Results 19,321-19,340 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15th February 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 26th April 2013, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 30th April 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Department has a statutory obligation to record and collect all overpayments. It is the customer’s responsibility to declare all income of which he or she is in receipt, including any social welfare payments. The person concerned was assessed with an overpayment of rent supplement of €20,231.38 as he had failed to advise that he was in receipt of a Disablement Pension....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 30th May 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The Government will continue to ensure that the social protection system incentivises rather than blocks the return to work for unemployed people, including the taking on of seasonal work. The activation measures available for jobseekers do not discriminate between persons seeking seasonal work and those seeking typical work. Hence, those seeking seasonal work can avail of the same range...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Eligibility (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Since the commencement of the scheme on 1st July 2011, eligibility for a JobBridge internship is based upon a person being in receipt of certain specified social welfare payments or signing for credits for at least 3 months (or 78 days) out of the last 6 months. It is critical to prioritise scarce exchequer resources at those most in need and as such there are no plans to amend this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: The maximum family rate of jobseeker's allowance for two adults is €312.80 per week or €156.40 per person per week. The spouse of the person concerned has recently been awarded jobseeker's allowance at €156.40 per week. The jobseeker's allowance of the person concerned was adjusted to €156.40 per week in order to keep the combined family payment within the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Citizen Information Services (11 Jun 2013)

Joan Burton: Galway Citizens Information Service (CIS) is funded through the Citizens Information Board to provide information, advice and advocacy services to the citizens of County Galway. There are offices in Galway city, Tuam, Clifden and Rosmuc. In addition, outreach services are provided in a number of towns, including Headford, Portumna, Loughrea, Gort and Oranmore in the east side of the county....

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: -----but merely to point out the obvious, that this is a complex problem which requires time to address properly. I am bringing proposals to Government to address the range of issues facing defined benefit schemes and the pension sector generally. The funding standard was suspended by the previous Government when the economic crisis struck in order to allow employers and trustees assess...

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: They are in trouble because of the worldwide collapse of the stock market and the way in which the stock market and bond prices have been affected. That is the core problem for the schemes, dating back to the time of the dotcom bubble and the catastrophe from 2008 onwards. On the approaching deadline of 30 June for funding proposals, more than 300 schemes are due to send in funding...

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I thank all Deputies from both Government and Opposition who contributed so thoughtfully to the debate. I want to start by mentioning today's latest employment figures from the CSO, which Deputies on all sides referred to. The figures show employment grew by 20,500 in the first quarter of the year. It is important to remind people that in the three years after the bank guarantee, and the...

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Perhaps the Deputy might give us the details relating to the case and we will examine the position. I do not want to comment on a case with which I am not familiar.

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Nobody has total wisdom on everything. I know the Deputy is an admirer of certain models but there are occasions when we can examine something in depth. The Deputy produced a report on the issue.

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I know that.

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I am working on it and have been always.

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: Privacy.

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: The Deputy might need to recheck this. I think he is wrong.

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Joan Burton: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." As Minister for Social Protection in arguably the most challenging economic period this country has ever faced, I have operated on simple and enduring principles, namely, welfare must be there for those who need it and the Government must do everything it can to help people back to work. In short, welfare must be both a safety net and a...