Results 1,321-1,340 of 4,782 for speaker:Olwyn Enright

Written Answers — Natural History Museum: Natural History Museum (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: Question 90: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made on the reopening of the Natural History Museum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16464/09]

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: Not all companies.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: I have two points to make. It is a bit of a contradiction to say that people paid in in the expectation that they would be getting a certain amount, while at the same time the same people paid in in the expectation that they would be getting the post-retirement increases also. We are passing legislation to change the priority of that, so there is no reason we cannot change the priority of...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: That is not the issue. The reason we are so trenchant in our opposition to how it is being handled is because it is so important. There is one thing I cannot understand. The Minister has talked repeatedly about the urgency of this legislation and I do not discount that. However, the budget was only three weeks ago and the Minister for Finance did not talk about this matter then. It was...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: While I do not have a problem with the technical aspect of the amendments, I have a problem with the principle behind them. I accept this measure has been introduced as a result of a budget in which difficult decisions were required but disagree with the manner in which they were reached. The Government did the opposite of what the Fine Gael Party proposed. We sought to reduce borrowing...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: That is not true.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: What about hitting some of the quangos?

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: It is progressive only in the sense that if one earns more one pays more, but the doubling of the levy is not progressive. The Minister is right in that choices had to be made, but it is the choices made by the Government with which we have a difficulty. The emphasis was put on the easier option, which was increasing taxation, rather than asking every Department to go through its spending...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: We had an overall package before the budget. That is how we wanted to do it.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: That is doing it by the Minister's rules. It does not have to be done that way.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: Stealth taxation.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: We are limited in how we can table amendments on social welfare legislation. We have to ask for a report.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: The same issues arise in regard to the employment contributions that I raised in respect of the health levy. Fine Gael set out proposals regarding the PRSI ceiling in our budget submission as part of a totality of proposals which the Government did not take on board. When one takes the proposals in this section regarding the PRSI contributions in conjunction with the health levy and income...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: I thank the Minister for her clarification regarding some of the points. I was not aware of the groupings when I said we might not reach these matters but obviously they are first in priority. I still have some concerns with regard to the Bill and some questions to which I either have no answers or am not clear about the nature of the answers. We accept there is some urgency in this, but I...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: I apologise. I was considering the Minister's amendments rather than my own. I sort of spoke to my amendments but will do so again briefly. I referred to the difference between the sizes of pension for someone at the highest level of a company and someone at the low end. While on the pro rata and percentage basis the pain is shared equally, the difference between what those two people...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Instruction to Committee (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: This is the first time I have participated in a second debate on Second Stage of a Bill. The Fine Gael Party and I object in the strongest possible terms to the way the Government is ordering the business of the House and bringing legislation before it. The Minister says she appreciates the complexity of the legislation. This gives no recognition to the fact that advisers from her own...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Instruction to Committee (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: There is an inherent contradiction in rushing this business. The Minister said the Minister for Finance will be required to make regulations. Will he make those regulations on Thursday or Friday when the measure has been passed by the Seanad or will we wait even further? While he and his Department are making those regulations, surely Members could have been given a few days to consider...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Instruction to Committee (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: What is the difference between substantial deficit and deficit?

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Instruction to Committee (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: I asked about assets in respect of companies the Minister expects to avail of this. What level of assets will they have coming into the scheme?

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Instruction to Committee (28 Apr 2009)

Olwyn Enright: Has the Minister done research into this? Does she know this to be the case?