Results 1,681-1,700 of 2,967 for speaker:Séamus Healy

Hundredth Anniversary of 1913 Lock-out: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Jun 2013)

Séamus Healy: I commend Deputy Higgins on tabling this motion and confirm my support for it. In 1913, Dublin employers locked out workers to force them to leave Larkin's union. Dublin workers fought an heroic battle but were not immediately successful. They lost the battle but Irish workers, inspired by the strikers, won the war to join a union of their choice, that is, the right to free association....

Finance (Local Property Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2013)

Séamus Healy: I support the Bill. The Taoiseach said "it is morally wrong, unjust and unfair to tax a person's home". He has reneged on that promise as he has reneged on many another policy during his period in government. This is a form of double taxation as we have already paid these taxes. It pays no regard to ability to pay. As other speakers have said, not a single extra cent will go to local...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (11 Jun 2013)

Séamus Healy: 328. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he intends to make funding available for the provision of a new school and refurbishment of the existing building (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27969/13]

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: The Government has choices in what policies it follows. As the country has some very wealthy people in income and asset terms, there is certainly room for a wealth tax to accrue much needed income for the Exchequer. If there was ever any doubt about the high level of wealth in Ireland, it was dispelled last week when the Minister's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, informed...

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: There is no doubt that the Minister talks the talk but she does not walk the walk. The Bill contains only a few minor positives. It is part of an overall policy of austerity, of making cuts and of forcing middle and lower-income families pay for a recession which they had absolutely no hand, act or part in creating. The previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government began the destruction...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: That is the Minister's view.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: That is the Minister's view.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: I support this no confidence motion and generally support the points made by previous speakers. However, my particular reason for supporting this motion is the fact the Minister has closed Kickham Barracks in Clonmel. He has destroyed the military history and tradition in the town of Clonmel.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: I was involved in negotiations and deputations to the Minister in this regard. However, the Minister was cold, callous and uncaring, particularly in his treatment of Army wives and girlfriends who represented their husbands and partners in this matter. He refused to come to Clonmel to see the fine facility that was there, thus ensuring that approximately 150 members of the Defence Forces...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: The thrust of these amendments is to shift the burden of the adjustments onto those who are very wealthy and who can afford to pay. It is important that we nail the lie that the only persons being cut in this legislation are those on over €65,000. The facts are that pensioners on income as low as €32,500 and survivors of pensioners on half that, approximately €16,000,...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: The fact of the matter is that the Government had a choice. It could have chosen to get this €1 billion from very wealthy persons.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: As I have stated previously, the 20,000 highest earners in this country have an income of €7.42 billion, that is, €370,000 per annum each. The wealthiest 5% in this country have personal assets of €239 billion. The richest 300 persons in this country have increased their wealth significantly, by €5 billion over the past two years. What I have stated about the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: What about the pensioners.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: The Minister can-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: I know that €195,000 is very well paid.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: A total of 32,500 pensioners are having their pension cut under this measure.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: It is not true, Minister. We need to hear the truth. It is not true that only people-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: Tell the truth.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: If he believes that, and given this Bill is named in that manner, why in this Bill does the Minister attack ordinary middle and low-income public servants?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: It also affects private sector workers, because 5,000 or more such workers will lose their jobs as a result of the money being extracted out of the economy under this Bill. As a Labour Party Minister, why does the Minister not target the 10,000 highest earners in the country? The Minister for Finance recently informed me they earn €5.9 billion per year or an average of...