Results 1,161-1,180 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Homemakers' Scheme. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 31 together. The homemakers' scheme was introduced in 1994 to protect the social welfare pension rights of those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows up to 20 years from 1994 to be spent caring for children or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for State...

Homemakers' Scheme. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Many of these issues, including policy issues, are being examined in the context of the Green Paper. The residency condition of the scheme was changed in March 2005 when new legislation was introduced to bring it into line with the carer's schemes. A person can now qualify as a homemaker once he or she satisfies certain non-residency conditions. In effect, this means that it is no longer...

Homemakers' Scheme. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I do not think the latter figure, concerning the number of people who did not apply, would be available to me. As regards backdating, that precise item is being examined in the context of the Green Paper to see whether some backdating is possible. The question has been raised with me on several occasions.

Homemakers' Scheme. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Is the Deputy referring to credited contributions for those who are in receipt of carer's allowances?

Homemakers' Scheme. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: That policy issue has been examined several times. I am in favour of trying to improve that situation whereby credits can be more available. It is one of the issues that I have asked my officials to look at in the context of the Green Paper.

Homemakers' Scheme. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I have many views on many issues.

Homemakers' Scheme. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Yes, it has, but that OECD report dealt particularly with tax credits, which is a different subject. I will revert to the Deputy on that.

Pension Provisions. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 40 and 164 together. Since taking office the Government has made the needs of older people a priority with the inclusion of several commitments in the Programme for Government aimed specifically at this group. I am pleased to say that we have delivered on the most recent of these commitments, which was to increase the non-contributory State pension to...

Pension Provisions. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It was not just the Tánaiste's party conference that surprised me with its announcements — the other two parties currently represented in the House also surprised me with their announcements, but I have been doing the sums. Gross average industrial earnings were €601 in September 2006. On that basis, a pension based on 40% of gross average industrial earnings would be approximately...

Pension Provisions. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The figures of €720 million and €2 billion are additional costs which must be added to the current pension expenditure to give the total cost. I was surprised when I heard Green Party announcements on the radio at the weekend because they suggested, almost chapter by the chapter, everything the Pensions Board had proposed in its report.

Pension Provisions. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I asked the Pensions Board to examine these issues and it did so professionally by considering the facts and figures and presenting me with a report which I took to Government. The Government ordered a second report to deal with the mandatory aspect of it and we have already started to implement aspects of the first report. We are committed to flushing out the remaining issues through the...

Pension Provisions. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I have a figure of 33.5% somewhere, which is also in the Pensions Board report.

Pension Provisions. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The level of poverty among older people is below the general level of poverty because of transfers, fee schemes and the fact that most older people do not have mortgages to pay. From a technical point of view, and I stress the word "technical", older people are below the average level of poverty in the country. There is another measure of pensioner poverty that I acknowledge but it is not...

Pension Provisions. (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Deputy is talking about three terms of Government and that seriously worries me.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Financial Resolution (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the charging in accordance with the Act of certain fees, being fees for the granting of particular classes of wireless telegraphy related licences to public service, commercial and related broadcasters.

Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It depends on the weather.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (28 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I have recently announced the implementation of the all Ireland free travel scheme commencing on 2 April which will enable pensioners resident here and in Northern Ireland to travel free of charge on all eligible transport services on the island. Implementation of a single travel pass for all-Ireland free travel, acceptable in both jurisdictions, will require the completion of the Integrated...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (28 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The office for Social Inclusion (OSI) was set up in 2002 under the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) as part of the institutional structure of the NAPS and to be responsible for the implementation of the strategy and monitoring of progress and for research and data development. The Office is within my Department and has been involved in the development and co-ordination of the recent...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: They sample drugs.

Written Answers — Payment Delivery Service: Payment Delivery Service (27 Feb 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Following the Government decision in 1999 to extend the An Post contract for the delivery of social welfare payments for a further 3 years, a complaint was lodged with the European Commission under the Procurement Services Directive. The Advocate-General to the European Court of Justice gave an opinion on the case on 14th September 2006 and concurred with the European Commission's view that...