Results 101-120 of 764 for speaker:Kathryn Reilly

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: The Minister, Deputy Bruton, will attend the House after the Order of Business to discuss the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, but now is the time for a real discussion on emigration and on why so many people emigrate, given the claims about lifestyle choices and emigration not always being the worst option. The Irish are among the top five nationalities of people seeking working visas in...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome the Minister. We have one of the highest rates of unemployment in the EU, which can be as high as 29% in the case of those who are under 25. The figures are even starker when we consider the extremely high rates of emigration prevalent in Irish society. The image of thousands of young people queuing up outside the RDS to get into the Working Abroad Expo is testimony to the...

Seanad: Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome the Minister to the House. Every Member knows how I will vote on this legislation. The Minister has already debated this Bill with my colleague in the Dáil. In his speech the Minister referred to European solidarity, rescue funds and the Greek economy. However, not enough emphasis was put on the plight of the Greek people who have had crippling austerity measures imposed on...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Sinn Féin welcomes legislation which will promote national competitiveness, tackle corruption, hold business leaders to account and reduce costs to people and businesses. However, we believe there are parts of this legislation which are weak and lacking in a couple of key areas. In that respect, we will table amendments to strengthen the legislation in certain areas. We will probably...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: "The debt brakes will be binding and valid forever. Never will you be able to change them through a parliamentary majority." These are the words of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on what we are being asked to sign up to in the treaty. Her words are a fair representation of the goal of the pact, which will act as a permanent and binding fetter on Irish sovereignty. Issues of critical...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: One does not hear voices claiming the treaty will solve the eurozone crisis. While experts disagree on what needs to be done, many of them are singing from the same hymn sheet in arguing that the treaty does not provide a solution. It will bring further austerity, cuts, regressive taxation, unemployment and emigration because it will deepen the current recession. It will also handicap the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: A few months ago I raised the issue of VEC amalgamations and where headquarters were located. I raised it in the Chamber, both with the Leader and as an Adjournment matter. I asked for a clear and open debate on how the decision was made; I got answers in the form of criteria. In a recent freedom of information request response from the Department of Education and Skills, however, I found...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: It is good to have such an audience for my contribution. I am sure everybody will listen intently to what I have to say. It is now over a year since the Government was sworn in, elected on a promise that things would change and improve. Earlier speakers spoke of the road to recovery but I am not sure I share their enthusiasm. Are we are not still on the road to some sort of ruin? To a...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Our pre-budget submission showed exactly what the alternative is. The Minister of State does not agree. He is shaking his head.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will finish within time. My party will oppose the Finance Bill in this House as it did in the Dáil. We do not believe it is going in the right direction and we believe a new approach is needed - the one people voted for last year which they have yet to see delivered.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I move recommendation No. 1: In page 11, before section 2, but in Chapter 1, to insert the following new section: "2.—The Minister shall within six months from the passing of this Act prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report detailing the financial impact of all measures contained in this Act on the general population by income group broken down by decile including all categories of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: The information from such a report is necessary. For example, the ESRI stated the budget reduced the income of the poorest 40% of households in the State by 2.5% compared with a reduction of 0.7% for the richest 30%. The conclusion of this stand-alone analysis was that the budget was regressive because it impacted most on low and middle income households. Will the Minister consider...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I understand the Minister's point. The ESRI's stand-alone analysis showed the impact of budget 2012 would be four times greater on the poorest 40% of households in the State than on the richest 30%, however. We need to examine the effect of policy decisions such as opting for VAT increases instead of the introduction of a wealth tax. That is what the ESRI calculated in its report. We...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will withdraw the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I move recommendation No. 9: In page 12, subsection (2), line 29, to delete " "€10,036" " and substitute " "€17,000" This amendment deals with the universal social charge. I support the measure which takes approximately 300,000 out of the net for the USC in light of the burden it created for those on low incomes. There was no justification for bringing people earning such small amounts...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I am conscious of what Senator Gilroy said. I do not wish to be negative and I welcome that the Government has moved to take 330,000 people from the tax net. The logic for the decision was that their incomes were so low that they should not have to pay the USC. However, those earning less than €16,000 should also be exempted from the charge and in that vein I press the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Sinn Féin also opposes this section. Perhaps the Minister will explain the rationale for allowing a company to extend its research and development tax credit to key employees. There is a serious concern that it is a tax break that could potentially allow for high earners to pay little or no tax for no definite return. What is the benefit of this to the State? Is there a net cost to the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I move recommendation No. 12: In page 26, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: "(4) The Minister shall, within one year of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report detailing the volume of relief sought and secured under this section and the increased volume of trade in the relevant states secured during the period of time for which the relief was...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: We are opposed to this section but we will not press it.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: We oppose the section. We do not believe increases in carbon taxes are fair. They hit the less well off disproportionately. Such a change should be off the agenda when people are already struggling to pay for light and heat.