Results 14,541-14,560 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: All staff serving in my Department and the Agencies that operate under its aegis, namely the Pensions Authority, the Citizens Information Board and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman, are paid in accordance with pay scales approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There are no top up payments made to any of these staff.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I appreciate the Deputy’s interest in this and her detailed knowledge, given the constituency she represents. I also know many in all three categories - workers, people whose pensions are deferred and pensioners - and I understand their huge concern about their retirement pension. The legislative changes I have brought forward are an attempt to ensure that as many defined benefit...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I am sorry but I had to leave for a couple of minutes. I have some detailed notes on the comments. Since becoming Minister for Social Protection, my officials and I have devoted an enormous amount of time to getting defined benefit pensions schemes in particular across the line so as to save schemes from closing. That has happened to significant numbers of schemes, particularly since the...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The issue of the recovery of overpayments, particularly in relation to fraud, is significant for the Department. If my memory serves me correctly, it amounted to €73 million last year, almost the cost of the free travel scheme. The sums involved are significant. I do not propose to accept this amendment. In response to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, the Committee of Public Accounts and...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: This is a pilot scheme. It is envisaged that the secondment will be for a period of 12 months. The proposal has been progressed by the Department, the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. The primary function of any garda assigned to the Department's special investigation unit will be to investigate allegations or to initiate investigations into social...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: Yes.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I am happy with that. We update the anti-fraud initiative from time to time. It has yielded very significant revenues to the Department, which is very important, including recovery of moneys. I would be very happy to report on the project. Probably the appropriate opportunity to report will be when I am reporting to the committee or to the House on the anti-fraud initiative and the work...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I will be happy to consider that suggestion. Obviously, a general arrangement would need to be made with regard to the whole of the Dáil and all the different Departments.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 17:In page 14, line 20, to delete “cessation referred to in that paragraph” and substitute “such cessation”.This is a technical amendment that is required to correct an inaccurate reference in paragraph (a) of section 11(1).

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I do not propose to accept amendment No. 18. The Deputy noted and welcomed the provisions in respect of the two-year rule. Consequently, the issue here is that unless this kind of change is introduced, it could result in the State continuing to pay social assistance to claimants who may no longer have that entitlement, having, for example, lost their status as migrant workers. Essentially,...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: If the Deputy sends me a note about the specific anomalies I will come back to him.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The matter does not relate to the legislation we are discussing.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: It is not affected by this legislation. I have introduced a jobseekers transition payment, whereby lone parents of children aged between seven and 14 years will be encouraged to go back to education and training. I have made money available to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs from the Department's budget for this purpose. Lone parents taking up work are eligible for FIS, and...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy has probably read about the unfortunate things that happened in the past in Ireland in mother and baby homes. Women did not have an opportunity to earn an independent income. The mother and baby homes died out when a former Labour Party predecessor of mine, Frank Cluskey, who was a former Member of the House and Minister, introduced specifically the right for women who were...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: While this is not the subject of the legislation, if the Deputy has a specific case I will be delighted if he brings it to my attention and I will certainly examine it.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I do not propose to accept the amendment. Family income supplement, FIS, is a weekly tax-free support targeted at low-income workers who have children. FIS provides a crucial support for over 44,000 families at work and almost 100,000 children. Spending on the supplement was increased significantly this year by the Government with the total allocation coming to €280 million....

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I agree with the Deputy’s point about more advertising. The Department does not have much of any budget for advertising, unlike many other Departments. I would be more than happy if the Deputy proposed we get some additional funding for our advertising budget. The Department pays up to €55 million to RTE in regard to television licences so maybe it could give us a discount in...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I agree but we have no budget.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: I will ask for some information from the officials but, as the Deputy will appreciate, the issue of industrial relations is not within the social welfare brief. I will ask the local office to give me a report on the situation because, as the Deputy knows, there can be some approaches there. However, I am not fully au faitwith the situation and have just seen the headlines. The question of...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Joan Burton: While I do not propose to accept this amendment, I acknowledge that Deputy Ó Snodaigh has raised a valid issue. There are potential consequences arising from the proposal which would have to be examined in regard to payments currently being made to workers who have been unfairly dismissed. Under the Unfair Dismissals Act, which is not within the remit of my Department, a case may be...