Results 19,001-19,020 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: It is always possible to come to a voluntary arrangement, meaning there would not be an attachment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: There can be a reasonable voluntary arrangement.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Last year, the Seanad and the Dáil passed into law legislation applying to people in receipt of social welfare payments of any kind with an overpayment to allow for the recovery of up to 15% from the principal payment. I stress that this may apply to up to €28 per week from somebody in receipt of a personal payment of €188 per week. That is to allow for recovery, as...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: They can appeal the assessment of the overpayment. That provision already exists in social welfare legislation.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: This has been an issue in successive reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General. In recent years the annual amount for overpayment, some of which arises from fraud, some from mistakes, a small percentage as a result of errors by the Department and some from estate cases, is around €90 million. In the context of the very painful changes I have had to make as Minister and those...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: All I can say is that approximately 11% of overpayments arise from what are called estate cases, in other words, after someone’s death when their will is being probated and their property is being distributed. It sometimes does emerge that people who claimed various payments from the Department may have had significant assets far in excess of the assets permitted by the means test....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I thank Senators Zappone and van Turnhout. On this amendment, it basically is introducing a facility for a notice of attachment for the recovery of social welfare overpayments in respect of, and I stress this point, people who have substantial overpayments outstanding but who no longer are in receipt of social welfare benefit, assistance or any other payment from which the overpayment could...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The issue that Senator Moloney has raised is an issue that has developed for all social welfare systems. Some employers want highly flexible labour contracts where a person is offered a very minimum number of hours yet he or she must remain available to the employer. In effect, the employer must pay for the actual hours worked on his or her premises and social welfare pays the balance....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: To which subsection is the Senator referring?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: By substituting "available for employment and"-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: It is just a technical adjustment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: It is in regard to the language and the actual script in terms of the Bill but I will get a more detailed reply for the Senator from the Parliamentary Counsel.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: It is technical. On the issue raised by Senator John Kelly-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The social welfare officers hear a great variety of explanations as to reasons people might be otherwise engaged as in the example given by Senator John Kelly. I am aware that people from many parts of the world are signing on as well as Irish people. For example, social welfare offices facilitate people if they wish to take a short holiday. I do not understand the exact circumstances that...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Senator asked that question in respect of people working in the film area.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I have not had a reply on that issue as yet as the Senator raised it on the last occasion. When I get it I will-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: As part of "available for employment and genuinely seeking work", I am going back to the Senator's example in respective of the acting profession. Suppose somebody is an actor, it is customary for such people to take part-time work elsewhere in, say, teaching or any type of work. If an actor has long spells of unemployment because he or she is unable to get work, it may be possible from...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I will go through the steps the Department undertakes. I very much doubt that many private firms would do what public servants do to encourage people and offer them as many opportunities as are humanly possible to engage with the system. Let us bear in mind that if they do engage, within three weeks, they will have purged their contempt and can have their payments restored. First, a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: I do not know if it has escaped Senator Cullinane's attention but people at work pay tax and PRSI so that we can have a remarkably decent social welfare service in this country, notwithstanding the knocks and the shocks the economy has suffered through the actions of the banks and the collapse of the construction industry. It is important, as Minister for Social Protection, that I balance my...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Yes.