Results 5,381-5,400 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: The proposed new section states: "2.—The remuneration of any officer, employee or director of any financial institution to which funds are paid out of the National Pension Reserve Fund under this Act shall not exceed the sum of €250,000.".

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: This amendment is similar to an amendment moved by the Labour Party on the night of the debate concerning the bank guarantee scheme and recently with regard to the pension levy on public service pensions. The proposed amendment is very simple in that it states that bankers' pay should be capped at the same level as that of the Minister for Finance. I do not have to explain the idea. I heard...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: The Minister's remarks have made me very angry and people listening in to the Minister's comments will also be very angry. I do not know if the Minister realises how frightened, angry and despairing many people are out on the street.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: It is astonishing for the Minister to suggest that the method of assessing the salaries of these people by means of a review committee of top people is a scientific method of assessment as compared with—— What was the word he used? He said it was scientific as opposed to——

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: It is "popular". There is a place in every country for popular feeling, particularly when we are listening to the representative of the government which has driven the economy into a ditch. I recall all last summer another scientifically based report on which the Taoiseach ducked, dived and weaved for six or seven long months, namely, the report on the remuneration of higher paid public...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: I know the Minister is an historian and I am not. However, I think that was the high point of English republicanism. Last weekend when Deputy Noel Dempsey invoked Cromwell, I think it was as one republican party to another on our sister island. I felt the hand of history was hovering over Deputy Dempsey and it might have given him a clout at any point. Is the Minister serious, a scientific...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: Has the Minister had the time to read the report? A bit like the Anglo report——

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: One would imagine it would be hot off the presses and into the Minister's hands and that he would be very anxious to read it. The Minister is indicating to the House that the scientific basis of this study will put these bankers on a comparison for payments with the top people in the top companies in Ireland. He indicated that these are companies with very large balance sheets with, as I...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. a1a: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—Any funding to any financial institution to which funds are paid out of the National Pension Reserve Fund under this Act in excess of a cumulative total of €7 Billion shall not be made save pursuant to a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas.". The purpose of this amendment is that, in...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. a1b: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—The National Treasury Management Agency shall make an annual report to each House of the Oireachtas regarding funding provided under this Act.". This amendment is self-explanatory. Its purpose is to put information into the public domain and on to the floor of this House in respect of what is...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: I am not sure that the Green Party has got involved in this, to be fair to it. God love them, they do not know where they are since they joined Government.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: Deputy Morgan should not go there, that referred to duvets. The country prospered at the same time as the concept of freedom of information. I am not a capitalist but capitalism thrives in a free market where complete knowledge is the hallmark of being able to make good decisions on how to allocate capital among competing companies and projects. Closing down information means that we do...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: This is a simple amendment concerning accountability. I strongly commend the amendment to the House so that the annual report will be of assistance to the Minister, his officials, the National Pensions Reserve Fund and the National Treasury Management Agency to get some sense of the purpose of the rescue of these banks. It is not about the banks, it is about rescuing credit and sustaining...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: I did not quite hear the Minister's comments.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. a1c: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—Any financial institution to which funds are paid out of the National Pension Reserve Fund under this Act shall take all appropriate measures including those specified by the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland in order to increase the flow of credit in the economy.".

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. a1d: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—It shall not be lawful for any financial institution receiving funds under this Act to fail to recognise at least one trade union for the purposes of negotiation, being a trade union which is open to at least a majority of its staff.".

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (5 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 34: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to expand the range of income that is subject to pay related social insurance. [9283/09]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 61: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her intentions to further reduce social welfare payments. [9282/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 53: To ask the Minister for Defence the way, in respect of the announcement of 3 February 2009, it is intended to achieve the general administrative reductions in regard to his Department; the amount expected to be saved in his Department's budget as a result of this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9761/09]

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (10 Mar 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 89: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Chad. [9762/09]