Results 9,481-9,500 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (15 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive will accept a letter from a firm of accountants certifying the level of income and assets of a person (details supplied) in County Meath when assessing their eligibility for an over 70 years medical card. [46560/09]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the medical needs of a child (details supplied) in County Meath have been assessed; if so, the length of time this child will have to wait before they receive the required medical treatment from the Health Service Executive. [46772/09]

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (15 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 349: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, further to Parliamentary Question No. 1074 of 16 September 2009, when a report by a company (details supplied) will be published, made available to Dáil Deputies and brought into the public domain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46941/09]

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 373: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the decision reached on an application for a third level grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [46575/09]

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I will speak first to allow Deputy Mattie McGrath take his breath after the extraordinary attack on him by his constituency colleague.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: He will keep the Deputies waiting. Deputy will not express wholehearted support for the Bill because no one wants to introduce many of its measures.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: However, I remind Fine Gael Party Deputies that their party proposed significant social welfare cuts in its mini-budget.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: At what stage will everyone agree that prices have declined? While certain prices such as insurance have increased, almost every other price has reduced.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I am not clutching at straws. In the past 12 months, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages has reduced by 7.6%. This deflation has also resulted in a reduction in revenue to the Exchequer by way of taxation. Deputies must acknowledge that money is not flowing into the Exchequer because prices have fallen. For this reason, readjustment is required in pay and social welfare levels,...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I appreciate that and nor does not stop when the Chair interrupts me.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The rate of deflation for working households is 7.5%, a significant decline about which no one can cast doubt.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: What would I or the Minister say to a blind person, carer, lone parent or person with disability if his or her payment was not made next March because the Government had failed to take difficult and unpalatable decisions? That is a serious question because our finances and economy are at serious risk. Deputies may laugh if they like.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: If we do not recognise the decline in prices and taxation receipts, the position will become so serious that making many payments will not be possible next year. We must admit this is the case and recognise that many of the subsidiary and ancillary benefits for social welfare recipients, for instance, free travel and household benefits, are still available. These benefits provide...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The living alone allowance, over 80 age allowance and fuel allowance are still in place and are very important. When the carbon tax is introduced a system will be established to assist people who have difficulty with the higher fuel bills that will result. None of this is mentioned by Opposition Deputies who also ignore the fact that the cut in child benefit will not affect hundreds of...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (9 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [46362/09]

Written Answers — Nursing Home Support Scheme: Nursing Home Support Scheme (8 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 204: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the income and assets of a person wishing to avail of the nursing homes support scheme are taken into account when calculating their contribution to care; if assets that include land and property are taken into consideration; the rules governing contributions based on property assets, where a principal residence has been signed...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (8 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 291: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a club (details supplied) in County Louth are entitled to draw down unclaimed payments that were awarded to the club under the sports capital grants programme 2004; if so, the conditions under which the moneys may be drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45789/09]

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (8 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 340: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath who has gone through the interview process to join the Army; and when the moratorium on recruitment to the Defence Forces will be lifted. [45311/09]

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Gilmore said something different last week.

Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The fundamental criticism of the Government by the Opposition at this time is that it has spent too much and has let the public finances get out of control. Child benefit has increased from €638 million in 2000 to €2.5 billion this year. Is it this to what they are referring when they say spending is out of control? The Government has spent a large amount of money in this area. We...