Results 1,581-1,600 of 4,363 for speaker:Arthur Morgan

Unemployment Levels: Motion (10 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: ——we would not have this major problem dealing with our welfare claims. It is unacceptable for the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, and others to have six civil servants doing their constituency work. The Minister, Deputy O'Dea, also has two full-time drivers. Using civil servants on varying pay scales to carry out Ministers' constituency work is, in effect, a raiding of the public purse by...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (5 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: Question 12: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on whether the new PRSI requirements for jobseeker's benefit unfairly penalise young people who may have lost their first jobs as a result of the economic downturn. [9242/09]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (5 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: Question 19: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the rationale behind changing the PRSI qualification for jobseeker's benefit from the standard 52 weeks to the new 104 weeks. [9241/09]

Social Welfare Code. (5 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: The Minister has indicated she is considering the matter but will she tell us when she will make a decision? Many people out there know they will face unemployment very shortly and they are already trying to come up with enterprise ideas. Whatever about public finances and the banks, the one factor required to fix the economy is job creation. There are many people who want to get into what...

Social Welfare Code. (5 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: What about a provision for a three-month period?

Employment Support Services. (5 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I agree with the Minister and with Deputy Enright. Reform is needed in this area. I do not want to miss the opportunity presented to ask the Minister to impress upon her colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment that FÁS clearly needs freshening up. It does some great work and the bad news coverage of the bad practices in the organisation was unfortunate. Does the...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: Question 142: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps being taken to lift the PRSI ceiling. [6307/09]

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I move amendment No. a1f: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—The income of any senior manager or any employee of a financial institution that is availing of funds under the National Pension Reserve Fund shall not be greater than that of an Irish Government Minister.".

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I move amendment No. a1g: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—Any senior manager or any executive of a financial institution which is availing of funds under the National Pension Reserve Fund shall return all bonuses which have been collected as part of his or her remuneration in that financial institution over the past three years.".

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I move amendment No. a1h: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—The Minister shall not direct the Commission to use funds from the National Pension Reserve Fund in excess of €7 billion for the purposes of investing in any financial institution without the consent of both Houses of the Oireachtas.".

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I move amendment No. a1i: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—The Minister for Finance shall make a quarterly report to both Houses of the Oireachtas on all financial institutions availing of funds from the National Pension Reserve Fund.".

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I move amendment No. a1j: In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—Any drawdown of funds under the terms of this Act will have sole application to the primary banking activities of either beneficiary and will be confined to the said financial institution's activities wholly within the island of Ireland.".

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I support this group of amendments, one of which, a1h is my own and states: "The Minister shall not direct the Commission to use funds from the National Pension Reserve Fund in excess of €7 billion for the purposes of investing in any financial institution without the consent of both Houses of the Oireachtas.". It is a reasonable belt and braces approach to deal with this fund, which is so...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: There is a willingness to accede to the request for the Minister to handle the transfer of the sum of €7 billion and give direction to the institutions. However, this is hardly loose change. How far could the Minister go beyond €7 billion, given no cap is provided for? It is fair and reasonable that the Minister should return to the House in order that Members could tease out how much...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I thank the Minister and his officials for their courteous and helpful briefing on this legislation. The Minister did not respond to my question on the ceiling. Section 3(c) states: by inserting after subsection (1)(c)— "(ca) to accept funds or assets for the benefit of the Fund from sources other than the Central Fund, if so directed by the Minister,", I appreciate that his officials...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: Is it not relevant?

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: An Post.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: That is what I said. It is endless.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: The Minister's reply made my point. He stated jovially that Leinster House could be sold to save the banks. As this Government already has sold off Aer Lingus and a Fianna Fáil Government previously sold off Eircom, a good track record exists in respect of selling off State goods.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I know that. How much will it cost now to put in place proper broadband and infrastructure across the State to create competitiveness and jobs? I argue we are paying a far bigger price in respect of our competitiveness and job creation opportunities lost because of what happened then. My point is that €7 billion is more than enough. According to section 3, the amount the Minister in...