Results 541-560 of 738 for speaker:Cyprian Brady

Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008: Second Stage (5 Feb 2009)

Cyprian Brady: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. For many years we have heard, at various intervals, strong calls for workers' rights to be protected. It appears to me this only happened when issues arose which came to public attention, such as the case of the Turkish workers and a number of similar cases where exploitation was taking place. The purpose of this Bill is to secure better...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2009)

Cyprian Brady: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important issue facing the country. The introduction of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill is the first step on a long road that lies ahead of us. The daily and weekly economic developments in, and outside of, the country have opened people's eyes to the fact that Ireland is a small and vulnerable economy in the...

Inter-country Adoptions. (26 Feb 2009)

Cyprian Brady: I spoke earlier to the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, about this matter and I understand that he has a previous commitment this evening. I am raising the issue of the possible renewal of a bilateral adoption agreement between Ireland and Vietnam. As we know, the whole area of adoption is a sensitive and personal one. I have been contacted by a number of people who are at various...

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Cyprian Brady: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion because we are where we are in these particular times. The Taoiseach recently described the current circumstances as the worst global economic situation in the past 70 years. It behoves us to ensure that the measures we introduce protect to the greatest extent possible those who are in employment or are seeking work. The decisions we make...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Cyprian Brady: I will perhaps bring some constructive comment to the debate and I welcome the opportunity to contribute. Nobody in the House is unaware of the tough and unprecedented times we face. The forthcoming budget must be fair and equitable. If that is our bottom line, we can ensure the required changes will be made in such a way that people will support them, including those who have lost their...

Social Welfare: Motion (31 Mar 2009)

Cyprian Brady: As one of the Dublin eejits who worked in the employment exchanges back in the 1980s, at which time they were under severe pressure, I can appreciate the viewpoints on both sides of the counter. Those behind the counter have a particularly difficult job to do and are under severe pressure while those on the other side find going into an employment exchange in the first place traumatic, as...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: I welcome the opportunity to speak on these important Financial Resolutions. Unfortunately, Members opposite do not have a monopoly in terms of susceptibility to the pain and worry being endured by our population. We, too, are speaking to people, our work colleagues and our families about this issue. We, too, know exactly how people are feeling.

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: Last December, a plan was laid out. As many Members on the opposite side of the House appear to have missed it, I will repeat it. There were four cornerstones to the plan as laid out by the Taoiseach last December.

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: They are addressing the banking situation in order to restore credibility and confidence and to get credit flowing; attacking the gap in our public finances by increasing revenue and cutting spending in a planned way over the next couple of years; protecting as many jobs as we can, restoring competitiveness in terms of the way we do business and supporting viable but vulnerable enterprises;...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: The Government recapitalised two banks and nationalised another. It imposed a stiff pension levy on our public servants. Yesterday's supplementary budget was another step towards achieving what is contained in that plan. For us to continue to function as a country, we must ensure that we return to where we were when we were competing way above our weight internationally. As the Minister...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: We must address the gap in our public finances by increasing taxes and reducing our expenditure in a fair and sustainable manner. If anything, yesterday's budget must be seen as sustainable into the future. Some of the measures are painful-----

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: -----and they affect people's daily lives. Not alone are our constituents affected, but so too are our colleagues and families. Some of the decisions made are painful. The Government does not like associating itself with decisions that are tough on people. The Minister for Finance accepted yesterday that this budget will affect people directly. We must all go out there on a daily basis...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: On the banks, we need a banking system in this country. Everybody in this room has a bank account. Many people have credit cards and loans from banks.

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: People need banks to keep their business going and to pay their employees. We need a banking system. It was realised at an early stage that quick, efficient and drastic measures were needed and they were taken. There has been much commentary in regard to the establishment of the agency to deal with toxic assets. There appears to be some confusion on the part of the Opposition. Less than...

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: The agency will deal with banks' toxic assets.

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: It will force the banks' hand and will ensure that-----

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: -----we will not in the future have a situation whereby people are being written off by banks.

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: The new agency will ensure that banks have no excuse not to lend credit, provide overdrafts, increase mortgages if people request it or to repossess the homes of people who default on their mortgages. That is the purpose of this agency. This is what the Opposition called for less than two weeks ago.

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: This is a difficult budget. Difficult decisions had to be made. This country is facing an unprecedented economic challenge. We have come through a good period of prosperity, from which all sections of our society have benefited.

Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)

Cyprian Brady: We have improved transport infrastructure. We have increased investment in education. There have been unprecedented increases in social welfare payments. Every section of society has benefited, as I have said. We are now asking every section of society to contribute according to its means.