Results 3,061-3,080 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: A meeting with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is required because talks should be entered into with those companies that are at risk. If the Department paid out €11 million, it is madness.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Anyone on social welfare-----

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----architects and solicitors are also on social welfare.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It was 1994-98.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister to the House. She raised many important issues, some of which I will address while addressing other more general points. The Department has two important roles. First, poverty is an increasing factor in society and the State must try to ensure every person has adequate income and resources to live with dignity. Second, the Department must ensure a balance between...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The programme for Government indicated that €800 million would be made up through pensions. The pension levy is expected to earn the State €1.8 billion over four years. If we reduce tax relief on pensions, we will kill off the attractiveness of investing in a pension that is good for the State and individuals. Life expectancy is now longer and if we decrease the tax relief on pensions...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: How could a person be incentivised to invest in a pension if that person only gets 20% tax relief going in and must pay 51% coming out. That is the current position. I would be delighted to hear answers to my questions.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is ridiculous. Is the Senator a politician?

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is very gracious of Senator Gilroy. I am delighted with his words about Senator Wilson, as I have known the character of the man both in this Seanad and the last Seanad. I listened to a great deal today in the House and I notice we are becoming extremely adversarial when we should be using this House to serve our country. If what Senator Ó Clochartaigh said is true, it must be...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I support the calls for a debate on the role of young people in Irish society and how they are treated. The only options available to young people at present, while the unemployment rate is so high, are education or emigration. We must tread carefully with regard to education. There is a tipping point beyond which things could get really bad for young people. Yes, invite the Minister,...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is time we stood up together and said who should bear responsibility for sick pay. Currently, the private sector employee is out sick for an average of six days per year whereas the average public sector worker is out sick for 11 days per year. We must grasp this nettle and say what is fair given the finances in the State.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: You got your chance and you blew it. You created all the lies.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Senator Byrne is the root cause.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I feel compelled to say how unhappy I am with the lead story in The Irish Times that the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, plans to make employers fund sick pay for employees for the first four weeks of illness.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We need to be reasonable. While this may just be a story, I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Burton, who will be in the House on Thursday, to quickly reconsider this. It is an anti-jobs move and is biting off the hand that feeds us. Employers are multipliers. They need to be encouraged, not discouraged. We know that SMEs are the lifeblood of this country. This morning, I received three...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I ask the Leader to convey my concerns immediately to the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, and, as I understand that proposals can be modified, to ask her to have a reasonable proposal on this issue by Thursday, when she will be in the House. We need to be very careful. This is about society. We are trying to instil hope and this is a "no hope" measure.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: A great idea.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (10 Nov 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I also welcome this Bill and I commend Senator Bacik for her initiative in bringing it forward. I extend my welcome to her as a member of the Humanist Association of Ireland in the House today. I accept the broad thrust of this Bill and I believe it plays an important role in allowing the joyous ceremony of marriage to be open to people of all persuasions and none. Any couple who have made...