Results 1,641-1,660 of 2,920 for speaker:Séamus Healy
- Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: I support this no confidence motion and generally support the points made by previous speakers. However, my particular reason for supporting this motion is the fact the Minister has closed Kickham Barracks in Clonmel. He has destroyed the military history and tradition in the town of Clonmel.
- Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: I was involved in negotiations and deputations to the Minister in this regard. However, the Minister was cold, callous and uncaring, particularly in his treatment of Army wives and girlfriends who represented their husbands and partners in this matter. He refused to come to Clonmel to see the fine facility that was there, thus ensuring that approximately 150 members of the Defence Forces...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: The thrust of these amendments is to shift the burden of the adjustments onto those who are very wealthy and who can afford to pay. It is important that we nail the lie that the only persons being cut in this legislation are those on over €65,000. The facts are that pensioners on income as low as €32,500 and survivors of pensioners on half that, approximately €16,000,...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: The fact of the matter is that the Government had a choice. It could have chosen to get this €1 billion from very wealthy persons.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: As I have stated previously, the 20,000 highest earners in this country have an income of €7.42 billion, that is, €370,000 per annum each. The wealthiest 5% in this country have personal assets of €239 billion. The richest 300 persons in this country have increased their wealth significantly, by €5 billion over the past two years. What I have stated about the...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: What about the pensioners.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: The Minister can-----
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: I know that €195,000 is very well paid.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: A total of 32,500 pensioners are having their pension cut under this measure.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: It is not true, Minister. We need to hear the truth. It is not true that only people-----
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: Tell the truth.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: If he believes that, and given this Bill is named in that manner, why in this Bill does the Minister attack ordinary middle and low-income public servants?
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: It also affects private sector workers, because 5,000 or more such workers will lose their jobs as a result of the money being extracted out of the economy under this Bill. As a Labour Party Minister, why does the Minister not target the 10,000 highest earners in the country? The Minister for Finance recently informed me they earn €5.9 billion per year or an average of...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: -----have €5.72 billion per annum or almost €300,000 each per year?
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: Why are such people not being targeted in this Bill?
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: Why? Because people who are absolutely wealthy and who have huge incomes-----
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: ----- as well as those who have huge assets are being left off scot-free by the Government and a Labour Party Minister. The effect of this Bill-----
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: I am keeping to it.
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: The effect of this Bill and this section is that throughout the public service, ordinary workers' pay and conditions will be undermined. Moreover, as I indicated, private-sector workers also will lose their jobs. A recent report by the Nevin Economic Research Institute showed that taking €1 billion out of the economy through this measure will save at most €250 million but will...
- Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)
Séamus Healy: Members only got one twist and were denied the opportunity to speak.