance, she stated that she hoped that the retrofit programme announced in the jobs initiative would have borne fruit and that very few people would need to avail of it. Has she considered the situation with local authorities? They have schemes for housing adaptation grants and housing aid for the elderly...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: I differ from previous speakers in that I understand the methodology of this proposal. I recognise the improvements in working and living conditions, the various support systems of which workers can avail and the increased longevity of the population in the last number of years. However, like Deputy Ó Snodaigh, I seek clarification on one point. Those who are contracted to work until 65...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: I am prepared to give the Minister the benefit of the doubt in this regard on the basis that it has the potential to encourage new jobs, albeit at lower rates of pay. I hope it will encourage people off State assistance etc. Bearing in mind what has been said by other contributors before lunch, should the fears of these speakers materialise or if hard evidence crystalises, how does the...

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: Question 27: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will carry out an impact assessment on the proposals of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in relation to the reform of the Joint Labour Committees system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15462/11]

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: The Minister said that when the assessment is carried out there will be a decision made by the Government as a whole. Based on what some of her party colleagues say about these proposals, it is evident there is divergence between them and the proposals that have come from the Minister, Deputy Bruton. As I said last week I take at face value the assessment to be carried out by her officials....

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: The Minister's answer does not answer the specific question I asked. I accept the Minister is entitled to investigate any effect such measures would have on those receiving entitlements. Once what the Minister has requested is complete, will she make it public before the Government makes the decision? It is appropriate that those of us on this side of the House who have a duty in this area...

Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: Will the Minister make it public?

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: Question 30: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she remains committed to maintaining social welfare rates as set out in the Programme for Government. [15463/11]

Social Welfare Benefits (15 Jun 2011)

Barry Cowen: I asked this question in the context of the commitment in the programme for Government that the Government will maintain social welfare rates. Is that commitment in respect of all social welfare programmes and all rates? Is it for this year, next year and every year? The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, spoke last week about the finances being on track and the commitment in last year's...