26 MFómh 2012, 17:39
The Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection today met with the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD for a pre-budget briefing.
26 September 2012
The Programme for Government 2011 stipulates that Committees examine Estimates on a whole-of-year basis, and this meeting formed part of that initiative.
Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “We thank the Minister for an outline of the general thrust of the upcoming budget, which will seek new savings of approximately €540 million from the €20.5 billion Social Protection budget. The Minister's presence provided for a candid exchange of views with Committee Members, who are concerned that the impact of the adjustments on the most vulnerable are minimised.
“The Committee heard Minister Burton discuss enhanced fraud control measures being taken in her Department. As stated by the Minister, social welfare fraud, far from a victimless crime, undermines public confidence in the entire welfare system. In ever more straitened economic circumstances, it is imperative that the integrity of the welfare system is upheld. The Committee also heard the Minister state that, contrary to occasional perception, three quarters of those on the Live Register earn less than €188 per week and thus have a significant financial incentive to work.”
The Committee also heard from the Minister on the forthcoming EU Council of Ministers meeting, to be held in Luxembourg on 4 October.
Deputy Tuffy continues: “Our Committee engaged with Minister Burton on the approach she proposes to take at the forthcoming Employment and Social Policy Council meeting in Luxembourg. Committee Members pressed Minister Burton on pan-European funding to combat unemployment, in particular youth unemployment, suggesting that current negotiations between the EU Commission and Member States be worked through as a matter of urgency.”
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Committee Membership
Deputies:
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Ray Butler, Fine Gael
Áine Collins, Fine Gael
Joan Collins, People Before Profit
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Independent
Simon Harris, Fine Gael
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil
Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour Party (Vice Chair)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil
Brendan Ryan, Labour Party
Joanna Tuffy, Labour Party (Chair)
Senators:
Jim D’Arcy
Fidelma Healy Eames
Marie Moloney
Marie Louise O’Donnell
Averil Power
Diarmuid Wilson