Results 17,001-17,020 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: To give Deputy O'Dea some background that might be helpful, in the period 2010 to 2013 there have been a total of 270 multi-agency vehicle checkpoints.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The secondment of the gardaí directly to the Department of Social Protection is the new initiative. The multi-agency vehicle checkpoints have been increased quite significantly in recent years. In case the Deputy is in any doubt, I made it clear that the estates I was referring to are industrial estates. In this case, those being approached - the Revenue Commissioners made the same...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Of course, the presence of the multi-agency vehicle checkpoint encouraged the person to go to sign off. That case would be subject to investigation to see whether there was a wider issue. As the Deputy will be aware, I brought in legislation on airports where a significant project was set up to look at those who may be welfare tourists coming repeatedly to the country with a view of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: First, I will not comment in any detail on the powers of the Garda. The multi-agency vehicle checkpoints have been underway for some time and they are a significant and important technique in terms of detecting persons who may be involved in tax, social welfare or other fraud.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: On the reason for extending these and enhancing the resources, the special investigation unit of my Department is responsible for participating in these with the Garda Síochána, and having members of the Garda Síochána working with their expertise and powers on a trial basis in the Department------

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: -----will significantly enhance the investigative powers of the Department to combat fraud.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The gardaí, under the Garda Commissioner, can do whatever they wish to do on their own.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Fraud Investigations (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Deputy O'Dea is speaking about the Garda and the Garda Commissioner's powers. As Deputy O'Dea will be well aware, the Garda Commissioner has powers to do whatever appears to be appropriate to combat crime and provide for law and order in the context of the resources of the force as it sees fit. There is no change in that regard.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Sixty percent of people then proceed to get employment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I genuinely do not understand the Deputy's position.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: We monitor it extremely carefully because it is a voluntary scheme. It is not-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: As the Deputy said, all the information and data are available-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: -----on the website. Why does the Deputy not get some of his legions of researchers to look at the website?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: There is nothing hidden.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I believed this question was in the name of Deputy Pringle.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland are in general set up under the law of trust. The trustees of such pension schemes have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of all scheme members. The Pensions Act provides for a funding standard which applies to funded defined benefit pension schemes. The funding standard requires a defined benefit pension scheme to maintain sufficient...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I am sure the Deputy is familiar with the history of defined benefit pension schemes. The employer is the sponsor of the scheme and makes promises regarding the contributions the employer and the contributions of employees, if any, to the scheme, thus determining the level of benefit that will accrue on the retirement of the employee. The reason so many schemes have difficulty is that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I appreciate that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (28 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: With regard to the investment strategies of pension funds, I do not know whether the Deputy has an objection in principle to pension funds. The nature of pension funds is that they collect payments from the employer and employee. Many employers are very good employers. The Deputy seems to believe that all employers are bad but that is not the case.