Results 421-440 of 839 for speaker:Michael Kennedy

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: How can anyone realistically come up with that argument, that the rich should be taxed, the rich-----

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: I am saying that the rich should not get child benefit. Those earning over €100,000, if they have no child care costs, etc., have enough income to make their contribution to the crisis that Ireland is in.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: I want to hear the Deputies opposite to outline their tax proposals while at the same time advocating we can hand out substantial money totalling €2.5 billion at a time when the country is borrowing so much. On the overall tax assessment situation, surely it is reasonable to suggest that those who earn €150,000, €200,000, €250,000, or €500,000, or maybe those who are lucky enough to...

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: Maybe there are no rich people down there, but there are many horsey people who have had substantial incomes. We need honesty in this debate. The people no longer deserve to be given false hope that they will not pay tax and they will not suffer wage reductions. Some €4 billion is a substantial figure. Those without a job who I have met, who have come into my office and clinics, tell me...

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: They got it wrong and he is the only person who got it right. The Deputy had a different opinion when he was working in RTE. He has changed a little since he became a Deputy. We all are happy to change our opinions from time to time. However, the Deputy should not use this populist expression that there will not be any pain.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: That is what he is saying. The Labour Party Leader, Deputy Gilmore, said earlier that pay cuts should be negotiated. What has the Government spent the last six months doing, but trying to negotiate a pay cut? We cannot wait forever. We are talking about the 2010 budget, which is only six weeks away.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: We must get those savings. It would be wonderful if we negotiated them, but the 400,000 odd people who unfortunately have no jobs today do not look at it that way. They envy those with protected jobs with an index-linked pension at a rate that applies to the salary of the existing incumbents. Those people are very envious. The Labour Party should encourage its friends in the trade union...

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: Deputy Lee is really losing the run of himself. He knows well that before we get businesses moving again, we must get the public finances in order. He knows that. Commonsense tells him that. Without it, how would businesses-----

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: With due respect, the Deputy is getting populist again. As I said earlier, we are where we are, so let us deal with the issues today.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: We have to deal with the problems.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: Am I out of time?

Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: I thank Deputy Fahey for sharing his time with me. I welcome this Bill. As other speakers, including Deputy Fahey, have said, the introduction of legislation to replace the Road Transport Act 1932 with an Act that is more appropriate to modern Ireland is long overdue. It is incredible that the nature of bus, rail and taxi activities has not really changed in the last 77 years. I welcome...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: Question 451: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress report on the building of all purpose room or hall in phase two of the development by a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40094/09]

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: The Government's proposal is reasonable. I would be cautiously optimistic that NAMA will make a profit over the ten years. I do not have any special knowledge, but the knowledge I have equals that of anyone in the House because no one here has expertise in banking. I spent 30 years in the insurance business and every six months, insurance investment managers come into my office to show me...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: We still hear the Labour Party talk about nationalisation.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: I wish Deputy Bruton's colleagues had spoken to the amendment. I wish to talk to the Labour Party about nationalisation. This week, for the second time, the Labour Party British Government has chosen not to nationalise. It has pumped more British pounds into its two bad banks.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: Perhaps, but it has not gone the route of nationalisation which one would expect a socialist party in Britain to do.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: That will go down well with the Deputy's colleagues at the next meeting of the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary Body, when he tells those on the Labour side that they are Tories.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: Irrespective of whether it is New Labour, Tory Labour or the ordinary Labour British Government, it has not gone the route of nationalisation.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Michael Kennedy: It is similar to Anglo Irish Bank on the day the government-----