Results 1,761-1,780 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I move amendment No. 1: “Amendment of section 13 of Principal Act 4. Section 13(2)(d) of the Principal Act is amended— (a) in subparagraph (i), by the substitution of “€496” for “€441”, and (b) in subparagraph (ii), by the substitution of “€496” for “€441”.”. Section 4 amends...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I always outlined how, to keep the pension age at 66, we would have to increase PRSI. These are small incremental increases of approximately 90 cent per week for the average industrial wage. They will start in October. We are giving certainty for the next five years and I think that is fair. In five years’ time there will be a review. There are always reviews of the SIF and future...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I do not know if we have the data regarding their means. The point of this pay-related benefit is that people are better off. That is the whole purpose of it. It is not our intention to try to reduce anybody's payment. That is not the intention behind this. However, as the Deputy said, there may be some who may fall each side of the band. We can look at this as they present. I am not...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Cathaoirleach and the committee members for their co-operation and their contribution to bringing the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill through Committee Stage. I look forward to finally returning it to the Dáil and moving on with it. This is important and significant legislation. Pay-related benefit will mean a huge difference to many people. I am delighted...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: If we can, yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: It is. We will put the general scheme to the committee here for pre-legislative scrutiny. I will start then to bring the legislation through the Dáil. If I can get it through before the recess well and good. It sounds straightforward but it is actually complex enough. It is on foot of the Supreme Court judgment that we are bringing it forward. We will get it to the committee as...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: That is fair enough. As I said, I got agreement this morning so we will move on now to get the general scheme of the Bill together. It will hopefully move fairly quickly. I can talk to my officials about the next steps and about whether the committee is happy to leave it without pre-legislative scrutiny.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: It is just tricky to explain. It takes a few minutes to go through it to be honest with the Deputy.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The way it has been worked out is that the definition of "qualified cohabitant" for the scheme will be broadly based on the existing definition of qualifying cohabitant contained in the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010. That Act was referred to in the Supreme Court judgment. Therefore, we are working along the lines of that Act in terms of-----

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The 2010 Act.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Much of it will be based on that because that is where the definition of a cohabitant is in the legislation.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I am happy to provide the Deputy with a copy of the draft legislation.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I am happy for the officials to come in. When we draft the legislation, they can come in to walk and talk members through it and answer any concerns they have. I am happy to do that, absolutely.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: It will be going forward.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: That is fair enough. I had the same issues as the Deputy. In fairness to the officials, however, they have done a lot of work on this. We will hopefully be able to allay most of the concerns people will have. We put a fair bit into it because there are a number of different scenarios. We tried to look at how we can do this.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: That is great. Thank you.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (13 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: It is important to note that the State Pension age was never 65 years of age. The State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) were never paid at 65 years of age. Reducing the State Pension age to 65 years would increase pension related expenditure significantly. My Department does not have a detailed actuarial analysis of this option and therefore it is not possible...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Educational Sector Workers (ESWs) who wish to avail of income support while temporarily laid-off during the school breaks can apply for a jobseeker’s payment but must satisfy all the qualifying conditions to receive this payment, including being available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work. A person should apply for Jobseeker’s Benefit as soon as they become...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. An ANP application can be made for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the...