Results 61-80 of 2,550 for speaker:Paul Gogarty

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: There is a valid argument to be made on whether reducing the minimum wage is a good idea. Notwithstanding the motivations of various parties and those who fund them, any reduction in the minimum wage must be considered carefully. I discussed this matter in some detail yesterday evening. Before elaborating, I will discuss the substance of the amendment. Deputy Burton asked whether the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I support it. However, if there is to be a vote, I will vote against it because of the way the system operates.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Shatter talks about credibility and political principle. It is not credible for Fine Gael to talk about tax decreases and for the Labour Party to talk about having no welfare cuts.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: They will have to face this conundrum in a couple of months.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Shatter is being entirely disingenuous.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I am merely pointing out the fact that going into Government-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I know Deputy Shatter is being facetious. I take his point and share the joke but realise that when one goes into Government and must negotiate a programme for Government, there are some things one will not necessarily like but with which one must go along.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I support this amendment but if the Whip is applied I, as a member of a Government party that supports having the budget passed in the national interest, will vote with the Government.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Shortall refers to principles. If one is morally in turmoil over one aspect-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: -----and morally in turmoil over passing the budget in the interest of all citizens so social welfare and wages can be paid, one must choose the lesser of two evils. One will be morally compromised one way or the other so I am prepared to be morally compromised for the benefit of our society.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I have made a point. The Deputy should at least accept that I take on board what she is saying about her amendment.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: It is not about courage.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: The Deputy knows the petty way this will continue.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: One cannot have a debate on a specific amendment and then-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: In the most unparliamentary language possible, Deputy Shortall, bless you. Bless you for your kind words.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I am trying to get to the substance of the issue.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: With regard to the argument being made, I have had correspondence from members of the various unions.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: They point out the pitfalls associated with reducing the minimum wage and the fact that unscrupulous employers-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: -----might take advantage of it.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Even when the minimum wage was one euro above the current level, construction workers were still being displaced by vulnerable and exploited agency and migrant workers. The issue of employers exploiting workers is not a function of the minimum wage per se but, as I said last night, I recognise the potential for unscrupulous employers to advantage of this. The point is that Germany, our...