Parliamentary questions

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

1. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform took place on 12 December 2016. [40127/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bernard Durkan

2. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach if, arising from ongoing developments and indications from the UK and Europe in respect of Brexit, he is satisfied that all EU colleagues remain supportive of Ireland's necessity to remain at the heart of Europe, while at the same time endeavouring to accommodate the island of Ireland as a single market incorporating a common travel and customs area and that recognition is given to that fact that this country's geographic location in the context of Europe is such that the 12.5% corporation tax continues to prevail, thereby addressing in some part the geographic disadvantages. [1705/17]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Gerry Adams

3. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the informal meeting of the 27 EU Heads of State and Government held on 15 December 2016. [1715/17]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the matters discussed and positions agreed on Brexit negotiations at the EU27 meeting at the European Council in December 2016. [1989/17]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the next EU Council meeting and the matters that will be discussed. [2736/17]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

6. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach his plans to visit and engage with the smaller EU member states prior to Article 50 being signed in March 2017. [3072/17]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

Willie O'Dea

45. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the fact that a profitable company can close down a defined benefit pension scheme whilst the scheme is in deficit to the detriment of existing and deferred pensioners; his plans to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/17]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

John Brady

46. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria in place for those applying for carer's allowance; if any reviews of those criteria have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3060/17]

Pensions Reform

Willie O'Dea

47. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify recent comments he made in the media to establish a new SSIA-style universal scheme for private sector workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3028/17]

Local Employment Service

John Brady

48. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the reduction in referrals to the local employment services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3061/17]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

Willie Penrose

49. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the action he will take to prevent profitable companies from winding up their defined benefit pension schemes; and the way he will ensure the pension rights of workers and those already retired are protected. [3026/17]

Unemployment Levels

Bernard Durkan

50. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which he proposes to put in place incentives to reduce youth and long-term unemployment; the extent to which existing schemes require upgrading in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2761/17]

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

51. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure people on zero-hour contracts who some weeks work the required 19 hours per week to qualify for family income supplement, FIS, are granted FIS for those weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2772/17]

State Pension (Contributory)

Bernard Durkan

52. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which progress has been made in addressing the issue whereby women, for one reason or another, are deprived of contributory pensions having retired from the workplace while raising their families or due to the marriage ban and who have made a major contribution to society in the course of their working lives; if their cases will be re-examined with a view to crediting them with sufficient contributions to enable them qualify for State or retirement pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2763/17]

State Pension (Contributory)

Martin Heydon

53. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address pension reform in 2017 and, specifically, the way this might impact on many women who having left the workforce to raise families only qualify for reduced State contributory pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2778/17]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

54. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding reforming the community employment scheme qualification criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2579/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Willie Penrose

55. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection his proposals to extend more social insurance cover to self-employed persons including a form of jobseeker's benefit where a person's business fails or they can no longer continue working in their profession or trade; and when it will be implemented. [2756/17]

Farm Assist Scheme Administration

Charlie McConalogue

56. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the date the 15% income disregard announced in budget 2017 will apply to all current farm assist recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2580/17]

Pensions Reform

Thomas P. Broughan

57. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected timeframe for his upcoming action plan for pension reform, as outlined in his 2017 priorities for his Department earlier in January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2728/17]

Equality Issues

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the increasing numbers of low paid or part-time workers and the impact of this on wage inequality here, which according to research carried out by UNITE is the second highest in the EU-15, and in view of the recent decrease in the number of persons on the live register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2777/17]