Results 33,361-33,380 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Garda Retirement: Garda Retirement (15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 223: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on a newspaper article (details supplied) stating to the effect that senior members of An Garda Síochána who were retiring in great numbers of late had been just hanging on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46750/09]

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: When the Minister spoke about the Judiciary, I wondered whether he seriously expects a garda or other public servant attending a public court to take the kinds of cuts provided for in this Bill while the judge presiding over that court has an option in respect of cuts. There could not be a more dispiriting example of a lack of moral authority. Judges presiding over courts, most of whom are...

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: Several judges commented that there is nothing to prevent the Minister from introducing legislation on the Judiciary. If the Judiciary wishes to challenge it, let it do so. The Constitution seeks to protect the Judiciary where a judge makes a ruling on which the ruling Government disagrees or where that Government tries to take revenge on a judge because he or she is acting in an...

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: Does that include all its employees?

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: I can only go on what is in the Minister's speech. What about the Financial Regulator?

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: The legislation is all over the place in this regard.

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: In the report of the higher level review body, published on Friday, salaries of €300,000 are attributed to Secretaries General who will take a 15% cut. In the Schedule, they are offering 20% which is net of the 20% reduction that they apparently already offered up. The gardaí and the nurses will be offering up a real 7% while some higher civil servants will be simply offering an...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: On behalf of the Labour Party, I say we do not accept these items. We were informed the Government is preparing amendments to the emergency measures Bill which will decrease the deduction for the highest paid civil servants in the public service, bringing their deduction levels down while at the same time the Bill will provide for Ministers of State to get a 2% advantage. I understand the...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: -----with regard to that. This House is not a dictatorship. We need the information. Is the Government planning a sweetheart deal with the Ministers of State?

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: Will the Government reduce the deductions for the highest level of Secretaries General?

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: Is that true?

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: Will those amendments go into the Bill?

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: We will see if their 10% cut is the same as the previous cut.

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: So we were right. When is a cut an increase? When it is expressed by the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, in the budget speech a cut is an increase.

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: They earn more than the Taoiseach. Are you expecting us to bleed for them?

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: We are talking about cleaners getting a 5% cut and the Minister is talking about people who earn more than the Taoiseach.

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: So when is an increase a decrease?

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: This is Lenihan arithmetic.

(15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: Schrödinger's cat. Various mathematical formulae come to mind.

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Joan Burton: That is not true.