Results 2,341-2,360 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (23 Sep 2009)

Liam Twomey: I am merely asking for straight talking instead of the usual old rubbish.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2009)

Liam Twomey: There is a public meeting in Wexford town on Sunday night regarding the services at Wexford General Hospital. At a meeting with the HSE last Monday morning, it said there would be no major reduction in services at Wexford General Hospital, yet shortly afterwards the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, announced cutbacks of €1.5 billion for the health services next year. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: He is finally recognised.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: Perhaps those who have been Members for longer can tell me, but I have no recollection of a Member of either House resigning over the excessive spending of taxpayers' money. It is an historic first. We must recognise the considerable and palpable anger of the general public. It is like an open sore. This is not just a question of a senior Member on the Government side resigning over...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: Yes. It is like an open sore for the public. We will all get it in the neck, even though many of us have legitimate expenses. The body politic is being destroyed because people are sticking their heads in the sand and not prepared to face up to how the public is thinking. Through the commission or a separate and new Oireachtas committee along the lines of the Office of the Comptroller and...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: I do not know if the work of the House can be done in a proper manner if the current crisis regarding politicians' expenses is not dealt with quickly. In eight weeks we will be presented with a budget which will probably be the worst in the history of the State. Eight weeks is very little time to discuss issues such as the McCarthy report, the report of the Commission on Taxation and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: I would like to extend our sympathies to the families of the two serving members of the Defence Forces who lost their lives since the Seanad last sat. We should also express our concern for the wellbeing of Fr. Michael Sinnott who was kidnapped in the Philippines last week. We should examine the issue of filling the vacancies in this House at this time. There is one vacancy on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: We should consider that as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: We do not really have any say as to what happens in the Lower House. We must bear in mind that there is huge anger and hurt and a perception that people in politics do not understand what the ordinary man and woman on the street is feeling right now. Regardless of whether it is true, people have a sense of anger about every politician representing the public. Such anger is expressed when...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: It annoys the ordinary man and woman on the street when the Minister for Health and Children basically washes her hands of her responsibility for how taxpayers' money is spent. I ask that she comes into this House and clearly states what her responsibilities are to citizens in regard to health services, as perhaps she is basically saying her Department is no longer relevant and, therefore,...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: He was only there for the picture.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: Spin.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: Ask Deputy John O'Donoghue——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: On a point of order, is it fair to accuse people outside House of criminal behaviour?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: Do I get an answer to my question?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: Am I not entitled to an answer?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: We will get the record.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: That is one reason for abolition.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: It is indicative of the reasons the House is held in such disrepute when the leaders of the groups are not aware the House is not sitting next week, even though it has been announced that this is the case. It was a little premature. In the course of this debate I have a certain amount of sympathy for the Leader because he has been manipulated by the Government into allowing the Seanad to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Liam Twomey: Pantomime performances and snide remarks from the Government side do nothing to advance the debate.