Results 1,941-1,960 of 12,585 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: While the drop in youth unemployment is welcome, it is not solely due to this measure. There was a time before 2009 when, on turning 18, claimants were paid a rate of social welfare, namely, jobseeker's allowance, that was equivalent to what everybody else got. That was changed, initially in 2009 by a Government which was led by Fianna Fáil and of which I remember being a member. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 85. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she has taken to minimise the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes and child benefit between Ireland and the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46809/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I submitted the question because, as the Minister will be aware, approximately 135,000 Irish residents are in receipt of a British pension. Approximately 35,000 people in Britain are getting an Irish pension. I want to ensure the arrangements to pay pensions on both sides will continue seamlessly despite the decision of the UK to leave the EU.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I accept the Minister's point about people's intentions but is she aware of a report published today which was presented by a joint human rights committee set up under the Good Friday Agreement and concluded that the common travel area would benefit from greater legal certainty to ensure the smooth operation of reciprocal rights after Brexit? It also stated the common travel area is not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister referred to the analysis being conducted in her Department and the study being done on various scenarios including a no-deal scenario. Is it possible for the Minister to share that analysis with the House? We are all getting queries on this matter. We all need to reassure people who are coming to us. Can the Minister confirm that the present seamless reciprocal arrangements...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to equalise the rates of jobseeker's payments for those under 26 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46810/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Has the Minister plans to equalise the rate of jobseeker's payments for those aged under 26?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It was the way the system was changed suddenly and without any consultation.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I did not say there was.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 72. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to establish a separate agency to claim maintenance on behalf of lone parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46898/18]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: Is there not a maintenance recovery unit in the Department which applies only to lone parents whose child is younger than seven years? Why has that not been extended in tandem with the changes in the lone parent allowance regulations? When the child is older than seven years the lone parent gets a different type of payment, jobseeker's transition, as opposed to lone parent allowance but...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: It is not just a question of the Department chasing errant parents but of combatting poverty. The poverty statistics among lone parents, as the Minister is aware, are particularly stark. In many cases somebody is not in a position to go to court because their partner is violent. Even when they do go to court and do not get paid the Department tends to assess them for maintenance which the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: If that has changed the change must have been very recent because as far as I can see it is still the position. If somebody is in that situation they will not want to take the risk of getting an order for maintenance which they feel sure is not going to be paid and having it assessed against any lone parent allowance they will get. The lone parent allowance will not make anybody rich and...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: If the Minister assures me that the problem is fizzling out and most people are being accommodated, I will accept that. However, I am continuing to get a number of queries. The Department might be telling the Minister that all arrears are being paid, but that certainly does not tally with the information I am getting from my constituents. I accept that the Minister is not seeking to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 70. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to rectify issues relating to the payment of illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46897/18]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I raise this issue to seek answers on behalf of those who have been suffering stress, trauma and deprivation as a result of circumstances entirely outside their control but within the control of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Illness Benefit Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: I listened carefully to the Minister's reply and I appreciate it. However, we must bear in mind that much of her reply was couched in the past tense, as if the problem had now resolved itself. I could show the Minister the five messages I received on my mobile phone today in respect of this issue. My office has probably received many more. The problem has not yet been resolved. We must...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Anti-Poverty Strategy (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether the targets to reduce consistent poverty and child poverty by 2020 will be met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46812/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Action Plan for Social Inclusion (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 124. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the national action plan for social inclusion 2018-2021 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46811/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: JobPath Programme (13 Nov 2018)

Willie O'Dea: 127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for Turas Nua and Seetec in view of the improvement in the number of persons at work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46813/18]