Results 2,261-2,280 of 2,967 for speaker:Séamus Healy

Health Services Delivery: Motion (25 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: Any reasonable person looking at the health service will know and appreciate it is in crisis, particularly the hospital services. My colleague has just outlined the reasons for that. What we have is the implementation by the Government of the policies of the previous Government. The three key areas creating that crisis in our hospitals and health services are bed closures, of which there...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: I support the contribution of Deputy Finian McGrath on this issue. He made a very strong case in regard to this Bill, which is about grand theft. It is a discriminatory taxation scheme rather than a pension scheme. It is one of many attacks on public servants who, as we all know, have been demonised in the media in recent years, and this continues almost daily. These public servants are...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: The Minister had his opportunity. I am entitled to my say.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: It is a shame the Labour Party is involved in these attacks on public servants.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: The fact remains that this scheme will be open to legal challenge-----

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: -----on the basis that it is a rip-off. People will pay more into this scheme than they will get out of it and this is to be done on a compulsory basis. The next situation we will face will be claims that the existing scheme for existing public servants is too generous and should be reduced. In fact, this has already happened. I heard a Government party Member say as much.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: The Government and employers, IBEC and Government party Members will say this, and further down the road, existing public servants and the existing scheme of which they are members will be attacked. I reiterate I heard this stated today by Government party Members. There is no effective employer contribution in this scheme.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: This would be illegal in the private sector.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: As soon as this scheme is introduced, there will be further attacks on public servants.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: The scheme proposes a move to a career average assessment, later retirement and consumer price index linkage, which makes for a drastic disimprovement in retirement benefits for public servants. I reiterate this is an attack on public servants. The new scheme will be less generous than all private sector schemes.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: These are figures produced by the Trident report and by actuaries.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: The Minister is hiding behind his own figures and figures from-----

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: This scheme is quite clear. An independent report by actuaries has proved that this scheme is not a pension scheme at all but a rip off.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: The people in the scheme will pay more into the scheme-----

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: -----than they will get out of it.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: It is despicable that a person who claims to derive his politics and policies from James Connolly would involve himself in this kind of carry on and this kind of attack on public servants.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: The scheme is part and parcel of a campaign which has demonised and continues to demonise public servants. I refer to the increase in age proposed under this scheme. The scheme is part of various proposals and implementations to increase retirement age from 60 to 65 and thence to 66, 67 and 68, on a compulsory basis. I have no difficulty with public servants who want to work until they are...

Debt Settlement and Mortgage Resolution Office Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: It is important to remember from where the mortgage debt problem came. Part of the problem was that every part of the establishment here - the banks, building societies, Government, auctioneers, developers and media - stressed how young people needed to get on the property ladder, that money was available and now was the time to get a house. Limitless money was available from banks and...

State Companies (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will rely in the main on investment in modern industry through State companies such as the ESB and others to generate economic growth and jobs in view of problems (details supplied). [30361/11]

State Companies (19 Oct 2011)

Séamus Healy: I thank the Minister for his reply. Would he agree that the policy of relying on the private sector to create jobs and solve the economic and social crisis in this country has failed? He himself stated that the various companies under his umbrella have been successful. In the early years of the State, companies like the ESB, Bord na Móna and the Irish Sugar Company were the key drivers...