Results 221-240 of 839 for speaker:Michael Kennedy

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: We cannot do without banks, whether people recognise it or not. When Opposition Deputies contribute to this debate, they should admit that a banking system is necessary for our trading and commerce industries. They should acknowledge that the plan the Government introduced has been copied by many of our European partners, some of which were sceptical when we proposed to introduce it in the...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: ——considers himself to be Fine Gael's expert on economics, has not——

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: ——admitted that his party is in favour of more borrowing, but that is what independent economists are saying.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: I am not claiming to be an economist. I am merely pointing out that a recognised economist has said that Fine Gael does not know what it is talking about.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: Our Labour Party colleagues would tax us to the hilt and drive our economy into the ground. They have no concept of what we need if we are to get the economy moving and stabilise it. When the global economy turns around again, we will need to be ready to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to us. My colleagues on the other side of the House will have a chance to speak in the next...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: Like the founder of the Fianna Fáil Party, I always look into my own heart.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: The public recognises that the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 is good.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: It might not have been expected to be as good as it is, given the downturn in the economy.

Sports Capital Programme. (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: The Deputy should not dig a hole.

Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: I want to take the opportunity to address a few issues Deputy Varadkar raised last night. I want to reprimand the Deputy for his remarks in labelling the Tánaiste and the National Consumer Agency as saboteurs. If there are saboteurs in the Oireachtas, they are on the other side of this House.

Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: Deputy Varadkar's comments on the recent IDA survey were not constructive and were deliberately set out to misrepresent the facts in the survey, which aimed to ascertain whether IDA clients would, if given the opportunity, decide to invest in Ireland again. Deputy Varadkar stressed that according to the survey 27% of foreign companies would locate themselves in the UK or elsewhere in western...

Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: Regarding public servants' travel expenses, I share the view that public funds should be used only for stated purposes. Deputy Varadkar is very quick to criticise but I remember a time when his attendance at a conference in Malaysia was the subject of a damning article in his local paper, The Community Voice. The trip cost €3,000 then, probably €5,000 in today's terms, and the...

Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: My point is that Deputy Varadkar is quick to piously dish out his criticism, but less amenable to taking it. Similarly, he is more than willing to manipulate statistics and facts to suit his own agenda.

Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: A survey by Fingal County Council — which is in my and Deputy Varadkar's constituencies — indicated people there are more optimistic about their future and the local economy than they are about the national economy. The Fingal business and employment survey 2008 interviewed businesses across the county of Fingal and I am delighted to say these businesses have responded very positively...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an Bhille seo. We live in a time when citizens are greeted each morning by a barrage of bad news stories relating to the global economic climate. Daily we hear about the US Government being asked to bail out more failing banks, the US motor industry and so forth. Sadly, this bad news is unavoidable....

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: The media has commented on the Opposition leaders' failure to agree on economic policies. One headline over an eminent journalist's article stated, "Kenny's call for pay freeze attacked by Labour". I am not passing any personal judgment on this.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: The media reports which Fine Gael keeps quoting are saying its remedies for the economic problems are at variance with those of the Labour Party.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: The British Labour Government's budget has led to headlines such as, "Labour bets all on UK stimulus packages". Betting all is like going into the bookies and putting one's shirt on a horse.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: The people would not take Fine Gael's and I am sure the Deputy will find that out pretty smartly. The people do not believe Fine Gael has any remedies.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)

Michael Kennedy: I believe the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Government have the right approach to these economic problems. They have taken decisive action with the banks and have the right methods to take advantage of the upturn in a few years' time.