Results 13,561-13,580 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The last time.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I have proposed 26 amendments to the Bill but 17 of them relate to inquiries under Article 12.10° of the Constitution, which involves the unthinkable process of impeaching the President. I have been reflecting on this since the Bill was published. As the Bill is drafted, this process is anchored in a section dealing with the impeachment of other constitutional officeholders. It should...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: We considered this when drafting the Bill. Since cloud computing might be overtaken in a year or two, we have a definition which is future proofed by defining "electronic device" in section 2 to include any device which includes any electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, biometric or photonic means or other forms of related technology or any combination of any forms of...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: That is encompassed.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013 gives effect to the Government's proposals to reduce the remuneration of certain public servants on higher rates of pay in excess of €65,000, provide for a reduction in the amount of pension or other benefits, other than lump sums, payable to or in respect of certain persons who are or were in the public service under an...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This is not self praise. I acknowledge the work done by numerous civil servants, who have fronted the bulk of the work on a remarkable level in recent months. While much is made of the significant remuneration rates at higher levels in the public service which were allowed to develop before the current fiscal crisis enveloped us all, my record as Minister since taking office in March 2011...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Other than core pay.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: They are all represented by the same trade union.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: What is the top?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: So €98,000 is not the top?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Senator Cullinane should stop shouting people down.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There are no cuts.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome all the contributions from every side of the House. Each Member brings his or her own views, passionately and fairly held in all these debates. Obviously, I do not agree with them all. These are difficult times for everyone and it is difficult for me as a Labour Party Minister to bring this legislation to the House. It is the right thing by our country, however. Many Members...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Every Member of this House will have encountered considerable annoyance and a sense of grievance at people walking away from public life with fat pensions. In outlining some of the facts, I do not speak to the Fianna Fáil benches in any pointed way. It is interesting to consider the reductions for the current crop of politicians. In 2009, Brian Cowen earned €285,000 as...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There is no longer an enormous gap between the pensions enjoyed by some who walked away and those who are currently serving as their successors, which is interesting. I felt we needed to ask for an additional contribution from those who have decent pensions. I am formally advised that there are three constraints in cutting these pensions. It has been determined by the courts that pensions...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The amendment seeks to delete the definition of "increments" in section 1(2). It is a simple but essential element of the legislative proposal for increments in section 7. The Parliamentary Counsel has set out clearly what is the incremental scale and this cuts through much of the rhetoric about it. The legislation sets out an essential definition of "increments", which are dealt with...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I understand amendments Nos. 8, 9 and 26 are being discussed. Section 2B of the Bill provides that an existing power to fix terms and conditions may be exercised by the relevant employer or Minister of the Government so as to result in less favourable remuneration other than core salary or increased hours for the public servants concerned, notwithstanding any of the terms of any enactment,...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Not in this particular Chamber, but in another.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Acts are in the recital of the Bill itself. I wish to deal with the contributions of Senator Norris. I know Senator Norris takes exception to the notion of an emergency, as if an emergency were an event. We have used emergencies in the past. When Dick Spring was Tánaiste he concluded the last Emergency, which lasted from the end of the 1930s. We took emergency powers when there...