Results 12,721-12,740 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Virtually everyone in this category will qualify for the State pension.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I do not have the figures the Deputy seeks. As he will be aware, they will depend on the outcome, if any, achieved in the ongoing discussions.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, line 5, after "Acts;" to insert "to amend the Pensions Act 1990;".Amendment No. 22, which we have just discussed, will allow the Minister for Finance to draw down moneys from the Central Fund to discharge liabilities which may accrue to the State in the event of the winding up of a defined benefit pension scheme where both the employer and the scheme were...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I wish to reiterate a point for Deputy Collins. Understandably, amendments in respect of pensions are rather technical and complicated. This is because they are based on the law of trusts and the law of trusts is rather complex. The amendment I am bringing forward today will enable the Minister for Finance to draw down moneys from the Central Fund to discharge liabilities which may accrue...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: You had your opportunity to speak, Deputy.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Let me say this: it has been my objective as Minister for Social Protection to protect and safeguard as many defined benefit pension schemes as possible. Defined benefit schemes have been subject to enormous difficulties at certain stages due to collapses in various international equity markets. We have discussed on many occasions in the House the problems around the cost of buying German...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I did not hear all that the Deputy said.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I will reply at the end.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Not really. I will reply at the end of the debate. I think I know what Deputy O'Dea is trying to get at but I do not think the answer to his question is "Yes".

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I move:That, pursuant to Standing Order 177, Standing Order 131 is modified to permit an instruction to the Committee to which the Social Welfare Bill 2014 may be recommitted in respect of an amendment, for which it has power to make provision in the Bill in relation to the payment of moneys by the Minister for Finance in respect of liabilities which may arise in relation to certain defined...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: It is not the policy of my Department to terminate any benefits by phone or on the basis of failing to respond to a phone call. While there is no information available in relation to the specifics of the claim in question, it would be normal practice for all matters relating to the disallowance of a claim to be communicated in a letter directly to the customer concerned. If the Deputy would...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 17th June 2014. The application was sent to a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of the level of care being provided and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance were satisfied. The person concerned was subsequently refused...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: All self-employed workers with annual income in excess of €5,000 are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to the minimum payment of €500. This entitles them to access a range of long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory) as well as maternity benefit,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Home-makers Scheme (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for State pension contributory (SPC) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age, or incapacitated people, to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being calculated for pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: As a result of changing demographics, the adequacy and sustainability of the Irish pensions system has become an increasing concern in recent years. With improvements in life expectancy, more people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. Given these changing demographics and the incrementally upward pressure of pension provision on State finances, there is a need to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Payments (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: In Budget 2013 the Minister for Finance announced that, with effect from 2014, PRSI will be payable on income generated from wealth such as rental income, investment income, dividends and interest on deposits and savings. In general, the rules which apply to income for taxation purposes also apply to income for the purposes of charging PRSI. Therefore the income on which PRSI is applied...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobBridge Scheme (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: JobBridge has made very significant progress since it came into operation on 1stJuly 2011. As at 27thNovember 2014, a total of 35,616internships have commenced with 6,742participants currently on a JobBridge placement, and 1,933 internship posts currently advertised on the Jobs Ireland website. The eligibility criteria for the JobBridge scheme is based on the overall objective of labour...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15thSeptember 2014. 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: Social Welfare Appeals (2 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 18thNovember 2014. 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...