Results 11,521-11,540 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Relocation (10 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: In instances where a staff member seeks a transfer on medical grounds the case is referred for advice to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) who advises Departments on medical matters. At the time of the original referral, the CMO in her response did not state that there were medical grounds to accede to the request for an alternate location to that of the planned relocation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (10 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The figures submitted by the Deputy were also provided to the Department at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection on 18 February 2015. At that time, my Departmental officials confirmed that while they are not 100% accurate, they are in the ball park. I am happy to again confirm while there is a small discrepancy for the July 2015 figures, it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (10 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: While I acknowledge the valuable contribution the Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE) is making in this area, I regret there is no provision in Department of Social Protection estimates to provide funding as proposed and IASE were advised accordingly at the end of last year. I would add that given that the HSE has responsibility for a wide range of supports for people with...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Appeals (10 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 January 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Appeals (10 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19 February 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (10 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: In the scenario provided by the Deputy, an individual working 19.5 hours on minimum wage, would earn approximately €169 a week. Together with the salary, and the figures provided for one-parent family payment (OFP) and family income supplement (FIS), and fuel allowance, this amounts to a cumulative total of €459 per week. It should be noted that Fuel Allowance is payable on OFP...

Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: It is proposed to take No. a18, motion re Standing Order 107J; No. 18, Revised Estimates for Public Services 2015 - Votes 1 to 40, inclusive, back from committee; and No. 3, Gender Recognition Bill 2014 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. a18 shall be decided without debate; that, in the case of No.18, Votes 1 to 40,...

Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: I suppose it is a little like Rip Van Winkle. Did the Deputy miss all of the debates at the time the budget was announced?

Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Perhaps he was very busy elsewhere. However, there were very extensive debates.

Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Deputy should calm down and relax. Dáil reform was championed in the previous Dáil by the Deputy's then party leader and former Taoiseach, former Deputy Brian Cowen. We decided to engage in detailed discussions at the committees on all of the Estimates. As the then finance spokesperson, I listened to endless discussions on how we should debate and examine outcomes....

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: We are changing the rules to allow people to combine getting a social welfare income or family income support or the new back to work family allowance----

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: ----which will give any lone parent going back to work an extra €30 per week per child. As the studies in respect of this year's budget show, we have also increased child benefit for every child by €5 a month. I am happy to say that as Tánaiste, I have prioritised getting people back to work because when people get some work, part time or full time, their at risk of...

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Yes it did.

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: The Labour Party conference this weekend was very successful and worthwhile. It is a pity Deputy Coppinger was not there but maybe she was outside. In terms of our platform for the next election, the delegates agreed that we would be seeking to repeal the eighth amendment to the Constitution.

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: I can only go on the legal advice that we get, which is that constitutional change is required to deal with the very distressing issue of fatal foetal abnormality. When we go to the people we will ask them to endorse a proposal that the Labour Party seek a referendum on the eighth amendment.

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Deputy Coppinger asked me earlier where I would be on International Women's Day. I will be in Maynooth university with organisations like Trócaire, celebrating the achievements of women in developing countries in building economic independence and small, medium and large businesses for themselves and their families.

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Deputy Coppinger's colleagues might be interested to know that I also hope to celebrate with An Cosán, a marvellous organisation based in Tallaght providing education for the community. Last year when I met Madame Lagarde, the head of the IMF - Deputy Coppinger may object to this - I brought women with me who are involved in business in areas like carers, associations, education----

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: ---and some of the leading women doctors working in this country. Going back to my comment about the women who are my heroes, the person who probably spoke best was the woman who, along with several others, had spent their lives working as carers, caring for individuals from their families and communities---

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: Christine Lagarde spent a lot of time with women telling their stories of what it is like to be a woman in modern Ireland. It is important that women share their stories so I hope this International Women's Day that women in Ireland will get the same opportunities. Certainly at the events I am going to I hope to be able to celebrate with women who are successful and committed to this...

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2015)

Joan Burton: I agree with the Deputy that it is a highly complex issue. From visiting communities, particularly visiting community employment schemes focused on rehabilitation, education, training and employment possibilities for people who have been involved in substance abuse, I am always shocked by the sheer calibre of the people it affects. They come from all walks of life. They are some of the...