Results 41-60 of 955 for speaker:Terry Brennan

Seanad: Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2015: Second Stage (1 Dec 2015)

Terry Brennan: I welcome the Minister of State. The Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2015 is required for two main reasons. First, to give full effect to changes to motor tax rates applying to commercial goods vehicles announced in the recent budget and, second, to deal with issues raised in a Court of Appeal judgment which deemed the taxing of articulated vehicles to be without a proper legal...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I would like to be associated with the good wishes to our friend and colleague, Bernard Hand on his retirement. He is an avid GAA fan like myself and unfortunately I must admit that I did not take his good advice on all occasions. It was always a pleasure to listen to him. I also join in the good wishes for Senator Norris tomorrow. I wish him well. He is back to his brilliant best from a...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: No, I am just a keen listener.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: As we are discussing remuneration and public service pay in general, I wish to refer to the situation of local councillors. I was a councillor for 25 years before I came into this House and for the first 15 or 16 years we received no remuneration whatsoever. We were serving the people and wanted to do so. It was a joy and a thrill to be elected and we all got great satisfaction from doing...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: Is that from the first day?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: The councillors do not pay into a pension scheme so how can a pension deduction be reduced?

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I remind those present that today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It marks the beginning of 16 days of action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The World Health Organisation estimates that more than one in three, or 35%, of women in the world have experienced physical and or sexual intimate partner violence. I wonder how...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: When it was abolished.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I am pleased to have the opportunity. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Humphreys, to the Chamber. The Bill will give effect to a number of social protection measures announced in the recent budget which relate to statutory schemes. I am aware they can only be implemented by way of primary legislation. I do not intend to elaborate on them all but the main measures of the Bill...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: There is an increase of €2 for adult dependants aged under 66 years and an increase of €2.70 for adult dependants aged 66 years or older. The name of the respite care grant is to be changed to carer's support grant and its rate will be increased by €325 to €1,700 from 1 June next. Following the death of the person being cared for, carer's allowance will be paid...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: What about the previous by-election?

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: What about the previous by-election?

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I compliment my esteemed colleague on the opposite side of the House on bringing forward this Bill. The Irish people voted to retain the Seanad and we all understood this was on condition that there would be a change in how the House works. As colleagues noted, we have already changed a lot of things. This is my first term in the Seanad but those who have been here longer acknowledge what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Conviction Rates for Drink Driving: Discussion (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I apologise for not being here, as I had to leave.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Conviction Rates for Drink Driving: Discussion (25 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I will. I compliment the Garda on the significant reduction in the number of road fatalities since 2002. Unfortunately, we have had a few fatalities since the statistic was given to us. On the question of tyres, I know a lady who went to get a puncture fixed only last week and she ended up having to replace all four tyres. She did not realise how bad they were. We should encourage a...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I wish to talk a little about the Christmas bonus which will directly benefit 1.2 million social welfare customers and their dependants and be paid in the first week of December. As announced in the budget, the bonus paid to pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and people who are long-term unemployed will rise by 75% this year. Let us recall that the Christmas bonus...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I will conclude with more good news. A long-term jobseeker with a dependant partner and two dependant children will receive a bonus of €279.30. The figures say it all and, therefore, I do not seek a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I welcome all of the payments.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Terry Brennan: I welcome the Minister. To be honest and fair, he has consistently acknowledged that during the crisis the sacrifices of public servants and public service pensioners assisted in putting the country on the road to recovery - he mentioned that in his statement - while sustaining our public services. Therefore as economic growth returns and the economy is improving on a weekly basis and more...