Results 33,621-33,640 of 34,833 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity of speaking on the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011. I welcome the Bill, but I am disappointed by how the Minister, Deputy Howlin, is handling it in the House here tonight. I am surprised at him because he gave a clear commitment when he took office that he would be open and allow for discussion. Nothing epitomises more my...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: It does not matter. There will be ten minutes for 21 amendments. The Minister knows that what he is doing in the House is unfair. He has the numbers behind him to back it up, whether it is fair or unfair. I will come to what is doubly insulting, from the Dáil's point of view. I support the suggestions the Minister made on reductions for persons in receipt of a pension of over €100,000,...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Minister stated he will take it to the Seanad.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: No, it is here first.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Minister has said he will take that amendment to the Seanad.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: I would prefer him to table it and then allow time to discuss it tonight. We would have no problem giving this an extra hour or an hour and a half tonight. There are 21 amendments and the Minister is now bringing forward a couple of amendments on that issue.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: I understand that. However, does the Minister not see that, from the Dáil's point of view, the Minister is allowing a maximum of 30 minutes for Committee Stage amendments before Report and Final Stages? I spent hours drafting pages of amendments, as did Deputy McDonald and others in her party, but we are not given an opportunity to discuss them. The Minister is now saying he has more...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: That is for new Secretaries General.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: Yes, but I would like the salary to be covered by statute rather than relying on the goodwill of Secretaries General to volunteer a cut in salary. The Minister gets my point in that regard.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Minister's official response as to why he cannot apply this to the chief executives was given in the House last week or recently. He said there were seven chief executives still above the €250,000 level who have not taken the 15% waiver or salary cut. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, announced in the House a few days ago that there are 99 people in the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: Perhaps the Minister will give us more details when he returns from the Seanad or at the committee meeting. The Minister will appear before the Oireachtas committee tomorrow to discuss public sector reform, so we can discuss it then. I am still appalled, and the people of Ireland will be shocked, that there are 100 people in third level institutions on salaries that are higher than the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: Yes, I understand that, but there are enough brains in Ireland, and some of them could do it at even a quarter of that salary-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: -----rather than importing people to show us how to do a bit of research. The Minister gets my point. It is a little obscene that the Irish taxpayer must pay 99 people in third level institutions salaries that are higher than the Taoiseach's.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: Yes, but the point still applies. I accept there are nuances but the general point is very clear. I tried to introduce a measure to cut the pay of senior personnel when the Minister introduced the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011. The Minister said, to paraphrase his response, that he could not introduce a measure that would be narrowly focused and targeted on a specific group...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: I understand. There is very little time for Committee Stage and we would have welcomed more time for that tonight. However, in this legislation there is a separate section referring to the chairman of An Bord Pleanála and another one relating to the Ombudsman. That is targeting a very narrow and specific group of people, but I do not believe those sections will be subject to...

Constitutional Amendments (29 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach his role in relation to the constitutional convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35120/11]

Report on Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Statements (Resumed) (24 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this subject. I recognise that we do not have the level of expenditure for these areas that we might have liked or that we had in the past. Some reduction was possibly necessary in capital expenditure and other expenditure headings, but the document in front of us, which was published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin,...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (23 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 140: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for supplementary welfare allowance for rent purposes in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Laois. [36496/11]

Commercial Rates: Motion (22 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I thank my colleagues for putting the motion before the House because it is an issue that has exercised the minds of many throughout the country and one we hear in every local authority every day of the week. This has to be placed in the context of a jobs initiative. We have had various jobs initiatives during the course of the year,...

Commercial Rates: Motion (22 Nov 2011)

Seán Fleming: I am sure the Minister, Deputy Hogan will agree with me that we had a discussion on reducing the number of planning authorities at the environment committee, which I chaired, during the past few years. I accept we did not get around to doing all of this in the previous Government, we had to leave something for the next Government to do.