Results 35,261-35,280 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: No, it is a charge.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: Will the Minister make available the advice of the Attorney General on this matter? I have been advised that it would be possible to include a clause in this Bill which would allow for a voluntary opting in by the Judiciary to this arrangement, and by the President as well. I have no doubt that the President would opt in to such a scheme, and I believe that the majority of the Judiciary...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: Many low-paid people in the public service are in for the shock of their lives when they find out they are subject to this levy. I want to talk in particular about those who work as outdoor staff for the county councils and the many people working in the Houses here who are not civil servants, but might be called industrial civil servants. They pay full PRSI for a contributory old age...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: It is not clear.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: Could the Minister clarify the position for persons such as gardaí and members of the Defence Forces who must serve a lesser number of years, 30 years, to acquire a pension? Somebody who is a member of the Garda for, say, 35 years stops paying his or her pension contribution after 30 years and cannot accumulate any extra pension benefits. Will such persons, who no doubt are definitely in...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: Section 13 does not address the questions raised by either the Labour Party or Fine Gael. It provides for a review by the Minister. I am sure that, as a competent Minister, he reviews all sources of revenue available to the State on an annual basis for the budget. However, the review provided for in section 13 has no status. If the Minister decides to outsource it, presumably it will be...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: It is called an emergency.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: I support the amendments proposed by Fine Gael. Certain categories of people who work in the public service earn very low incomes. For example, lone parents who work part time in the public service often do so because they have child care commitments. If they work only part time they can continue to receive part payment in respect of the lone parent's allowance and qualify for certain...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: The point is that the description of the Bill refers to serious disturbances in the economy.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: It also refers to providing for the amendment of the Income Tax Act. My amendments that were ruled out included a proposal to amend the Income Tax Act so that people could not get big capital tax losses from the €451 million loan deal in Anglo-Irish Bank and a number of other matters.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: I believe the Chair is misdirecting itself.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: Those of us who over our cornflakes this morning listened enthralled to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment suggesting on the radio that the problems in the economy had been solved are amazed that by afternoon tea the Minister for Finance has a completely different view.

Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: What progress, if any, has been made to bring forward legislation on management companies? The situation is deteriorating rapidly. There are apartment blocks where only three or four apartments have been sold.

Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: The management company situation is in complete chaos. These tenants are young people and the situation is also stopping people buying apartments.

Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: Does the Taoiseach have any idea when this legislation is coming in? Will the Taoiseach clarify the amending Bill for the national pension reserve fund and the €7 billion for Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland? Is that legislation being published today and when does he expect it to come before the House?

Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: I am sorry but I am not sure what the Taoiseach just said.

Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: Did he say that the legislation on management companies is to be brought forward to the next session?

Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: If the Taoiseach wants to revive the housing market, he should get his people to do something.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "1.—(1) This Act shall expire on the day that is 2 years from the date of its passing unless renewed by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. (2) Any such renewal shall be expressed to be for a period not exceeding 2 years.". This amendment provides for a sunset clause for the levy which would...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2009)

Joan Burton: The Minister may wish to look at the newspaper records and listen to the recorded conversation when the then Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, described the former chairman of the bank as his friend Seanie when they were on the same platform. It would inform the Minister of all he needs to know about the closeness of those circles. Civil and public servants are realistic. They want to see the...