Results 241-260 of 2,725 for speaker:Paul Gogarty

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I am merely pointing out the fact that going into Government-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I know Deputy Shatter is being facetious. I take his point and share the joke but realise that when one goes into Government and must negotiate a programme for Government, there are some things one will not necessarily like but with which one must go along.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I support this amendment but if the Whip is applied I, as a member of a Government party that supports having the budget passed in the national interest, will vote with the Government.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Shortall refers to principles. If one is morally in turmoil over one aspect-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: -----and morally in turmoil over passing the budget in the interest of all citizens so social welfare and wages can be paid, one must choose the lesser of two evils. One will be morally compromised one way or the other so I am prepared to be morally compromised for the benefit of our society.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I have made a point. The Deputy should at least accept that I take on board what she is saying about her amendment.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: It is not about courage.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: The Deputy knows the petty way this will continue.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: One cannot have a debate on a specific amendment and then-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: In the most unparliamentary language possible, Deputy Shortall, bless you. Bless you for your kind words.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I am trying to get to the substance of the issue.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: With regard to the argument being made, I have had correspondence from members of the various unions.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: They point out the pitfalls associated with reducing the minimum wage and the fact that unscrupulous employers-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: -----might take advantage of it.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Even when the minimum wage was one euro above the current level, construction workers were still being displaced by vulnerable and exploited agency and migrant workers. The issue of employers exploiting workers is not a function of the minimum wage per se but, as I said last night, I recognise the potential for unscrupulous employers to advantage of this. The point is that Germany, our...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: More jobs could be lost if we did not reduce the minimum wage. Since social welfare rates have been reduced further - we will remember yesterday's debate on this - and since wages have decreased and the standard of living has decreased for everyone, the minimum wage must also be reduced.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I agree with the Deputy on that. There are no bonuses now for bankers but a decision on the bonuses of 2008 was made by the courts. Any efforts-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I do not mind genuine debate and have already put on record that I support any effort by the Minister to try to claw the money back. However, this is-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: On the substantive issue, Ireland will be a more competitive place once again in four or five years because of measures being introduced in this budget. The standard of living will be a little lower, at 2002 levels, and the cost of living will be a lot lower. This will mean our goods and services, as traded, will be more competitive.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: The employment rate will rise once more. The Deputy should look at the consumer price index; that is what I am talking about.