Results 1,561-1,580 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: A big, fluffy report that does not get down to specifics is not much good in this case. This is all about the detail.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: What is the purpose of this? What is change is being made to what is already there?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: There is no limit on the duration of illness benefit.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In the event of somebody being clearly ill but not ill enough to qualify for an invalidity pension, what happens after two years?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: But there is the way the invalidity pension is being treated now.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: There is no exception. In the old days people could be on illness benefit for five or six years.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: If people were clearly ill but not permanently ill, they qualified for a disability pension.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As you know, my view is, and I know the Department disputes it but I stand by it, it is a lot harder to get an invalidity pension than it was.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Invalidity pension.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Particularly for unskilled people. They are expected to be able to do jobs they are clearly not qualified to do.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Section 31 amends section 13(4B) of the principal Act. Section 31 (a)(ii) states: ...being a person born on or after 1 January 1958 who has attained pensionable age but has neither attained the age of 70 years nor been awarded a State pension (contributory)[.] That seems to imply that if you are earning €200 or €250 per week or another modest income and on a...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: What about a non-contributory pension?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: What if it is over the threshold?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Okay. I am not going to be voting against the Government. The Minister can relax.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Why, if you are drawing a pension and have made your call, would you be paying PRSI? Why does it not say “nor been awarded a State pension, contributory or non-contributory"?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Will the Minister come back to me between now and Report Stage.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is a possible but unlikely scenario. Most people on non-contributory pensions would not jump up that far over four years.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It will be very complicated for the employers.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2023)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Maybe the Minister will get me a further briefing opportunity on Report Stage.