Results 17,421-17,440 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

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

Joan Burton: Under European legislation, we are required to provide 14 weeks, but we provide 26 paid weeks. In the Netherlands and France, for example, only 16 weeks of maternity benefit is paid. This shows how good Ireland is. Sometimes, we undersell the strength of our agreed framework of social protection among all parties and none. As a country, we can be proud of it. These savings are important....

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

Joan Burton: Of course it is.

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

Joan Burton: That is why the Senator is so pink and healthy.

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

Joan Burton: I will give Senators some background on this matter. I will start with what the Department is spending in this area. In 2005, which is roughly the period when the boom began, the expenditure by the Department on maternity benefit was €132 million. To emphasise the increase in payments that occurred after the boom, expenditure on maternity benefits in 2012 had risen to €303...

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

Joan Burton: Yes. I am accompanied by some eminent officials who are expert in social protection. If the Senator gives us the details we will have a look at the case. I do not want to make a general comment on an individual case but we will be happy to do that.

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

Joan Burton: I do not want to labour the point but north of the Border where the Senator's party has been in government for a long time, the period is 28 weeks. All I am saying is that this is a very modest extension. In the Netherlands it is two years and in the UK it is 28 weeks. The conditionality applying has become much tougher, as I am sure the Senator knows from his colleagues in government in...

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

Joan Burton: I thank Senator Kelly for his comments. Two schemes are commonly mentioned. One is the supplementary welfare allowance, which Senator Kelly referred to, which is a weekly payment of €2 or so less than the standard €188 per week. The second one, which we will probably discuss further later, is what is called a special needs payment or exceptional needs payment, ENP, in social...

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

Joan Burton: This measure was outlined and examined as part of the comprehensive review of expenditure carried out in 2011. Savings arising from this measure are just over €20 million and they will ease the pressure on the social insurance fund, for which there was a deficit of €2 billion last year. This year we expect to have it down to €1.5 billion because people are going back to...

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

Joan Burton: I do not think I have the figure with me but if I recall correctly it is a relatively modest amount. It is €14 million in 2014 and when it comes fully into effect over a period it should be €60 million in a full year. It is a small amount relative to the total PRSI take but the principle of taxation is that if everybody and all sources yield small amounts we will avoid very...

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

Joan Burton: I should say that the figure for the full year is €20 million; I want to correct the record in that respect. That is perhaps something to raise with the Minister for Finance because the rules on calculating profits and so on rest with the Revenue Commissioners, and that might be an issue to discuss with him.

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

Joan Burton: The Senator will have to take the matter up with the Minister for Finance when he attends here to debate the Finance Bill because he made the proposal. He stated it in the budget announcements of December 2012 which we are carrying into the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill because it affects PRSI. My understanding of previous responses made by the Minister is as follows. Almost everybody...

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

Joan Burton: We hope so.

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

Joan Burton: In respect of the reference to unearned income, which was raised by Senator Norris, I point out to him, given that he is a very distinguished Joycean scholar, that the definition for "unearned" dates back to before Joyce's time. Broadly, if I can remember my income tax law, there are categories of earnings from employment, trade or a profession where one carries on an activity and income...

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

Joan Burton: I was asked whether self-employed people benefit from PRSI. The benefits have been shown by the OECD and the recent actuarial review of the Social Insurance Fund by KPMG. This was not work by the Department of Social Protection or the Revenue Commissioners but was independently done. Given the benefits they acquire, which are broadly maternity benefit, widow's, survivor's and retirement...

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: The amount of administration needed would probably not justify going below the €3,000 threshold. I cannot give an absolute undertaking on that because other Ministers, other governments and other Seanaid might make different decisions, but the administration cost of going below the current amount would not be worthwhile. On the advice of the Revenue Commissioners, the current amount...

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

Joan Burton: No, they are not disqualified.

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

Joan Burton: I was asked a different question.

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

Joan Burton: I am sure Senator Moloney can clarify it.

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

Joan Burton: Amendment No. 1 seeks to insert in page 6, line 21, after “income” the words “in excess of €6,000”. Similarly, amendment No. 2 seeks in page 6, line 29, after “income” to insert “in excess of €6,000”. I do not propose to accept these amendments. The purpose of the section is to abolish the exemption from PRSI applying to...