Seanad debates
Friday, 27 April 2012
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage
10:00 am
Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
Child benefit should be claimed only if the child is here and going to school, in a notified crèche or in the ECCE scheme. This needs serious consideration. I understand the European rules but we have national authority here and it is possible to change this.
With regard to the changes to the Pensions Act 1990 the idea of requiring 11 years to satisfy the risk reserve of the scheme is very good. Has the Minister assessed the various pension funds which cannot meet their commitments? Have they been informed? Do their employees know? In the event they still cannot fund pensions and the reserve risk is not met what is the fallback position for the people involved? Everyone works and contributes with a view to retirement. A baby born today could live to 100 years of age. People live longer.
I am concerned about the fact that people cannot avail of mortgage income supplement for the first 12 months. Is the point that the bank must give the person a holiday? If so, that is fair enough. We must move on the Keane report and the split mortgage proposal so a person is facilitated to pay back the bit he or she can while the other part is parked.
I have found an anomaly with regard to voluntary contributions. Prior to the changes being introduced a set of twins was about to qualify for the transitional pension and knew the application date was approaching. One of the twins was late applying because of a family illness and therefore did not qualify. This is dreadful. She will now require 510 contributions which she does not have. This is very hard and the case is with the Department at present. It is under appeal but only after incredible pressure.
How is the independent review body doing? I made a submission to it but I have not yet received a response. I have called for consideration of a movement away from individual schemes towards capping family social welfare income. I am not stating this would not be without difficulty but I wonder how it is going.
I am greatly concerned about whether the Minister's sick leave proposals would hurt employers who create jobs. I would like to see employees take responsibility for sick leave after a certain period of time. How is the Minister doing with regard to social insurance for self-employed people? I look forward to hearing the Minister's response.
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