Results 341-360 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Bogus Self-Employment: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2019)

John Curran: Thank you colleagues for your questions. Before I conclude, I would like to remind colleague that we will go into private session for a few moments. Mr. McMahon, have you any concluding remarks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Bogus Self-Employment: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I will give Senator Nash an opportunity to discuss the work schedule in the private session. We will deal with that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Bogus Self-Employment: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I thank Mr. McMahon for his attendance today, his presentation and, of course, responding to the questions. We are going to suspend for a moment and will resume in private session.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (23 Oct 2019)

John Curran: The Minister has indicated that she intends to bring the redesigned TCA to the Cabinet in the near future. I ask that as soon as that happens that it be published in order that Members of this House can have a real debate on it because there is very real and significant concern about the arrangement whereby the total number of contributions will be recorded over a working life of 40 years...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (23 Oct 2019)

John Curran: The Minister has rightly said that in 2010 the expectation was in respect of a working life of 30 years. The reason there is concern is that in the interim arrangement for the TCA as it applies to those affected by the anomaly resulting from the change made in 2012 she is using a 40-year period. I acknowledge that she has not published the document and not brought it to the Cabinet, but,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Pension (Contributory) (23 Oct 2019)

John Curran: 78. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress being made to introduce a new total contribution pensions scheme; the next steps and the associated timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43420/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (23 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I hear the Minister's reply relating to the Citizens' Assembly but given the resources of the Department, I feel the Minister should be the one to conduct the analytical review that is required. There is an anomaly because the cost of living in Dublin, particularly around housing, for people who are renting or have a mortgage, and childcare is significantly higher. I meet constituents on a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (23 Oct 2019)

John Curran: 45. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the means test qualifying criteria for carer’s allowance to include such costs as rent, mortgage payments and childcare costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43421/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (23 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I did not ask the Minister to make the payment. I made the point that as practising public representatives, we regularly meet people who do not qualify for carer's allowance. This is often the case with women and one reason is that the husband is out working. The Minister referred to an income disregard and an income deficit. What is missing from the equation, which is a particularly...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Oct 2019)

John Curran: This is a matter we raised in the House on Tuesday of this week. It was taken at the time by the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. To be honest, the response is not what we expected. It was quite poor. The HSE stated:Application for approval is based on clearly defined criteria and follow these guidelines: the number of individuals treated and their commencement on treatment is as per...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (17 Oct 2019)

John Curran: 32. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the further actions he will take to accelerate the narrowing of the gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and further improve the outcomes for those attending DEIS schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41421/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (17 Oct 2019)

John Curran: 64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school building projects at stage 2B detailed design; the number that have been at this stage for up to one, one to three, three to five, five to seven, seven to ten and more than ten years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41420/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Budget (17 Oct 2019)

John Curran: 200. To ask the Minister for Health the details of budget 2020 funding for the national drugs strategy; the increase relative to 2019; if additional funding is to be provided in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42716/19]

Social Welfare Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2019)

John Curran: Were all amendments ruled out of order?

Social Welfare Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I move amendment No. 1:In page 5, line 2, to delete “For the purposes of this Chapter, the Minister” and substitute “The Minister”. I will not take up a lot of time. We want to make some fairly straightforward points. The Minister referred to another recession. It is also worth noting that in the best of times businesses face challenges, products and services...

Social Welfare Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I am going to get to that.

Social Welfare Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I will press the amendment.

Social Welfare Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I move amendment No. 4:In page 5, line 29, to delete “52 contribution weeks” and substitute “39 contribution weeks”. This is similar to amendment No. 3. I am surprised it was ruled out of order because the principle is more or less the same. I will not have a long debate about this, but the argument is that the qualifying contributions for a self-employed person...

Social Welfare Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I want to make a brief reply. I will not delay the House. I accept that point. It is unfortunate that amendment No. 3 was ruled out of order because it nails the point on having 104 contributions rather than 156. It is a question of two years or three years. The principle of amendment No. 4 is the same as amendment No. 3, namely, that the qualification criterion for the self-employed is...

Social Welfare Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2019)

John Curran: I accept that.