Results 401-420 of 839 for speaker:Michael Kennedy
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: The Deputies on the other side of the House know where the loyalties of the sellers of the land lie.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: The point is being missed on the other side that the builders will own 100% of the debt, today, tomorrow and until NAMA is finished.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: That should not be forgotten.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: I thank the Ceann Comhairle.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: I am doing my best but the Deputies on the other side of the House do not like to hear the truth or to deal with the facts.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: I will remain optimistic on the basis of the international professional advice that NAMA will be a good deal for the taxpayer.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: Question 451: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress report on the building of all purpose room or hall in phase two of the development by a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40094/09]
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: I thank Deputy Fahey for sharing his time with me. I welcome this Bill. As other speakers, including Deputy Fahey, have said, the introduction of legislation to replace the Road Transport Act 1932 with an Act that is more appropriate to modern Ireland is long overdue. It is incredible that the nature of bus, rail and taxi activities has not really changed in the last 77 years. I welcome...
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. No doubt the Government must take decisive action. It is ridiculous to suggest that we continue to borrow â¬500 million every week and yet not take action. I listened to Deputy Lee and was flabbergasted at what he stated.
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: Of course I would be. Deputy Lee is totally out of step with his party's front-bench spokesman on finance. He is totally out of step with all of the international advisers, whether it be the IMF, the ECB or the OECD. Every one of them has pointed out ad nauseam to Ministers, to the Taoiseach and, I am sure, to Deputies Bruton, Kenny, Gilmore and Burton when they have met them, that we must...
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: If Deputy Lee does not mind, I have the floor.
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: Every reasonable person recognises - Fine Gael and the Labour Party have lately come o the same conclusion - that we must make the saving of â¬4 billion. On stating that it might be over two years, we all know it must happen in 2010 otherwise we get further into the quagmire, our borrowings will increase and the rate of interest on those borrowings will increase because those who lend us...
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: How can anyone realistically come up with that argument, that the rich should be taxed, the rich-----
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: I am saying that the rich should not get child benefit. Those earning over â¬100,000, if they have no child care costs, etc., have enough income to make their contribution to the crisis that Ireland is in.
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: I want to hear the Deputies opposite to outline their tax proposals while at the same time advocating we can hand out substantial money totalling â¬2.5 billion at a time when the country is borrowing so much. On the overall tax assessment situation, surely it is reasonable to suggest that those who earn â¬150,000, â¬200,000, â¬250,000, or â¬500,000, or maybe those who are lucky enough to...
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: Maybe there are no rich people down there, but there are many horsey people who have had substantial incomes. We need honesty in this debate. The people no longer deserve to be given false hope that they will not pay tax and they will not suffer wage reductions. Some â¬4 billion is a substantial figure. Those without a job who I have met, who have come into my office and clinics, tell me...
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: They got it wrong and he is the only person who got it right. The Deputy had a different opinion when he was working in RTE. He has changed a little since he became a Deputy. We all are happy to change our opinions from time to time. However, the Deputy should not use this populist expression that there will not be any pain.
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: That is what he is saying. The Labour Party Leader, Deputy Gilmore, said earlier that pay cuts should be negotiated. What has the Government spent the last six months doing, but trying to negotiate a pay cut? We cannot wait forever. We are talking about the 2010 budget, which is only six weeks away.
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: We must get those savings. It would be wonderful if we negotiated them, but the 400,000 odd people who unfortunately have no jobs today do not look at it that way. They envy those with protected jobs with an index-linked pension at a rate that applies to the salary of the existing incumbents. Those people are very envious. The Labour Party should encourage its friends in the trade union...
- Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)
Michael Kennedy: Deputy Lee is really losing the run of himself. He knows well that before we get businesses moving again, we must get the public finances in order. He knows that. Commonsense tells him that. Without it, how would businesses-----