Results 1-20 of 1,032,205 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Catherine Martin OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív)

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Single Means Test and Experience of Universal Credit System in the United Kingdom: Discussion (12 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I listened with great interest to what the witnesses have had to say. We must start making choices. Regarding what Dr. Brewer has said, a theoretical simple system might look very attractive but my first question is, if it was decided to go to universal credit or some system of universal payment, how long would it take to get there? Second, when the system was introduced, from what I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Single Means Test and Experience of Universal Credit System in the United Kingdom: Discussion (12 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Something I notice about social welfare theory is that there seems to be paranoia about how, if there is not an instant change in the system, someone might get a payment despite an increase in income. The working family payment works on a different principle. It takes someone’s income from last year. He or she can go off to work, earn whatever he or she wants and still get the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Single Means Test and Experience of Universal Credit System in the United Kingdom: Discussion (12 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Apologies, I have one final question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Impact of Single Means Test and Experience of Universal Credit System in the United Kingdom: Discussion (12 Jun 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In most social welfare systems, there seems to be a presumption that there are a great many lazy people out there who are perfectly capable of working but are shirking work, and they will give them a kick if they do not work and give them an incentive if they do. We effectively have full employment here. My experience from employing people in the past, before I became a politician, was that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Properties (11 Jun 2024)

Anne Rabbitte: This is a project that if the likes of it were in Dundalk or Drogheda, whereby a property was made available to the local authority, I have no doubt the Cathaoirleach Gníomhnach would stay hot on my heels until it was operationalised. It is one of those project that needs to be operationalised now. There is no point in having a building left vacant. It is now a building that will pass...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Properties (11 Jun 2024)

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 11.24 p.m. go dtí 9.10 a.m., Dé Céadaoin, an 12 Meitheamh 2024. The Dáil adjourned at at 11.24 p.m. until 9.10 a.m. on Wednesday, 12 June 2024.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Care Services (11 Jun 2024)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy and I take on board all that he said. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach today, on the floor of the Dáil, committed that he is meeting Family Carers Ireland within the next two weeks to discuss the full report there. It is unfortunate that when the Deputy knocks on a door, he has the experience that people are unaware of the fabulous day-care services that are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Properties (11 Jun 2024)

Departmental Properties

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Properties (11 Jun 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for coming in this evening. It is appropriate that the Minister of State is here to answer this question as it was she and I who started on this saga nearly three years ago. It has been a long arduous three years, as I have said. The Minister of State will be aware of the property I am referring to here. The Minister of State visited it...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Properties (11 Jun 2024)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for giving me this opportunity, and the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, for giving me the opportunity to take his question the response to which he has prepared, as it falls under the Department of Health. Out of respect to the Minister, I will read the response he has given me and then I will add my own commentary. I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Properties (11 Jun 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: That is great. The Minister of State has provided me an answer tonight that, as she said, by the end of this week it will be formally done. After those many years, that is most welcome. I know that people listening in this evening will be delighted to hear that. As I said, the response is most welcome. Now that the Minister of State has delivered the news, I would like to see Cork City...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Care Services (11 Jun 2024)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and providing me with the opportunity to discuss the matter. As Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, respite services for people with disabilities and their families are a key priority for me. In outlining his case, the Deputy correctly stated that not all of this falls under my remit. There is respite for older people as well....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Care Services (11 Jun 2024)

Robert Troy: I welcome the Minister of State's response. I do not for a minute doubt her commitment to this area. However, when we have situation where the State has made capital investments into respite houses and they are not being used 24-7, around the clock, it is simply inexcusable. Nobody should be able to stand over that. A mother of an adult child with a range of disabilities wrote: Robert,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

State Pensions

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 13. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which she expects to examine the possibility of allowing pro rata pensions for those that currently have insufficient contributions to qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25393/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Bernard Durkan: This question relates to an old bugbear of mine with the number of people who fall short of the necessary contributions due to a variety of circumstances, such as women who are spouses of self-employed people, where the Department does not always allow a partnership to exist in determining the eligibility for an insurance-based pension, and where people have a shortage of contributions in any...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department makes several payments to people over the age of 66.  One of these is the State pension contributory, which has a number of qualifying criteria, including having a minimum of 520 paid social insurance contributions.  Where a person meets the qualifying criteria, the rate of payment is calculated based on the number of contributions paid and credited. As the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Bernard Durkan: It does not actually. In a short sojourn in that Department, I made an attempt a number of times to change the situation whereby people had an entitlement because they had an average of more than 21 contributions in a year and qualified for a pension, and people with fewer than 21 contributions qualified for no pension. I contended that it was unconstitutional despite the fact that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: To be fair, we have made changes. We have the long-term carer's contribution scheme. That will make it easier for long-term carers of an incapacitated person or people to qualify for the State pension. If someone has been caring for somebody for 20 years or more, the credits will be allowed towards their pension. I think that is an improvement. There are the family caring periods. There...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Pensions (11 Jun 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I agree that the Minister has made many important improvements, but there is always room for more, particularly in cases where there is an obvious want or deficiency in the system that does not meet a particular situation. Might the Minister look at the possible costs of having a pro rata pension made available to all persons based on their level of contributions and without reference to the...