Results 821-840 of 2,919 for speaker:Séamus Healy
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: That is what the Minister is saying.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: The Tánaiste said it.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: The Minister has just said that the legislation and these proposals cannot exist outside of an emergency. That is something that needs to be scrutinised because the Government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth on this issue. We have an emergency when it comes to this legislation, but there is no emergency when it comes to all of the other pronouncements made by various Ministers....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child and Infant Mental Health: Discussion (12 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: I want to apologise for my absence earlier. Unfortunately I was otherwise engaged. I welcome the presentations and like Deputy Byrne, I found Professor Nugent's presentation one of the most striking and informative I have ever read. The professor puts huge emphasis on early intervention, family support and community support during the first three years of a child's life. He refers to the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Challenges facing Camphill Communities of Ireland: Discussion (12 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: I welcome the Camphill representatives here this morning, thank them and acknowledge the excellent work it does in the 17 centres around the country for 275 residents. I know it does absolutely excellent work in the two centres in south Tipperary, in Carrick-on-Suir and Grangemockler, and I have family connections with some individuals who have availed of Camphill services over the years and...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Challenges facing Camphill Communities of Ireland: Discussion (12 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: Mr. Lynch said that one of the Camphill centres is facing closure within three to four weeks. Has the organisation met the HSE on the issue and is it aware of the position?
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: Some 14 of the 22 amendments put forward have been ruled out of order. I believe this legislation is unconstitutional and that we should have the opportunity through those amendments to bring it into line with the Constitution. The Government wants it both ways. It is bringing in emergency legislation but everything the Government states on a daily basis is to the effect that there is no...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: Are we on section 3?
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: This section deals with pensions. In a response to me earlier the Minister said I was trying to ensure pensioners would be given priority over low paid workers. That is not the position. There is no question of wanting pensioners to have priority over anybody else. The issue is pensioners receiving their entitlements. Pensions are owned by pensioners and are, in fact, private property.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: The effect of this provision is to penalise unions that want to abide by their existing agreements.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: It is targeted at gardaí and teachers. That is the practical implication of this section. Policing and education are already being affected. Forcing unions that want to abide by existing agreements into losing increments-----
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: The Haddington Road agreement.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: These unions have agreed and are implementing that agreement, but the State is now forcing them into another agreement. This smacks of the corporate state of another era.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: This is the Minister forcing and punishing unions by way of stopping increments.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: Indeed the Minister is.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: That is nonsense.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: Deputy Donnelly had an amendment down on this section at my request but, of course, it has been ruled out of order. Basically, I want to make the point that pensions are effectively private property. That has been decided by the courts. It is effectively withheld pay over the lifetime of the pensioner. I believe the question of not restoring the pension in full from 1 January is...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: This is not about contributions; it is about entitlement.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)
Séamus Healy: Yes, absolutely, but pensioners are entitled to their pensions by law.
- Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)
Séamus Healy: This is the fifth budget in a row for the rich and powerful in our society. The USC package gives the top 5% of earners, 110,000 individuals earning over €180,000, an additional €922, costing the Exchequer almost €100 million or nearly twice what they were given last year. In contrast a low-paid worker on €18,000 gets a paltry €124 per year and someone on...