Results 35,721-35,740 of 36,138 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Seanad: Home Help Services. (20 May 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I note he has referred to old figures. He mentioned the HSE in Donegal is providing 54,246 home support hours per month, which is 2,246 hours in excess of those budgeted for. I have outlined the position for the Minister of State. The truth of what is happening on the ground is that home help hours are being cut across the board in County...

Seanad: Corporate Governance: Motion (13 May 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Seanadóir Mullen. Ba mhaith liom tacaíocht a thabhairt don rún atá curtha chun tosaí ag Páirtí an Lucht Oibre agus ba mhaith liom labhairt fa dhá pháirt den rún, an reachtaíocht maidir le whistleblowers' protection agus faoin Acht a bhaineann le freedom of information. These are the specific matters I wish to address. Regarding...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 10: In page 11, lines 24 to 48 and in page 12, lines 1 to 10, to delete paragraph (c). The amendment deals with child benefit as outlined in page 11 of the Bill. We are especially concerned about low income families with teenage children in education. The Bill proposes to remove their only form of support while they continue their education. As the Minister well knows...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I am sorry. I got the amendments mixed up. I wish to withdraw that amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I add my voice to the calls for a debate on the national assets management agency. The need for such a debate is one of the reasons for my annoyance at yesterday's Adjournment of the House after 20 minutes. While I acknowledge that it is proper to pay respects on the death of a Member, the extent of the economic crisis is such that we should nevertheless have had a discussion on a proposal...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I am aware of that. My point is that I was dissatisfied at the Adjournment of the House in the midst of the current economic crisis when we should have been debating a policy that could potentially bankrupt the State.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I add my voice to the calls for that debate to take place today. Will the Leader allow a debate on third level fees? I understand the Minister will make an announcement on this issue shortly. There are differing views on this matter from the various political parties. Sinn Féin and the Labour Party share the view that third level education should be provided from direct taxation. Fianna...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister indicated the changes will apply to students sitting the leaving certificate this coming June. The various proposals should be put to the House so Members can thrash them out and inform the Minister's decision. Perhaps the Leader would arrange such a debate. There must be a discussion on the issue of Ministers of State and the golden handshake they have received. It is...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I know we are in Easter week but I get the sense that Government Senators have taken it a step too far because some of them are acting the role of Pontius Pilate, trying to convince us they had no hand, act or part in the economic downturn and the direction that they, as representatives of the majority party in Government, have taken this country. They have left us in hock to the banks and...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Their attitude would be similar to that of the general population.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I agree with the amendment to the Order of Business. We need this debate today. I listened to Senator Boyle, who infuriated me when he spoke about Senators. As a member of Sinn Féin in this House, I only accept the average industrial wage and the rest of the salary does not go into my pockets. It is instead invested in the constituency. I have two children under the age of five and my...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The change to mortgage interest relief will bring about a massive burden on the lowest income earners. The Government has indicated this budget is fair because the CEO of the ESB or Bord Gáis on their €500,000 per year will suffer the same consequences but €1,000 to such people is nothing compared to the cuts felt by somebody on the minimum wage.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The Government has continuously talked about protecting jobs and getting people back into employment but has done nothing about it. Why did we cut €30 million out of the school building programme and €300 million from building roads? Why did we cut €200 million from building social housing and water and sewerage infrastructure? Why did we cut millions from research and development...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: He did not have to wait the same length of time when he came to the 18 and 19-year-old lads and girls out there——

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: ——who have lost their jobs. They were earning €200 per week and he decided to cut their income by 50%.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: He has decided to cut that €200.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I ask the Leader to reply on the fairness——

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Norris as ucht a chuid ama a roinnt liom. While I do not intend to support the Fine Gael motion this evening, I welcome the focus of the debate it has initiated as it is important to make progress in finding solutions. Last week, Sinn Féin was the first party to publish a job creation strategy. We announced 80 proposals that would have a direct impact...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Those jobs are the only ones that the document proposes to create. When I examined the timeframe that would apply to Fine Gael's expenditure, I was surprised to note that it would all be done by 2010. For example, the chief executive officers would be appointed by June of this year. We need solutions if we are to get the people of this country back to work. We need a long-term vision....

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

Pearse Doherty: We should not be having this debate at all. We have had a number of debates on broadband, some of which have been sparked by worthwhile motions proposed by Senator Ross which should have been supported by the House. We are talking about a technology that is at least a decade old, and a national broadband strategy that even the Minister recognises will not address the needs of customers in...