Results 2,821-2,840 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: It is not acceptable for the Minister of State wanting to have a hands-off approach with the banks.

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: I believe the issue of fixed rate mortgage repayments can be addressed. The point that the banks will not repossess any house for 12 months is a red herring. A bank would easily wait 12 months or more before it would apply for a repossession order, attempting other ways to resolve the arrears. When people took out fixed rate mortgages, they were not anticipating this financial crisis no...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: Senator Harris is correct that we need to examine this from the top down. However, it is not a question of someone making a voluntary contribution here or not taking a remuneration there. For example, there is a need for Members in both Houses, and Ministers, to take a significant pay cut. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, sent out the wrong signal recently, flying...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: 2.—Any funding to any financial institution to which funds are paid out of the National Pensions Reserve Fund under this Act in excess of a cumulative total of €7 Billion shall not be made save pursuant to a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. To answer Senator Burke's question, the...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: 2.—The remuneration of any officer, employee or director of any financial institution to which funds are paid out of the National Pensions Reserve Fund under this Act shall not exceed the sum of €250,000. This relates to one of the core provisions Fine Gael wants to see in this legislation, namely,...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: Yes.

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (5 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: It is almost sobering listening to the Minister of State discussing this legislation. When one thinks about Osama bin Laden's claim that he would destroy the world's economy even if it took him 30 years, little did he realise that it would take the international bankers in this country and across the world a much shorter period than that to do the destruction for which he hoped. Here we are...

Seanad: Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Second Stage (5 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: Sorry, the National Pensions Reserve Fund. It is a minor point, to be honest, given what is happening. If the Government is taking €4 billion out of this fund and is not putting any payment into it this year and next year, what due diligence has been carried out on the effects of this on the National Pensions Reserve Fund? The Government is taking out a block of four years' payments to...

Seanad: Local Economic Initiatives: Motion (4 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: I wish to share time with Senator David Norris.

Seanad: Local Economic Initiatives: Motion (4 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: When this motion was first put down by the Green Party, it had not expected the events that occurred last weekend which have made this a far more interesting debate. The two Green Party Members, however, gave us a history of micro-finance across Europe, never addressing any issues raised in Senator O'Toole's amendment to the motion. Neither did the Minister of State address these issues....

Seanad: Local Economic Initiatives: Motion (4 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Senators on the Government side did not refer to the points of concern raised in the amendment. In addition, the Minister of State appeared to contradict what is stated in the amendment. Clarification is required in respect of these matters. If the problems that beset the banking system are also at play in respect of credit unions, this will have a major impact on people's lives. I...

Seanad: Local Economic Initiatives: Motion (4 Mar 2009)

Liam Twomey: Did he become the Minister for Finance in Ireland?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Liam Twomey: I move amendment No. 6: In page 7, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following subsection: "(4) Where a person's remuneration does not exceed €18,304, the amount shall be reduced by 50 per cent.".

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Liam Twomey: No.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Liam Twomey: I am sure there would be broad support for such a measure.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Liam Twomey: I concur with Senator White.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Liam Twomey: No.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Liam Twomey: We saw what happened to Fianna Fáil leaders too and we do not need to go back that far. A man in St. Luke's got a few phone calls too.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Liam Twomey: I will follow the same line of thought as Senator White on this matter. A spokesperson from the Government benches made a big show last night of the fact that we are discussing the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill. However, it is clear that this is an income tax on civil and public servants. I always thought raising taxes was the function of a budget rather than...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Liam Twomey: The "Prime Time" programme, which was very good, focused on the cost of the public finances. One of the contributors made clear that lower paid workers in the Civil Service and public service have comparable pay with similar grades in other European countries. However, he made clear that higher paid civil and public servants, including us as public representatives, received...