Results 1,481-1,500 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan
- Citizens Information Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I propose to accept the amendment subject to one change. There should be no apostrophe after "Citizens" in line with the word used in the Short Title of the Bill, Citizens Information Act 2006. The marginal note will also be changed by the Bills Office to read "Short Title, collective citation and commencement".
- Citizens Information Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I thank the Deputies opposite for their consideration of and work on the Bill and, in particular, for agreeing to the timetable. I had hoped the Bill would be passed in the Seanad tomorrow but, unfortunately, this will not prove possible. I am sure it will be passed in the Upper House as soon as its sittings resume.
- Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I thank the Senators for fine, thoughtful contributions to the Social Welfare Bill and a constructive debate, which I found useful. The Senators offered some good pointers for the future. I will think about Senator Terry's remarks about Clanbrassil Street and although it does not fall within the remit of my Department, I will bring the request to the attention of the relevant Department. I...
- Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: That is just not the case.
- Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: It is really not.
- Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I am very pleased to introduce this, the first of two Bills intended to implement the largest social welfare package in the history of the State of â¬1.41 billion announced in last week's budget. This substantial investment brings total expenditure on social welfare in 2007 to â¬15.3 billion, or â¬1 for every â¬3 of Government day-to-day spending. Some 1.5 million people will benefit...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: Child benefit in the Irish welfare system is a universal child income support payment which is payable in respect of qualified children up to the age of 16 years or up to 19 years if the child is in full-time education. It should be noted that Irish child benefit rates compare favourably with UK child benefits. In the year 2007-2008 the rate of payment in the UK will be the equivalent of...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: A claim for unemployment assistance (since renamed jobseekers allowance) by the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking work and that he was not available for full-time employment. Following his appeal against this decision the appeals office sought the comment of the deciding officer on the case. On receipt of this response the...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I am aware of the circumstances of the case to which the Deputy refers and of the complaint recently lodged with the Public Service Ombudsman and previously investigated by the Pensions Ombudsman. The case has also been discussed before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs. The case relates to a provision of section 48(3) of the Pensions Act 1990, which enables the...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. It is not possible to provide an accurate cost of an increase of â¬100 per week in the level of rent limits or of a 50% increase in the rent limits due to the unquantifiable impact of such increases on general market rent levels. However, as an indicative guide by reference to the number of rent supplement claims currently in payment, a...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, receive a free travel pass. It is also available to people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: The social welfare system comprises two types of payment, social insurance based schemes, which require those eligible to reach a certain standard in terms of the social insurance contributions paid or credited on their record, and non-contributory payments designed for those without the necessary social insurance record for contributory schemes who can satisfy a means test. Within that basic...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: Approximately 340,000 pensioner and other households qualify for the electricity or gas allowances through the household benefits package. In recognition of the recent increases in the price of natural gas and electricity, I have recently announced significant increases to the gas and electricity allowances. In order to cover the 33.8% increase in the cost of natural gas, from October 1st, I...
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: The person in question is a Latvian national who is working in Ireland. His family is residing in Latvia. Under EU regulation 1408/71, an employed person who is working in a Member State is entitled to family benefits provided by that State even though the worker's family may be residing in another member state. Claims processed under EU regulations generally take a longer time to finalise...
- Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: My Department engages consultancy support in a range of areas including policy development, business and organisation change and in the area of information and communications technology (ICT). The bulk on expenditure in the last two years has been on consultancy support for the delivery of strategic ICT and business programmes such as REACH and the Service Delivery Modernisation programme....
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: A person who is paid Illness Benefit is required to comply with "Rules of Behaviour" specified in regulations. These "Rules of Behaviour" ensure that Illness Benefit is paid only to people who are unable to work because of illness or disability. The purpose of exemptions to the rules of behaviour is to allow a person to return to work on a part-time basis after a prolonged absence for...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: From January 2007 persons in receipt of state pension (non contributory) can also augment their income by up to â¬200 per week (or â¬10,400 annually) in earnings from insurable employment and still maintain their pension entitlements in addition to their entitlement to fuel allowance. This new disregard, relating to earnings from employment, is an incentive to facilitate state pension...
- Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: This case has been put forward many times and I accept that there is an issue. There are huge cost implications in trying to roll this out further than it currently extends. The Deputy will be aware that I recently abolished the restriction on peak times and that will be of considerable assistance to those who use free travel. The budget also contained provision for entitlement to a...
- Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: As Deputies know, while males are not entitled under Irish law to either paid or unpaid paternity leave, they may be entitled to parental leave. Parental leave entitles both qualifying parents to take a period of up to 14 weeks unpaid leave from employment in respect of children aged up to eight years of age. Paternity leave is generally understood to be the period immediately after the...
- Social Welfare Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)
Séamus Brennan: Widows and widowers can qualify for a number of different schemes, depending on their circumstances. The contributory widow's and widower's pension is available to those who satisfy the necessary PRSI contribution conditions, either by virtue of their own record or that of their deceased spouse, and those qualifying are not subject to a means test. Those without the necessary PRSI...