Results 17,381-17,400 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The proposals follow recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission and closely follow the scheme in the UK and Northern Ireland. I am not aware of the situation described by the Senator but we will keep the matter under review and examination. As Senator Moloney said yesterday, it is hard to credit that the Department of Social Protection in Ireland has forever failed to reclaim moneys...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: We have set up a resolution process which was the appropriate thing to do in respect of banks which have many mortgages that have fallen way below their value. People who have lost employment are finding it very difficult to pay off mortgages they may have taken out at the height of the boom. In essence, that is the problem. The Senator asked if there was a resolution process from the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection has set up with the banks an information and advice service on a telephone basis through the Citizens Information Bureau which is a well-respected source of information. In addition, we have offered a consultation, which is paid for by the banks but independent of the banks, for people who are being offered a resolution process where they can get a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Over four years.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I emphasise again that in one case I drew to Members' attention yesterday, two loans were taken out on a house totalling €230,000. Mortgage interest supplement was paid for six years, while people's-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: ----- lives were put on hold, as the capacity to work and perhaps to start one's own business again is heavily restricted. Over that period, mortgage interest supplement of €46,000 was paid, at the end of which the loan outstanding actually had risen to €241,000, that is, by €11,000. My point to Members is this money is simply going straight to the banks and what is...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: More than €319 million has been spent in this regard since the bank crash. I often discussed this issue with Senator Byrne's colleague, the former Minister for Finance, the late Brian Lenihan, who incidentally was a friend of mine. Had a resolution process been put in place-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I am aware of that and I also had the highest regard for him personally. However, we often discussed these issues privately and away from politics and to be perfectly honest, I must state bluntly that €319 million simply has been given to the banks, as opposed to seeking a resolution process. I acknowledge the resolution processes have been slow in getting under way but they are now...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: As Senator Mooney noted, we had a detailed discussion on this yesterday. Since the bank crash in 2008 the Department has spent €319 million on the payment. Reference has been made to other solutions. I only wish that some of that had gone on mortgage-to-rent solutions. I gave some examples yesterday. Essentially, we have ended up in some cases paying between €50,000 to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: No, it is in the Department of Social Protection. The amounts involve other Departments which is the way it then climbs up, as it were. The Senator will know from her experience in training that the major significant spender on education and training is the Department of Education and Skills, and the old FÁS training side which is now in the Department of Education and Skills. The new...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: No.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I said that I have been invited by a number of the Senator's colleagues and presumably now by the Senator to come back and discuss the matter with the House in some detail in the future when the details have been finalised and agreement has been reached at European level because it is also a European programme. I have undertaken to come back at that stage and will be more than happy to do...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: As the Chair has said, we had a detailed discussion on many of these points earlier. I do not want to repeat what was put on the record of the House at that time. To be helpful to Senator Healy Eames, in particular, I told Senators earlier that I travelled to Germany with the Taoiseach at the beginning of the summer to go through the details of what a youth guarantee would entail at a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: The Senator did. He might not have noticed himself doing it, but he did.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: I heard the Senator say it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: Perhaps the Senator misspoke.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: That is a concession.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: There is not much more to say. I have given an outline of where the places are to be. I think there might be a "go to" position to disbelieve that anything in Ireland ever gets better. That is selling ourselves and the country short. It is important that we send out a very positive message, particularly where young people are involved. I have a very strong commitment to young people. I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Joan Burton: -----but over the years the officials in the Department have been very understanding towards people in the acting profession who were unable to find work. As I said previously, where the period of unemployment becomes very extensive and their specific acting talents may not be in demand, it might be appropriate that they would consider either other fields or adjacent fields. I know some...