Results 20,441-20,460 of 21,307 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am sharing time with Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: When Deputy Fleming questions the pension entitlement of the Financial Regulator, it strikes me that he is not be alone. One would wonder about the pensions of many who sat on the opposite benches not so long ago, and why they received them. I must make that point.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: My party welcomes this legislation. Clearly, the Public Sector Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill cannot go unchecked. I welcome the Minister's comment in respect of sustainability in pensions, especially in respect of fairness, and welcome this opportunity to address the inequities of the current system which unduly favour the higher echelons. It appears that lower paid workers...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: This should be on the basis of choice, not enforcement.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: When the Minister introduced this increase in pension age entitlement it was a cutback, or a savings measure. It would be disingenuous, therefore, to paint it as some type of affirmation for active aging. Comment was made on the enabling clause. I share the reluctance to give to the Minister those kinds of powers. I note also that the enabling clause, if I understand it correctly, applies...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Broadly speaking that is the case and it is not a desirable position. The Minister has repeatedly said he cannot touch the existing schemes. In the House he indicated this was because he would consider it to be unfair. He also hinted there may be legal issues concerning notions of legitimate expectation and so on. I would like to hear something more concrete from the Minister. If it is...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The term "pension levy" is unhelpful and misleading. It is extremely irritating for people who are being taxed in a particular way to have their contribution dressed up as a pension levy. The Minister has indicated, to the trade unions and in this House on two occasions, that he perceives the levy to be a temporary measure.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes. However, if the Minister is going to inform the teachers' unions and, by extension, their membership, that this is a temporary measure, he must provide a timeline indicating when the pension levy will be lifted.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister has said on a number of occasions that he cannot provide an indication, but it is he who described the pension levy as a temporary measure. There is a need for him to address this matter. The suspicion is that the pension levy is precisely the same as the health levy in that it endures.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish to raise an issue which specifically relates to women in the civil and public service. Has the Bill been gender proofed? I raise this matter because many women and some men have what might be deemed to be disjointed careers. In other words, they might take time off from work to care for children or elderly relatives or for some similar reason. As a result of, their period of...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Pensions in the public sector account for 13.9% of the total pay and pensions bill. As everyone is aware, the overall bill has increased by 66% since 2006. This figure does not take account of all those who will retire before the end of February 2012. The major problem in this regard relates to the existing pension regime and the fact that the Government still believes it is acceptable to...

Written Answers — Museum Projects: Museum Projects (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 63: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the contact or discussions between him and the Bank of Ireland on making the Bank of Ireland premises in College Green, Dublin 2, available as a public building for use for cultural purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29857/11]

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 68: To ask the Taoiseach the saving to the Exchequer if all existing public service pension payments to former employees of State agencies under the aegis of his Department were capped at €35,000 per year. [29787/11]

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 70: To ask the Taoiseach the saving to the State if all State agency board members' annual payments were rescinded and instead board membership was awarded without remuneration. [30261/11]

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the saving to the Exchequer if all existing public service pension payments to former employees of State agencies under the aegis of his Department were capped at €35,000 per year. [29781/11]

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance the remuneration of each of the five members of the Fiscal Advisory Council. [30013/11]

Written Answers — EU-IMF Programme: EU-IMF Programme (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 85: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress he has made in negotiations with the troika to achieve agreement for partial proceeds from the sale of the State assets to be used to fund domestic investment and stimulus. [28642/11]

Written Answers — Public Service Pensions: Public Service Pensions (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance the saving to the Exchequer if all existing public service pension payments to former employees of State agencies under the aegis of his Department were capped at €35,000 per year. [29780/11]

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 115: To ask the Minister for Finance the saving to the State if all State agency board members' annual payments were rescinded and instead board membership was awarded without remuneration. [30257/11]

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 143: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the saving to the Exchequer if all existing public service pension payments to former employees of State agencies under the aegis of his Department were capped at €35,000 per year. [29778/11]