Results 4,941-4,960 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Can I clarify the Chair's ruling on this? Does grouping an amendment mean it cannot be moved when it is reached later?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Deputy Burton's amendment was lost but I am still entitled to move an amendment that was different to hers. We have not voted on the section yet, so it has not been passed and established by the House. I would have thought I am still entitled to move my amendment.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: No, I had a 50% concession as opposed to a 100% concession. However, I will not press the matter.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I understand Deputy Burton's position on this issue and there is merit in addressing how exactly we will approach public service pensions in the longer term. I believe the Deputy is putting down a marker that the contribution under the proposed levy should be treated as a longer term approach. Another concern in this regard is whether the levy will pre-empt a longer-term approach. While I...

Banking System: Motion (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I wish to thank all of those who contributed to this important and timely debate. Since this motion was tabled there has been a growing realisation that we are fighting for our economic independence. I wish the Government well in confronting the economic and banking problems. However, wishing it well does not mean that I must suspend my critical faculties and pretend, as the Taoiseach and...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: On section 7, the Minister has indicated that gross receipts from the levy will be €1.4 billion. We have not yet been provided with a statement on the impact the collection of these moneys will have on tax buoyancy. The usual format is to provide a table setting out the gross receipts and the impact of a measure on taxation. We are informed that the Department of Finance anticipated...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Section 8 is an unusual provision in that it gives the Minister powers to modify the obligation under section 2 in any manner he sees fit. It is an arbitrary power and we have not yet seen how the Minister may intend to use it. According to the section, a group may be exempted from deductions or deductions may be modified in the event that, in the Minister's opinion, some particular aspect...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 26: In page 9, between lines 45 and 46, to insert the following subsections: "(2) Any regulation made under subsection (1) shall be approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas before it may take effect. (3) Any regulation made under subsection (1) shall not take effect for a period of 45 days from its approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas and notice shall be served on...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am sorry, deductions. If we are breaking new legal ground, it is important that such measures be approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas before they are adopted. It seems to me, although I am not a lawyer, that it would give them more legal authority. I am sure the Minister will respond to this. It would seem advisable that the Oireachtas sees what is being proposed and vote for it...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Sections 9 and 10 are relevant as we are discussing two amendments together. There are wider provisions in section 10 applying to any service rendered.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: The amendments are grouped.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: The way I read this section, I do not see any definition that confines the services concerned to professional services of the nature described by the Minister. The Minister said earlier in the debate that home help services provided by people under contract to the HSE could not be touched by this. My reading of section 10 is that these provisions could apply to a person providing a home...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: We are discussing two sections together because we are grouping these amendments. I want to be clear on the Minister's understanding of the delivery of a service. He stated that the Minister for Health and Children cannot be included under section 10 but presumably a number of people who provide analogous services to home help services in other Departments could come within the ambit of...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am asking you to explain. Do not stand up in righteous indignation. You are not explaining the matter properly.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: It sounds like righteous indignation.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am not disputing that at all.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I do not want to delay our discussion but I would have thought that if the Minister is taking onto himself a power to reduce by fiat the income of certain categories, he needs clear authority in regard to the categories to which he will apply that power. His is a broad definition which has not offered certainty as to which categories would be subject to the power. Does he not need, in order...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Perhaps I am wrong. I am not a lawyer and do not pretend to be one but I would have thought the Oireachtas needs to be clear not only in respect of whom we are giving this power to, but also against whom the power can be exercised. I do not think we have that clarity. This provision appears rather poorly defined, although I am not opposing it. I just think that in order to make it robust...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Attorney General.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: They are not listed in the Bill.