Results 13,041-13,060 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Reports (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The above named person retired from the Civil Service in October 2001. HR Division has informed me that when this person threatened physical violence against officers of the Department, the incident was brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána at the time. However, no official report was filed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23rdOctober 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: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Section 48 of the Pensions Act sets out the order (wind up priority order) in which the assets of a defined benefits pension scheme are distributed in the event of the wind up of a scheme. The wind up priority order was amended by the Social Welfare and Pensions (No.2) Act in 2013. Prior to these changes pensioner benefits were given priority over the benefits of active and deferred scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Waiting Times (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The most recent figures available from end of September 2014 show that the average time taken to decide a new invalidity pension (IP) claim is 8 weeks. This excludes claims which are awarded following a review and/or appeal. It also excludes claims made under EU regulations or bi-lateral agreements which are more complex and take longer to decide. As at the end of October 2014 there were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The figures requested by the Deputy relating to the number of appeals presently on hand for the specified health-related payments are provided in the table below. There has been a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2009 which has placed extraordinary pressure on the office. Up to 2009, the average number of appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 5th November 2014. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Appeals (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was being deducted €117 means from his weekly Farm Assist payment since April 2013. At a recent Oral Appeals Hearing regarding these means, the existence of further financial information was revealed by the person concerned. As a result, a Social Welfare Inspector has reassessed the means and a Deciding Officer has issued the decision by post to the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The State pension is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives and the reform measures introduced to date go somewhat toward that goal. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement, all contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The person concerned was notified on the 22ndOctober 2014 that her domiciliary care allowance application was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from 1st September 2014. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, will issue on 18thNovember 2014. I can confirm that an application for carers allowance was received from the person in question on 19thAugust...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Twenty nine staff occupying two adjoining buildings on Main St. in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan were redeployed from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Social Protection in July 2012. The staff are engaged in the processing of the Public Services Card. The operations have recently been expanded to include 8 additional temporary staff. The current facilities in Ballybay are not...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (11 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Following Budget 2014, social welfare legislation was amended to provide that the diet supplement scheme was closed to new entrants from 1stFebruary 2014. The person concerned had previously received this payment from December 2005 until July 2010 when he commenced a community employment scheme. As four years have elapsed since it was last paid, an application for a diet supplement received...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Second Stage (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Why did Fianna Fáil abolish the Christmas bonus?

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Second Stage (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: Deputy O'Dea should tell us about Fianna Fáil's part in the story.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Second Stage (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: They are being ripped off.

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Second Stage (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." While this is a short Social Welfare Bill by normal standards, it none the less marks a positive shift in our economic and social recovery. That recovery is now clear to see. According to the European Commission, Ireland will be the fastest-growing economy in the EU this year, with our growth rate expected to hit 4.6% compared with an...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Order for Second Stage (6 Nov 2014)

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

Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I understand the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill is on the "A" list to come before the House during this session. In respect of facilitating a debate on mother-and-baby homes in Tuam and other areas of the country, when the work is completed, a discussion among the Whips will almost certainly facilitate a debate in the House.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: I understand the Bill referred to by the Deputy will come before the House in this session.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: The gardaí have an oath of loyalty to the State and not to any particular politician - Deputy Joe Higgins, me or anyone else.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Joan Burton: It is a professional force, as it ought to be. In respect of Deputy Joe Higgins's query about taxation, the legislation to which he referred will come before the House this session. In my view - the Deputy has been a member of the European Parliament - these matters can be addressed only by close co-operation across Europe and on a global basis if we wish to address them properly.