Results 101-120 of 1,760 for speaker:Aideen Hayden

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Minister to the House. The Irish economy is one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, if not the fastest growing. The latest ESRI forecast states that the Irish economy will grow by 6% this year and 4.8% next year. The ESRI previously forecast in its quarterly economic commentary that the growth rate would be 4%, so we continue to exceed expectations, which is a very...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I did not interrupt Senator White.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: Regarding unemployment, I might point out that the best route out of poverty is a job. This Government has been determined to see the economy return to full employment and has pledged to achieve that by 2018. At the start of the year the ESRI predicted that unemployment would fall to 9% by the end of the year, and we have already reached that target. In fact, we are ahead of it. That is...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: -----is largely down to the mismanagement of the economy by the previous Fianna Fáil Government. In spite of commentary to the contrary, we have a highly progressive income tax system, with a tax wedge for those in receipt of 160% of the average wage in comparison with those who are on 60% less than the average wage, placing us second highest in the OECD in this regard, and this budget...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: From January onwards we will see an increase in the minimum wage, and last week we saw the reversal of the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation by way of measures that recognise-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: -----the sacrifices of some of our public and civil servants. In recent weeks we have seen a package of measures designed to combat homelessness and safeguard the one in five families who are renting in our society, together with another package of measures designed to improve housing supply. That follows on from the announcement in last year's budget of resources for one of the largest...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I am beginning to think Senator O'Brien does not know-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome yesterday's announcement that we will have new bankruptcy legislation enacted before Christmas. It will reduce the period of bankruptcy from three years to one year for new applicants, and to 18 months for those who are already in the system. There are good reasons for the introduction of this legislation. For starters, it will provide equality between the North and South of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I agree with the Minister of State on the demographic profile of the population. We have a significantly aging population that is not just living longer, but is living more healthily. People want to engage in the workforce for longer. We have equality legislation and ageism is one of the grounds set out in it. There is evidence out there of ageism in the workforce and of people over the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: We need to review the equality legislation as it currently stands to ensure that people are not only enabled to work to the extent of their capabilities but particularly to the age where they will be eligible for benefits. We must ensure that they are also given access to all forms of training, further training and education, and I emphasise the word "education", to coincide with their...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan. This Bill is one of several measures being introduced with a view to stabilising rents and boosting supply in the housing sector. Increasing rents have led directly to an increase in the numbers, including the numbers of families, experiencing homelessness. In this context, I welcome the passage through the Dáil of the Residential...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (1 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I welcome the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and his officials to this meeting. The Minister is here to brief the joint committee on the upcoming ECOFIN Council on 8 December and on the most recent ECOFIN Council last month. After the Minister has made his opening remarks, the members of the committee may put questions to him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (1 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: We will have to suspend the meeting to allow the Minister deal with business in the Dáil.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (1 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: Members should stick to the point, which is ECOFIN.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (1 Dec 2015)

Aideen Hayden: Sorry to interrupt, but may I have the agreement of the members that Deputy Rabbitte will take the Chair? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Terror Attacks in Paris: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

Aideen Hayden: First, I apologise that I was unable to be present to hear the ambassador's speech. I was in the Seanad. Like previous speakers, I extend my personal sympathies to the French nation. What hurts France hurts all of us. What happened in the past two weeks in Paris and Brussels and the events which occurred in London some years ago represent a real challenge to the European way of life....

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

Aideen Hayden: The sentiments behind these amendments are understandable. It is important to iterate, however, that there is a very strong bias in this legislation towards the lower paid. Another important point is that public servants in general, at every level, took significant cuts as a result of the various FEMPI Bills. The point was made on Second Stage that although more is going back to the lower...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Discussion (25 Nov 2015)

Aideen Hayden: I apologise, as I must leave to attend business in the Seanad.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Discussion (25 Nov 2015)

Aideen Hayden: It really boils down to the issue of ever-closer union. The committee has had interaction over the years with different EU presidencies and strong views have been expressed by some countries about the importance of ever-closer union. None of us disagrees with the idea that we need to be more democratically accountable to the individual peoples and that parliaments need to have a greater...