Results 841-860 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Because of its mistakes. Now the Government could make another mistake, if it is not listening. If we are on the favourable side of the curve - I accept that we are not over the hump - we must bring the people with us. I am very concerned about the anarchy we are igniting in the people. I felt the underbelly of change in the last by-election when I campaigned in Dublin West. I was in a...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: There is a good deal of agreement on the section, and I agree with the Minister of State about the tax burden. People are concerned about the amount of money left in their pockets to pay their bills and meet family commitments. At the current cut-off point of €32,800, the top rate of tax is stultifying and crippling. The Leader said we were moving to a cut-off point of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I appreciate that and the same applies to myself. I seek clarification for the House on the following. Is USC now standard policy? Have we moved from the situation where it was introduced as an emergency measure during the crisis and where every citizen was asked to make a contribution? In principle, I agree that every citizen should make a contribution according to their ability to pay. I...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am discussing section 2 which deals with the USC.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are talking about low paid people who earn €20,000 a year or €400 per week. They cannot get a credit union loan, buy a car or plan a family even though they are 39 to 41 years of age but they benefit, as we go into recovery, by just €3 per week. Therefore, the scheme does not really put money back into people's pockets. We are a long way from fixing the tax system...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister of State and thank Senators Katherine Zappone and Feargal Quinn for tabling this significant recommendation. The OECD has found that in Ireland only 41.3% of workers, four out of ten, aged between 20 and 69 years are enrolled in a fund pension plan. We know that the issue of pensions is a time bomb and, as Senator Feargal Quinn said, by 2050 there will only be two...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What about the Taoiseach?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Let us have that debate, Senator Burke.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is exactly why I have been looking for the debate for the last three to four weeks. We now know from the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, that we have more than €1.5 billion extra in the State coffers that was not expected. I am not talking about a tax giveaway. I am talking about putting money back into the pockets of hard-pressed workers. Doing so will grow local...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is good to see the Government takes action when it has to. I am referring to the homelessness crisis. It struck me last night listening to the news that the centre in which €250,000 is being put will guarantee homeless people a bed until March. Pray tell me the Government will not turf the people out like cattle come March. Can the Leader clarify what that means? I compliment...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What about the law?

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I was referring to taxes on SMEs.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister is very welcome and I thank him for listening. There is no doubt that progress is being made but more can be made. The key area that many Senators have touched upon is the need for regional recovery as well as recovery in the larger cities. I am thinking particularly of rural Ireland. The Minister can make the nation more tax competitive. The World Economic Report has well...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: On a point of order, I sought a vote on an amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Given that Senator O'Donnell has withdrawn her amendment can my amendment not be taken?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Senator Mary Ann O'Brien stated there must be a game changer on homelessness and the tragic death of Mr. Corrie has presented Members with an opportunity as a catalyst for action. While of course a long-term plan is needed and of course the causes of homelessness are deep and varied, an emergency response is also needed. I do not know how anybody sleeps out at night. I was delighted to...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Can I second it, third it or fourth it?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Today, there are 350,000 young people out of school, with another day threatened in January. Moreover, it is not just the children who are studying for the junior certificate who are out, but this also affects the leaving certificate children. The Constitution states the parents are the primary educators but nobody consulted them and it is probable that 200,000 homes have been discommoded....

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am very uncomfortable with the leadership given by the teachers' unions on this.