Results 1,021-1,040 of 1,150 for speaker:Frank Fahey

Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Frank Fahey: I welcome the publication of this Bill, which is a long time coming. It is a poor reflection on all of us that we are operating in 2009 under legislation introduced in 1932. Every Member in the House should bow their heads in shame that in this modern era, when we are trying to promote public transport, we are still operating under archaic legislation. There are many positives in this Bill...

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: How many minutes do I have?

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: Two will be plenty. I welcome the Bill's introduction by the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen. Like Deputy Barrett, I had the pleasure of being the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, when I had responsibility for foreshore licences. It must be one of the most bureaucratic and frustrating areas in which to work. It is not appropriate to the Department of Agriculture,...

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: How many minutes do I have?

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: Two will be plenty. I welcome the Bill's introduction by the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen. Like Deputy Barrett, I had the pleasure of being the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, when I had responsibility for foreshore licences. It must be one of the most bureaucratic and frustrating areas in which to work. It is not appropriate to the Department of Agriculture,...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: I support the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill. In doing so, I acknowledge the difficulty of this decision for the Government and all of us in terms of supporting it. There is no question but that, as a number of Opposition spokespersons have said, cutting social welfare for the first time in the State is a very difficult decision. It is one that one would rather not have to make....

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: While we have the Labour Party on one side saying we should increase taxes and not cut expenditure, the reality is-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: -----that up to 80% of public expenditure now goes on social welfare and the payment of public servants. Irrespective of who was in government-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: -----difficult decisions would have had to be made. It is important to put the difficult decision in perspective. The reality is that in the 2009 budget, social welfare increases were of the order of 3%. The net reduction on this occasion is 1.1%. The cost of living has come down by about 6% in the past 12 months-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: -----bringing it back to what it was at the beginning of 2007. Child benefit is back to 2006 levels. Therefore, the changes that are being made-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: As I was saying, the cost of living has come down by about 6% in the past year. Taking into account all those factors, the difficult decisions that had to be made ensure people will not suffer hardship. Pension rates have increased by 120% during the past 12 years. Unemployment benefit has increased by 130% and child benefits have increased by more than 330%. I reject the suggestion being...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: Social welfare increases have been very significant in recent years. There is an argument which states that the wedge that now exists between job seeker's allowance and what people are being paid on the minimum wage is quite narrow and the incentive for people to get out to work is, perhaps, not as much as it might be. A very significant issue in this budget is that, for the first time in...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: It is clear from the levels of social welfare being paid in Northern Ireland and in the UK that a much lesser amount of the national cake is being paid out.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: For example, unemployment assistance in Northern Ireland is about £80 sterling. That is the level of-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: -----payment for unemployment assistance. The reality is that if this Government did not take the hard decisions we now have to stand over in this Chamber, there is no question or doubt that the IMF would be involved in this country.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: We would have a situation where the ability of whatever party is in Government to continue to do so would be very strongly challenged.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: It is interesting to note that in today's international-----

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: It is clear that the Labour Party does not like to hear the unvarnished truth about the position we would be in if we were to pursue some of the policies it has outlined. It is clear from the response in today's international press that the Irish Government is doing the right thing in terms of cutting expenditure across the spectrum. It is quite clear from some of the comment in today's...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: It is quite evident that the decision taken in the UK to reduce VAT to 15% had no other impact other than to increase the level of imports into the UK. This again points to the reason we have got to take the difficult decisions at this time. A failure to do so would result in a catastrophic situation in the public finances. When I was Minister of State with responsibility for children I...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Frank Fahey: -----in the circumstances. This is a time of solidarity and a time in which people must pull together in order to see us out of the difficulties. I am convinced that when this is done and when we get back to economic growth and wealth creation, the first thing we should put back is the moneys we are taking away from social welfare. I have no doubt that this Government-----