Results 341-360 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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 (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]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (16 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 137: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the medical needs of a persons (details supplied) in County Meath have been assessed; the length of time they will have to wait before they receive the required medical attention from the Health Service Executive. [47260/09]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (17 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [48067/09]

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 Dec 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 300: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will confirm that there are no plans to regulate or ban any country or fields sports or game shooting activities other than as may be set out in the revised programme for Government. [48041/09]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (19 Jan 2010)

Thomas Byrne: Question 332: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [48498/09]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (19 Jan 2010)

Thomas Byrne: Question 394: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the average number of patients waiting on public dental services in each Health Service Executive health clinic in County Meath. [1100/10]

Banking Crisis: Motion (Resumed) (20 Jan 2010)

Thomas Byrne: Tá áthas orm labhairt ar son rún on Rialtas. The message the Opposition must take from the Government's decision and this debate is "Be careful what you wish for". The Opposition parties thought they would finish us off with the McCarthy report. They were then certain NAMA would be the undoing of this Government and, subsequently, they pinned their hopes on the budget but they have been...

Banking Crisis: Motion (Resumed) (20 Jan 2010)

Thomas Byrne: The sole focus of the Labour Party in tabling this motion is that a tribunal will be up and running in the run up to the next election. Deputy Burton was welcomed on to my local radio station this morning and, as I said to her on that programme, this did not work during the last general election campaign and it will not work for the next general election. The focus of the Government must be...

Banking Crisis: Motion (Resumed) (20 Jan 2010)

Thomas Byrne: I presume every Member running for election is hoping to be re-elected. I do not deny that but the Deputy will have a battle on her own hands in her constituency. If the Labour Party thinks it will take my seat at the next election, it has another think coming. The Labour Party was completely absent on the ground during the winter gritting crisis in my constituency.