Results 3,121-3,140 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Democracy does not necessary save the language.

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Democracy does not save the language.

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The people in the Gaeltacht areas are represented by councillors elected in local elections and by Members in both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Dáil and the Seanad. They also have a European vote. We have to say this clearly.

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are discussing the Gaeltacht versus the State.

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is time we look at everything and ask whether what we are doing will serve or make a difference.

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Will it make a difference in terms of saving the language? An examination of the evidence on údarás would be damning. Údarás has not been a failure by any means but its elections have not made a difference to saving the language.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Any inquiry by the Committee of Public Accounts or the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform that cannot establish facts and culpability is useless. The Irish people have paid the price for the terrible negligence and behaviour of people who did their jobs and did not do their jobs in respect of the bank guarantee. We owe it to the Irish people to establish facts and...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: There must be adequate security procedures at all concerts, with entrants searched not only for drink and drugs but also, where necessary, refused entry if they are already clearly intoxicated. The first person who overdosed at the concert at the weekend got into difficulty early in the evening, at 7 p.m. We need to quit talking about this problem and instead agree to address it in a...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is a dangerous attitude.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome this useful Bill. Contrary to what others believe, I like to see the public engaged in discussions on electoral reform and that a random panel of 66 citizens will participate in the constitutional convention. It is a historic development, as well as a good one for Irish democracy. I respect we have a parliamentary democracy, but given the fact parliamentary representatives will...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They should.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister to the House. He has been lauded for his enthusiasm and clarity, to which I would add my praise for his commitment, particularly his commitment to reform. I hope he continues to listen and take on board what people are saying, while maintaining that drive for reform. I propose to focus in my contribution on the issues of access to one's personal pension, retirement...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is the place for a debate on these questions. There are other people on the exemptions list, including the Ombudsman and Revenue appeals commissioners and the rationale behind this needs to be examined. After all, we are introducing tighter pension rules to the public service generally and, as far as possible, we should lead by example. Obviously, what I am saying would be against my...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In general, I agree with many of the essential reforms. I ask the Minister to answer a number of specific questions. Public service workers - be they nurses, doctors or whatever - in pre-2004 pension schemes were allowed to retire at 60 but after 2004, if they went into a different pension scheme, the retirement age was 65. What age applies there? What is the State's commitment to public...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Changes to TDs' and Ministers' pensions should take effect from now. This is an issue that is really annoying the public and I agree with them that it is not right. A review of the Croke Park agreement is imminent and the issue of increments has been raised in that context. In the midst of a recession I, along with others such as CORI, believe it is immoral that increments are awarded to...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am simply drawing the Minister's attention to this point because he is on the economic management council and it is very important that the responsibility is shared between the employee and the employer. Perhaps this is a matter for another day. Finally, it is important that we examine, within the confines of the Constitution, how we can help people to access their personal pension funds....

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They should be able to access a portion of it, at least.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: He never promised.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Promises were not made.