Results 4,681-4,700 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I am. It is about cutbacks to lone parents and the Minister herself brought in these issues.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The point is well made. We cannot let this debate continue to go all over the place. I appreciate the other issues are very important but the pressing budgetary issue is the effect this is having on families who are losing hundreds of euro and cannot afford to put food on the table or pampers on their children and must make decisions on what meal to eat during the day. It is absolutely...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Tá cuid mhaith iascairí, beaga agus móra, ar fud na tíre atá ag strachailt leis an tionscal i láthair na huaire agus tá cainteanna tábhachtacha le bheith ar siúl sa Bhruiséal maidir le tionscal na hiascaireachta. Bhéadh sé go maith dá bhféadfaimís an t-Aire atá ag plé leis seo a fháil isteach sa Teach chomh luath agus is féidir san ath-bhliain, le plé a dhéanamh ar na...

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Mar aon leis na Seanadóirí eile, ba mhaith liom míle fáilte a chur roimh an Bille seo ón Seanadóir de Bairéad. Tuigim an méid oibre a chuaigh isteach ann, ach caithfidh mé a rá ón tús nach bhfuilimid ar an bhfealsúnacht céanna maidir leis an Bille seo. Ní bheidh muid ag tacú leis an Bille, ach i gcomhthéacs na díospóireachta, má tá an Bille seo le fágáil oscailte le...

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: They are unable to take the hard decisions required to get the State's finances back in order. Therefore, in the absence of politicians of real calibre, with backbone and determination to do the right thing, no matter how unpopular it is, we need institutionalised mechanisms to save politicians from themselves — enter fiscal responsibility. If governments will not make the right...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Given that I seconded the motion proposed yesterday by Senator Fiach Mac Conghail regarding the budgetary changes to the disability allowance, I welcome the Government's decision since then to suspend those changes. It is not clear what the ultimate outcome of this deferral will be. It does not yet constitute a U-turn, but I hope that is what will happen. I hope the proposed debate on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 9: In page 7, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: "(4).-(1) The meaning given to a residential property, as outlined in section 2, shall not be amended save by the Oireachtas.".

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On a point of order, will the debate be guillotined?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We have only discussed nine amendments.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Not agreed.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, after line 43, to insert the following subsections: "(3) Residents of a building vested in a Minister of the Government, a housing authority (within the meaning of the Act of 1992) or the Health Service Executive shall not be liable for the household charge. (4) Recipients of Unemployment Benefit, Unemployment Allowance, and Single Parent Allowance, shall...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I welcome the opportunity to clarify the situation in Northern Ireland because it is often misconstrued by members of the Labour Party and Fine Gael who obviously do not know what they are talking about when it comes to the Northern Ireland situation. This is due to the lack of interest they seem to have in it. One cannot compare apples with oranges and the situation is completely different...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It is not an excuse. On a number of occasions we have called for a debate on the policies in Northern Ireland, of which this is a part, and we would welcome such a debate in the future. To clarify the thinking behind the figure of €75,000, it is Sinn Féin's policy - we are very consistent about it - that the wealthier in our society should be paying extra taxes. Senator Landy and the...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister of State for his sincere reply. I also thank all Senators who contributed to what has been a useful debate on a very important issue. I remain concerned that the groups to which the Minister of State referred do not encompass all of those who will be in a difficult position if this charge is introduced. Take, for example, the case of a person living in a family home...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: That may be so. However, our amendment No. 5 seeks to provide certainty in this regard by providing a broad definition of poverty which would encompass all of the possibilities. That is why we suggested that a study be done before a charge is introduced. We stand over the basic principle that a system whereby somebody earning €3,000 per week pays the same charge as somebody earning €300...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Nevertheless, we appreciate the input from all sides of the House. We are willing to withdraw the amendment on the understanding that we may bring forward an alternative on Report Stage. I thank Senators for their very positive contributions on the issues we raised.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On a point of order, we are withdrawing the amendment at this stage so I suggest we should be moving on to discuss the next amendment.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On a point of order, we have discussed the amendment and the amendment is being withdrawn at this stage.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, lines 31 to 41, to delete subsection (3) and substitute the following: "(3) The sum may be amended by the Oireachtas.".