Results 2,161-2,180 of 34,778 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: The amendment dealt with the calculation formula.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: It is over ten or 20 years.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: I wish to speak specifically on one point I did not make. We understand the formula referred to in the appendix states at present pension rates are based on the residual part of final pay after subtracting twice the rate of the contributory State pension. This ensures a minimum floor for low-paid public sector workers. A person who never worked in the public sector and who has a spouse...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: Receive a pension.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: We agree with this. Up to now under this formula there was not an exact link, but generally the rate of increase of the old age pension matched increases in standards of living in society which were generally not too far removed from increases in public sector pay. I do not know whether anyone has figures on this, but generally we have tried to look after people on the State pension as...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: On the basis of the document we received yesterday I will withdraw the amendment.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: Amendments Nos. 28 and 29 deal with the issue of uniformed workers working on behalf of the State, specifically members of the Garda Síochána, the Permanent Defence Forces, prison officers and specified fire brigade employees. These are people in uniform who deal with emergency and other security services. Everybody knows they have a difficult task to do, which is getting more difficult...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: That is very close to what he said.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: I am not quoting him. I am paraphrasing and saying that was the gist of what he said. We have gone through large sections of this legislation and we spent eight hours on Committee Stage. In that time I was surprised by the Minister's attitude in just a couple of instances. This was one of them. In general, he was fair and reasonable and we could agree to disagree on issues, but when it...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: We understand all that. Perhaps the Minister is not happy with the level of public sector pensions, but we will come to that later. If the Minister wants to cut current public service pensions, he must bring forward proposals, but will not get much support on that. If it is the Department's view that previous arrangements have given the public sector grade of workers to whom we have been...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: Amendments Nos. 28 and 29 are grouped for discussion purposes. I welcome the Minister back to the Chamber. I know he was otherwise detained earlier today. I have said most of what I have to say on this amendment. It deals with fast accrual pensions and mostly affects the boys in uniform - prison officers, gardaí and members of the Defence Forces and fire brigades - about whom the Minister...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: I will focus my remarks on amendment No. 37, which proposes to delete section 47. While most people understood that the Bill exclusively deals with new entrants to the public service, section 47 enables the Minister to change current public service pension schemes to reflect the consumer price index, CPI. This is not a matter we have discussed on Second Stage or Committee Stage, although I...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: Perhaps it was discussed today-----

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: According to the memorandum we received from the Minister last night the new scheme will reduce annual expenditure by approximately 35%, or €1.8 billion, based on current rates. The estimated savings comprise €1 billion from linking future pension schemes to the CPI as opposed to salary increases, €500 million from changing to career averaging and €300 million from the later pension...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: I move amendment No. 36: In page 49, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following: "(4) The Minister shall publish a report on the implications of introducing a maximum clawback period of four years under this section within six months of the enactment of this Act.". Section 45 relates to repayment of overpayments of benefit. One understands why this provision would exist and agrees with...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister knows that an Opposition Member cannot table an amendment-----

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: -----calling for the introduction of a four-year period because that would ask the State to forgo reclaiming a pension payment to which it might have been entitled. Such an amendment would have been ruled out of order as imposing a charge on the State. The only way the Opposition can raise this issue is by couching it in a request for a report. I know the amendment would not work, but it...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: Those are the technicalities of how I had to phrase the amendment.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: I move amendment No. 37: In page 50, to delete lines 6 to 15.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Seán Fleming: I move amendment No. 38: In page 54, between lines 44 and 45, to insert the following: "53.—Where a scheme member or a member of a pre-existing public service pension scheme is dismissed or resigns as a consequence of having lost the confidence of the Government, he or she shall not benefit from the scheme in respect of the position so held.". This amendment relates to pensionable service.