Results 5,721-5,740 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 14:In page 16, after line 35, to insert the following:"26.The State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014 is amended by inserting a new section 34A as follows:"34A.The IAS Scheme shall not be allowed to close its pension scheme except where all pension scheme members are treated in an equitable manner on the winding up of that scheme.".". I have spoken about this matter...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I have not spoken yet.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no wish to burst anyone's bubble, but given the amount of bouquets being thrown at the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, today, he could open a florist shop. It is a little galling to be honest because we are here to debate a Bill, what is good about it and what is in it.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I am not feeling too Christmassy right now. We have a great deal of work to do between now and Christmas. Let us consider some of the issues that have not been covered or addressed. All of us welcome the improving economic climate in the country. Having said that, we must recognise how this is not impacting on thousands of people in this country, especially those in middle Ireland. There...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Let us consider the budget. The highest benefit in terms of tax changes will be felt by higher income earners. Tax changes will result in a gain of 1.9% for those earning €75,000 a year and 0.8% for those earning €20,000 year. They are the figures and the facts. Senators can dispute them all they want, but that is the way it is. I want to raise one matter which has been...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Hold on, they must get that agreed.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for outlining the provisions of the Bill. I am particularly disappointed the House has only been given one and a half hours to debate all Stages of this Bill. We have tabled amendments to it, as has Sinn Féin, to improve it but we will probably will not have the time to consider them. I sincerely regret taking all Stages of this Bill today as there is a good deal...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Apartment and home owners across the country pay €1,600 or €1,800, or €2,000 and more in management fees but they do not derive direct services from the local authority. They pay for their light and insurance and they pay into sinking funds for their estates. My Bill was defeated in the other House and, therefore, could not be introduced here because it was a cost on...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: We have spent a great deal of time debating how the LPT could be improved but we have gotten nowhere with this legislation bar the freezing of the revaluation. Fianna Fáil has made specific commitments on the issues I have outlined, which will form part of our manifesto to improve the tax. We will support the Bill but the Government could have done much better with the exemptions.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá brón orm. I was not allowed to share time.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, brought that in as a last-minute amendment.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State is lucky Senator Norris is not here.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 4:In page 3, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following:“5.The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new section 8A:“8A.A residential property shall not for the purposes of this Act, be regarded as a relevant residential property in a case where the property—(1) is occupied by a liable person as his or her sole or main...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1:In page 16, after line 35, to insert the following: “26. The Pensions Act 1990 is amended by inserting a new section 48A as follows:“48A.An appeals mechanism for pension scheme members shall be put in place where trustees have decided upon reduced benefits for members, and such appeals mechanism shall ensure that any category of such pension scheme...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes I do. Amendment No. 1 would put in place an appeals mechanism for pension scheme members where trustees have decided upon reduced benefits for members, and such appeals mechanism could ensure that any category of such pension scheme members have not been unfairly treated in any restructuring arrangement. At present, as Members are aware, deferred and retired members in particular...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I would not say that.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: He is the expert.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to respond to the comments made by the Minister of State. I appreciate his response and its bona fides. However, the reality of the situation is that we have living proof of what has happened to specific groups of pension scheme members. They have been disproportionately cut yet had no recourse. In many instances, particularly with larger companies, while the trustees belong to a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 2:In page 16, after line 35, to insert the following: "26. The State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014 is amended by inserting a new section 34A as follows:"34A.The IAS Scheme shall not be allowed to close its pension scheme except where the scheme has reached a minimum 90 per cent funding standard.".".

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Amendment No. 2 seeks to amend the State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014, by the insertion of a new section 34A to provide that the IAS scheme shall not be allowed to close its pension scheme except where the scheme has reached a minimum 90% funding standard. We discussed on Committee stage the general thrust on any scheme not being allowed to be rewound should it have not reached 90%...