Results 881-900 of 26,021 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: We, on this side of the House, are trying to restore the integrity of the banking system. Internationally, our banking system is regarded appallingly. I refer to all the banks and the Financial Regulator. What we propose is very straightforward. The Government is charged with looking after the taxpayers' money. The ten individuals associated with the Anglo Irish Bank loans were called...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: We are toldââ
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: We have been made aware that the Minister for Finance and Taoiseach said they were aware of the transactions as long ago as March. Furthermore, they said due diligence applied. At the time of the nationalisation of the bank, they knew about the â¬300 million. Will this be recovered? We are not told it will be.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: Ultimately, â¬300 million could be used for many purposes. An allocation of â¬7 million has been cut in respect of special needs education. Schools in Deputy Kennedy's constituency and mine are affected. The money could have been used to fund medical cards and a range of measures. What we are doing is trying to restore the integrity of the Irish banking system. The people are entitled...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy did not contribute to that effect.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy contributed pure tripe â Ballymagash â which does this House no justice. The Irish banking system needs a shot of integrity. International markets keeping an eye on the matter need to be given confidence. Fine Gael proposed that the board members and CEO of the Financial Regulator should resign â this is nothing personal. There needs to be a proper investigation of the...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: That does not mean it is not the correct thing to do. That is the position we have put forward. Money is being put into Anglo Irish Bank and the two main banks without any absolute knowledge. I hope tomorrow's PwC report will shed light on the situation. We came up with a simple concept, namely, to create two good banks, AIB and Bank of Ireland, and transfer the good assets into the two...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: Absolutely not.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: No. We do not want taxpayers' money to be used to fund a business that is clearly not viable.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: With all due respect to the Minister, I have 20 minutes to speak. Deputy Kennedy spoke for 20 minutes. He did not deal with anything relating to the legislation and I am entitled to a right of reply, nothing more.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: How much time do I have left?
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to deal with the issue in context. The cuts, which are emergency measures, are designed to restore financial stability to the economy. I will return to the measures, but first we must examine the matter in an integrated way. We must get funds flowing to small businesses and mortgage holders. We need an integrated approach because nothing happens in isolation. The banks, the public...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: We are doing quite the opposite.
- Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (19 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: Question 50: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the locations of the 600 hospital beds that are expected to be taken out of the system in 2009; the wards and the number expected to be closed in each ward; when they will be closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6623/09]
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: That may not be an accident.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: While many points have been touched on, there are several issues I wish to raise. This is emergency legislation which normally means it should be a short-term measure. Public sector workers see the Government willing to give â¬3.5 billion to the two main banks, â¬7 billion in total, with no specific repayment date but an open-ended arrangement. The pension levy scheme which appears to be...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: Yes, decades. National strikes do not happen for the sake of it. The reason people are marching is they believe this scheme is unfair and that the Government has not taken control of the situation. Instead, it is progressing by fits and starts. Is it fair that a public servant earning â¬18,300 a year, the minimum wage, will pay a levy of 3.5% of his or her income while someone on...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: Does the Minister accept that the pension levy is a reduction in salary for all other public sector employees?
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: Yes. If it is not the logical conclusion and it is not a reduction in remuneration for the ordinary public sector worker on modest income, then I cannot see how it would be contrary to the Constitution that members of the Judiciary pay the pension levy. The Minister needs to clarify this point. Does he now admit that the pension levy is a reduction in remuneration?
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)
Kieran O'Donnell: Public sector employees regard the pension levy as unfair and want to know whether the moneys raised under the levy will be allocated to a public service pension fund. The National Pension Reserve Fund was established by former Minister for Finance, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, to fund public sector and social welfare pensions from around 2025 onwards. The problem with the proposed pension levy is...