Results 3,261-3,280 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The rioting and flames in Greece broadcast on our television screens are a salutary warning to us of what we just averted by having a general election at the time we did. Are the Greek people being unreasonable in rioting? The answer is no. They are rioting because they were left in the dark as a result of bad government. The only policy now has to be truth and honesty. What we are...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In the light of this-----

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In the light of this and to be helpful to Members on all sides of the House, I ask the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Finance who I do not believe has been here since the start of this Seanad term to talk to us about the implications of the instability in the European Union for Ireland. While things are changing on a daily basis, I would like to see a roadmap, if possible. I would...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am delighted that two top semi-State executives - Mr. Gabriel D'Arcy of Bord na Móna and Mr. John Mullins of Bord Gáis - have shown leadership by waiving their bonus payments. We need to see this type of leadership at this juncture. We should not have to introduce legislation to require people to forego their bonus payments. We said as a House yesterday that the bonus culture must go....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Like Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, I, too, was concerned that those who would be affected by this provision would also be affected by JLC reviews. I put this point to a number of the hoteliers who appeared before us and was encouraged to hear them say they would only apply the measure to new, not existing employees. As the Minister said, having carried out her own research following what...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: On hearing about the raising of the pension age from 65 to 68, my first reaction was that we will be working forever. However, when I learned that currently, there are six workers for every one person on a pension and that if the current trend continues, there will be two workers for every one person on a pension by 2050, I just knew we must do something about it. From that point of view, I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is not true.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Motion for Earlier Signature (28 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2o of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to her.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like to follow up on what Senator Paschal Mooney has said and our Second Stage discussion on this issue. The Minister is establishing a special reform commission to examine the fairness of the social welfare system and the effectiveness of social protection. Perhaps, on or before September 2012, she might submit to the House an impact report on the effectiveness of the PRSI changes...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Minister of State for her comments. I was particularly interested in her reference to the French experience where the effects of VAT rate reductions were quantified and made known. It would be useful, in these times of austerity, to show that we are seeking accountability from those on whom benefits are conferred. It would be worthwhile for the Minister to make such a call on...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I compliment the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, for his handling of the bonus that Mr. Collier at DAA thought he could draw down at this point. There is a serious issue here with regard to the bonus culture that has been cultivated over many years for the CEOs of semi-State companies. These CEOs command incredible salaries. In 2009, the CEO of ESB claimed...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister to the House and wish her success in her key national brief. I also welcome the advancement of the Bill in the Seanad. As the new Seanad spokesperson on social protection for Fine Gael, I have followed the debate on the passage of the legislation through the Dáil and I have been impressed by the Minister's cogent and comprehensive rationale on each of the proposed...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I accept there is a key issue-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I accept there is a key issue between bridging the gap between expenditure and income. Why does Senator Mooney think the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, is spending every waking hour working on the issue, if not for that very reason? Before we consider the provisions of the Bill, the Fine Gael and Labour programme for Government is dealing with this appalling vista head-on. It has...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: No matter what Senators may say, we face a major challenge in terms of communicating information about the work we do in this House and also the value of such work. In that context, I support the comments made by Senators Gilroy and Mullen that a way must be found to put in place an extended process of consultation. We should approach broadcasters - perhaps, as Senator Gilroy stated, TG4 -...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: When it was put to the Minister, he provided 14.5 of those nurses because the HSE was not doing its job. The Minister will be coming to the House soon and I know he is up to his eyes with requests for meetings. He has 600 meetings on his plate at the moment. However, he is doing his utmost. How can communication be improved? The HSE is operating like a republic on its own because of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Fianna Fáil created the monster.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are cleaning up the previous Government's mess.