Results 8,061-8,080 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: During the presidential election campaign, we saw Martin McGuinness's bank accounts, which did not show any transactions other than in his local shop. From what I could see, he did not have ESB bills or anything like that. It is a matter of public concern that Sinn Féin has never set out its policy on the pensions of its own former members in this jurisdiction and the other jurisdiction....

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We are broke.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Martin McGuinness's bank statements do not show utility bill payments.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: His statement did not show any bill payments.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to state the Fianna Fáil policy on this matter, as set out in a document we published earlier this year. That document was drafted by my colleague, Senator Mary White, who has done a lot of work on this area. Our policy is that Fianna Fáil seeks to end the compulsory retirement of persons at the age of 65, whether in the public or private sector. While the provision in this...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I have no problem imposing a cap but the Sinn Féin argument is the pure politics of envy. So few people get this type of pension or would ever get it. Most people who will get a public sector pension will get a small pension. It is fair to say that those who have retired on large pensions have caused considerable public resentment. I know this only too well from those I have spoken to in...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Nothing here needs fixing because so few people are involved. Senator Cullinane is giving the impression to those among the general public who do not have these pensions that everyone in the public sector will be on such pensions. We need to show that people are on a fair pension. I agree that the pensions of some in the private sector have been wiped out and a great deal of work must be...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: There seems to be a disparity between the proposed cap on salaries of €100,000 and the cap on pensions of €60,000. That does not take into account the averaging of salaries, which I think is a good way of imposing a cap because it will prevent people from coming near the cap. The Sinn Féin figure for the cap is too high; very few will be affected by it. If Sinn Féin had its way and...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Sinn Féin proposes a maximum salary of €100,000.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Sinn Féin is looking for it.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I do not mind Senator Cullinane arguing. I am arguing with him. Sinn Féin proposes a salary cap of €100,000 and a pension cap of €60,000. Its members are simply flying a political flag and have not even thought about the figures and how they relate to each other.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: If there were to be a cap on pensions, I would set it lower than €60,000. That figure is meaningless because so few people would be affected by it and the Exchequer would not be affected. Citing the figure makes it look as though everyone is receiving one of these sixty-grand pensions. Averaging is a good way of imposing a cap. Someone who starts off as a junior civil servant and works...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister is agreeing with us.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I do not intend to say a great deal about this section. However, our very brave men and women in uniform are opposed to it and have made representations to and had meetings with the Department in respect of it. Perhaps the Minister might comment on what the representative associations of those to whom I refer have stated about the section.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Does the Minister's reference to discussion with the trade union movement include the Garda Representative Association, PDFORRA and the other associations or were the discussions with SIPTU and other such unions? The GRA is not satisfied with what has been proposed. Its members think it is unfair.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I know. SIPTU has been mentioned a lot but it does not represent gardaí, members of the Defence Forces and prison officers. It might represent fire officers. There are different categories of worker involved. A special case can be made for them that they provide a particular service that forces them to retire early. They feel that a further unfairness is being imposed on them because of...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: As I said on Second Stage, this provision is unnecessary. It pre-empts the outcome of negotiations with public sector unions in regard to the Croke Park agreement. It is putting the gun to the head of the negotiators in that agreement. It is clearly signalling the Government's intentions by putting into primary legislation a possible outcome of those negotiations. Leaving this unnecessary...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The first broken promise.

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Opposition offered that all Stages of the Bill could be taken today in an effort to be helpful and to allow the Department of Health to reach its budget targets. It will not be the fault of the Minister of State, from what we hear in the Department, but this summer the HSE is facing a raft of costs. For once, even the Government will not be able to blame the IMF or Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We will not delve too far into the backgrounds of a number of Government Senators, who were in various parties over the past ten years. It is a legacy issue and we all have legacy issues. A false Estimate was put forward by the Minister for Health in respect of the HSE at the beginning of the year. Substantial savings were promised in respect of this Bill, which was first promised last...