Results 1,861-1,880 of 12,619 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: When will an inquiry be established to enable the victims of the cervical cancer controversy to have their cases heard and determined by a judge in private? Can the Taoiseach reassure the House that the mandatory disclosures Bill will be before the House early in 2019, so that doctors will no longer be able to withhold information from patients?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It could operate on an ad hoc basis.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2019 (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I have also studied the recent figures and what the Minister did not say was that some of the movements were extremely slow, while others have moved in the opposite direction. However, I do concede that the position is generally improving. Nevertheless, I put it to the Minister that many people have still been left behind. One in five children is living below the poverty line. Some 10,000...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2019 (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 51. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a recent ESRI report which found that as a result of budget 2019, lower income households will face proportionately greater losses than higher income households that benefit more from cuts to the universal social charge and an increase in the higher rate threshold for income tax; and if she will make a statement...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2019 (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: My question relates to the recent Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, report on the effects of overall income distribution of the budget. Will the Minister comment on the report?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2019 (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: There are different ways of measuring income, and there is no rule that says one way is better, more equitable or correct than another. The ESRI, using its measurement system, concluded that the budget represents a small net loss for households on average, with larger than proportional losses for lone parents, retirees and lower income households. Page 14 of the report states:losses of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 42. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provision has been made for a dedicated mortgage advice system for MABS; the number of mortgage advisers this will include; when they are due to take up contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53329/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: My question relates to the dedicated mortgage advisers who have been allocated to MABS to assist people who are struggling with debt, particularly related to their family homes. I ask the Minister to provide details on the status of that programme, the numbers of advisers involved and the type of contract they have.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I appreciate the work the advisers are doing. They are doing tremendous work and I compliment them on that. However, there is a difficulty here. The Minister said that €2.5 million has been allocated and I presume that sum has been allocated to the Citizen's Information Board to pay the dedicated mortgage advisers. However, the advisers' contracts have only been extended until 15...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I accept that the Minister is to recommend to Cabinet that Government authorises the continuation of the contract until the end of 2019. I ask her to do so immediately because there is an element of uncertainty here which has resulted in mortgage advisers deciding not to take on any new clients from 1 January. This is an undesirable situation. It is also my understanding that because many...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: They are not taking on any new clients from 1 January.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Reform (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Can the Minister confirm that nobody who used a photocopied form has been paid? Is she aware of a survey done by the national GP forum in recent weeks that indicated that 70% of GPs surveyed were still using the old forms or photocopies? Is she also aware there are a number of legal cases pending against the Department in respect of this matter? I am told there are at least five such cases.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Reform (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 40. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position in regard to the issue of medical certificates for illness benefit; the number of doctors who have accepted the new forms; the number still using the old certificates; if doctors who continue to operate with the old certificate since the changes were introduced have been compensated; and if she will make a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Reform (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: This question relates to a unilateral decision by the Department to change the certification system for illness benefit without any notification or advanced consultation. Will the Minister indicate if the situation has settled down and if the new system is operating seamlessly?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Reform (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Minister for her response but the information I am getting contradicts it to some extent. The Minister said that GPs could continue to use the old forms until such time as stock was exhausted. The information available to me is such that photocopies of certificates are being submitted, which means GPs continued to use the old forms when stock ran out and they have been paid in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 57. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans to introduce an auto-enrolment pension system; the expected date the system will come into operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53324/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 63. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the recovery of overpayments for social welfare; the amount outstanding for persons that are unemployed; the amount outstanding for persons in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53323/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Brexit Issues (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 70. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to expedite the analysis being conducted by her Department on the impact of Brexit and reciprocal arrangements in view of the increased uncertainty regarding Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53325/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 83. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of self-employed persons that have qualified for the invalidity pension; the date on which jobseeker's benefit will be extended to the self-employed; the estimated cost of extending the benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53322/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Poverty (19 Dec 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 545. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current data on child poverty here; the likelihood of achieving the child poverty target; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53696/18]