Results 2,561-2,580 of 4,676 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Staff (3 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 28. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of workers outsourced at each of the State backed banks; and the plans of each of the banks to outsource further. [45967/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Fuel Fraud: Revenue Commissioners (3 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Mr. Moran and Mr. Butler for their presentation. Most of this activity seems to be concentrated in specific areas in the west, and counties Roscommon and Meath. It does not seem to occur so much in the south. Is there a particular reason those areas are mainly targeted? There might be a bit in Dublin but it does not seem to hit the radar as much. There is obviously co-operation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 2. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will seek a meeting with the Department of Social Protection with representatives of the deferred members of the Irish aviation superannuation scheme in order to plan for a resolution to avoid the large cuts these members are being asked to take in their pensions. [46498/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I ask the Minister to seek a meeting with the Minister for Social Protection and representatives of the deferred members of the Irish aviation superannuation scheme in order to plan for a resolution to avoid the large cuts these members are being asked to take in their pensions.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The long-service deferred members of the IASS are very upset that the Minister has decided to move on the implementation of the State Airports Act, which allowed for the restructuring of IASS pensions. The deferred members are now facing a loss of 50% of their pensions, which should not happen to anyone. The Minister is washing his hands of responsibility and blaming the trustees. If the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Can the Minister not do something further on this? He should meet the Minister for Social Protection to come up with a solution. This is a viable company with money and other assets. These people should not be thrown to the wolves. Just because they are deferred members and their pensions have not kicked in yet does not mean they are not suffering the brunt of the cuts in many cases.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The Minister has said that if he had not signed the order the whole scheme would have been in trouble. However, he should not sign something at the expense of one group of workers whose pensions have been cut by 40% to 50%. That is bad policy and sets a bad precedent. I am glad the Minister is meting the deferred members and I hope he comes up with some solution. Surely money can be found...

Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The recent announcements made by the Government on water charges which form part of the Bill are simply an attempt by it to stave off an early general election in the hope it may be able to hold enough seats to retain power in a slightly altered set-up. The changes were not about the Government embracing fairness or trying to protect people who were struggling from another charge which they...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Rents (9 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Over the past three years, there has been much austerity coming from the Government. This has made life harder for struggling people on low and middle incomes. Some of the lowest paid and most vulnerable in society are tenants of local authorities. This is because of the very narrow parameters one has to fit between in order to be able to apply for social housing and the even more narrow...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Rents (9 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I agree that the practice in local authorities varies. That needs to be sorted out because it has been a hindrance and certainly has not been fair. I am totally in agreement with the Minister on that. I am worried that in some ways this may cost a bit more. I mentioned the senior citizens and those who made financial contributions. Many of them made considerable contributions and ended...

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (9 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: It is a great honour to speak on this important motion. As an Irish republican I am always mindful that we as a nation once stood before the world and demanded the recognition that had up until then been denied to us. The 1916 Proclamation called for our exaltation among the nations. In the Declaration of Independence we claimed for ourselves the recognition of the world that we were an...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (9 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the Minister and his staff for attending. Nearly every year, there is a supplement. The €162 million is being divided up, with public transport and road improvements receiving huge extra amounts of money. Where do we get this money? Is it purely from the lottery or the sale of assets? Can the Minister explain how we have dug up this money? With regard to road improvement...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (9 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I was specifically referring to a report to the effect that there were two projects and that there was funding available from the EU. Metro North was mentioned, I am trying to think of the other one----

Homelessness: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: At the recent summit with the Minister, Deputy Kelly, the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, officials, managers of local authorities and politicians, Sinn Féin outlined that an immediate response and provision of emergency accommodation was essential. My party also outlined how it envisaged this issue could be tackled and put forward a number of suggestions. Sinn Féin did not want...

Homelessness: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Local authorities have a scheme of letting that is signed off by councillors and is in place. That is the question I wished to ask the Minister. The key is that tenants must be protected and emergency accommodation must be provided. Housing must be provided for those in emergency accommodation and for those on social housing lists and all such provision must be continued into the future....

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I speak in support of amendment No. 20 which has been tabled by my colleague, Deputy Ó Snodaigh. Sinn Féin appreciates the desperate situation that deferred members of the IASS are left in. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald and I recently met representatives of the IASS deferred group. I knew their story but hearing it again from their own mouths was shocking. An appeals process is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 51. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the names of the persons or groups who lobbied her Department to cease rent supplement in the Ballymun, Dublin 11 area as she referred to in a Topical Issues debate on 8 May 2014. [47361/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (10 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children attending primary schools in Ballymun, Dublin 11; and if she will provide in tabular form the absentee rates for the years 2010 onwards. [47358/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for an Educate Together secondary school in Ballymun, Dublin 11. [47359/14]

Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Dessie Ellis: On road safety issues and the use of Go Safe vans detecting speeding offences, penalty points have been quashed by judges for technical reasons leading to very serious implications. Are there any plans or legislation to address this anomaly? Has the Cabinet discussed the issue? The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, indicated recently that he would brief...