Results 27,641-27,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Colbert, the famous financial adviser to the French King Louis XIV, said the ideal tax was one that produced the maximum feathers with the minimum squawk. Can we find this tweak to minimise some of the squawk? Will the Minister reveal where these tweaks dwell on the benches opposite? They have been remarkably scarce in the past four hours.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Can I clarify the Chair's ruling on this? Does grouping an amendment mean it cannot be moved when it is reached later?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Deputy Burton's amendment was lost but I am still entitled to move an amendment that was different to hers. We have not voted on the section yet, so it has not been passed and established by the House. I would have thought I am still entitled to move my amendment.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: No, I had a 50% concession as opposed to a 100% concession. However, I will not press the matter.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I understand Deputy Burton's position on this issue and there is merit in addressing how exactly we will approach public service pensions in the longer term. I believe the Deputy is putting down a marker that the contribution under the proposed levy should be treated as a longer term approach. Another concern in this regard is whether the levy will pre-empt a longer-term approach. While I...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased the Minister recognises that this proposal is of marginal cost. Surely, the corollary is that he would be willing to accept the amendment because only a very small number of people are affected and these are people who are deemed by the chief executive of the HSE to have significant financial burdens to meet. Let us not forget that the test for a medical card is financial. If...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, line 10, after "servant" to insert "and excludes non-pensionable payments". This amendment raises the issue of the categories of people and the types of payment included in this. The amendment sets out that the remuneration would exclude non-pensionable payments. We were just discussing retained firefighters but there are other categories, such as people...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Are they caught under section 10?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Section 10 deals with the charge to people providing a service.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I do not want to——

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Sections 9 and 10 extend it to services provided to the health authority and other services. Will most of those persons, if they are low-paid workers such as home helps, be caught in the same terms as——

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Does the Minister wish to comment on, for instance, overtime payments and payments that do not make up the pension?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—The Minister shall lay before each House of the Oireachtas the annual cost on an actuarial basis of the total pension liability in each Government Department and specify the actuarial costs as a percentage of pay in each major category and grade within each department.". It is important that the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I assume the Minister is not accepting the amendment but that he is willing to commit to it.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the Minister's commitment, which will give a greater understanding, but I would like each unit or Department broken down in order that we can see the picture.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 8: In page 6, before section 2, to insert the following new section: 2.—The payment of any pension levy which accrues as a consequence of this Act shall not be included in any financial assessment of means for the purposes of eligibility for any state service. This arose in our earlier discussion of people who pay the pension levy receiving family income supplement. It...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Where is that?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: Will it apply equally to means tests under the various Acts?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 11: In page 6, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following subsection: "(3) No deduction shall be made under this section in respect of a person whose remuneration is below €18,000 per year.". This amendment will provide an exemption for those earning less than €18,000, the figure the Minister used in the other levy he introduced this year. On Committee Stage of...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am disappointed the Minister is not willing to accept the amendments. While it is impossible to know whether, in two to three years' time, the issues that have prompted the Minister to believe the levy is the right way forward will have been resolved, it is important to recognise that this is unusual and exceptional legislation. The levy is not founded upon a fair allocation of the burden...