O'Dea, Willie

State Pension (Contributory)

Asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection: if the total contributions approach to calculating entitlement to the contributory pension will come into effect in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

This relates to the Government's announcement of a new system for calculating people's entitlement to contributory old age pension, namely, the total contributions approach. The Government gave th...

From the Minister's reply, I take it there is no guarantee that it will come into effect in 2020. As a result of the consultation, the necessity for legislation, Cabinet agreement etc., it may not...

I want to ask the Minister about one or two technical aspects of the proposal. I know it is in the course of preparation and the Minister mentioned a consultation process with 300 submissions, e...

As the Minister will be aware, the initial hurdle was 260 paid contributions, which equates to five years' full paid stamps. When people have paid contributions for five years they usually have ...

State Pension (Contributory) (Continued)

I appreciate the Government's ambition for 2020 but I am getting constant queries, as, I am sure, are other Members, from constituents as to when the new system will be put in place. I cannot tell...

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection: her plans for community employment schemes; her further plans to address pension entitlements for supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

This question relates to the Government's recent announcement that it intends to change the focus of community employment schemes from activation to the social aspect. The Minister has informed us...

I will get on to the CE supervisors in a moment but first I will address the Minister's reply. My reading of the Department's statement was that the situation had changed with regard to community ...

On the CE supervisors, the Minister will be aware of the Labour Court recommendation, which is now 11 or 12 years old, that indicates that community employment supervisors should be paid pensions. ...

So the answer from the Minister is "No".

It is a separate issue. Why does the Minister not respond to the question?

I have asked the Department four or five times and have had no response-----

It is an absolute disgrace.

It is an absolute disgrace.

Employment Rights

Asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection: her plans to address issues in relation to bogus self-employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Employment Rights (Continued)

Two issues have been raised, the first of which is how significant a problem this is and whether the numbers are increasing, stable or decreasing. I could argue with the Minister's contention in r...

The Minister also referred to legislation. She announced, as she also did in the Seanad, that she will introduce her own legislation. We have spent much time in the House being told by the Mini...

Pensions Reform (Continued)

The Minister said the Strawman proposals are not conclusive, which I accept. However, I notice Strawman does not advert at all to the possibility that the pension will be delivered other than by o...

State Pensions

Asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection: the status of the review under way of entitlement to an increased rate of contributory pension; the number of cases that remain to be reviewed; when the review will be completed; and if she will ma...

Disability Activation Projects

Asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection: the reason the budget for activation for persons with a disability is slightly lower in the 2019 Estimates than in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Social Welfare Overpayments

Asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection: the number of overpayments made in 2018; the number and percentage of same that were a result of fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Pension Provisions

Asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection: the status of the IORP II directive; if she will apply for a derogation for self-directed pension schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.