Results 25,541-25,560 of 27,087 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 4: In page 19, lines 1 to 8, to delete subsection (4).

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Section 10(4) enables "a member of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament or .... holder of a qualifying office" who previously lost his or her seat but subsequently regained it to retain his or her membership of what we see as the more generous scheme. Why should one rule apply to someone in the public sector who happens to be a public representative when an entirely different rule...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: It is not a case of us being hard on public representatives. The Minister is aware that we have called for all public sector pay to be capped at €100,000 per annum, or €2,000 a week, which would be very reasonable in the current climate.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I accept that, but I am mentioning it in the context of the Minister's suggestion that my party is hard on public representatives. It would not be difficult for a Deputy to live on €75,000 per annum, which is what we propose. Nor would it be difficult for a Senator to live on €60,000 per annum or for a Minister or the Taoiseach to live on €100,000 per annum. The point we are making...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: What evidence does the Senator want?

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Many questions have been asked over the years about the financing of the Senator's party.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Sinn Féin does not believe everyone working in the public sector is overpaid. Many public servants are on low incomes and the vast majority of them earn less than €40,000 per annum. I hope I will be given an opportunity to respond to the Minister's challenge to Sinn Féin representatives to hand back their salaries and make the contribution we say we make-----

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: To set the record straight for the Minister, Sinn Féin's approach saves the State money. Deputies earn a salary of €95,000-----

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: -----and have take home pay of approximately €60,000. Sinn Féin Deputies take €32,000 in take home pay.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I know this is a sore point for the Minister and Senators but if they bear with me, I will complete my point. The Minister referred to net pay.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: They like to throw around accusations and make comments but do not like to listen. Perhaps the Minister will listen for one moment for a change. To return to my point, a Deputy's net pay is approximately €60,000, of which Sinn Féin Deputies take half and use the other half to employ someone. This means each Sinn Féin Deputy takes somebody off the live register, thus achieving savings...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: They can be.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: It is the Minister, not Sinn Féin, who can lower salaries.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Is it so dreadful to employ someone?

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: That is ridiculous.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I pay child-minding expenses out of my salary.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: We have greedy Senators who take the lot pointing fingers at people who take others off the live register.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: They are champagne socialists.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Vótáil.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: A number of amendments related to this section have been ruled out of order, but I want to address some of the issues under the section. It would be helpful for all of us if we could put aside some of the earlier conversations and debate because they do not do justice to the issues. I hope the Minister accepts that. It would be better for all concerned if we stuck to-----