Results 541-560 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, is the Deputy to continue or will I be allowed to speak?

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: The Deputy should put on his seat belt.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: The electorate hung on to the irresponsible manner in which the then Opposition of Labour and Fine Gael had promised that, in Government, it would reverse many of the unfortunate measures proposed in that budget and Finance Bill. It is necessary to remind our citizens of those comments, and I will take a few of them. Deputy Michael Ring stated "This budget is anti-elderly, anti-family and...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: There are many other quotes and I am sure the Deputy had a few himself during the course of debating the Social Welfare Bill last year.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: They can be resurrected if required.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: In the course of the election, which allowed all of us to engage with the public, which was angry-----

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: Has Deputy Durkan been allocated time to speak?

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: He can speak to his Whip if he wants a few minutes.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: Could we ask the Deputy to leave?

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: Three strikes and you are out.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: I am not standing for this.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: Did I open my mouth when the Minister spoke?

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: The electorate was fearful and filled with trepidation. Especially at the time, the public expected politicians in a potential Government to say it as it was and be truthful in describing how it would proceed.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: During that election, Fine Gael and Labour gave the distinct impression that there would be an easier and softer way of tackling our problems.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: He is out before he is put out.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: It is only right and proper that the people are reminded of some of the contributions made by the leading lights in the Government. The Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore, said, "Child benefit is a red line issue." The phrase "Every little hurts" was used in a campaign by the Labour Party which lambasted its colleague, Fine Gael, for its proposed cuts in child benefit. The Taoiseach was quoted as...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: We were promised 165,000 jobs in NewERA. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, spoke about "not another cent." Various promises were made on hospitals, Army barracks, Garda stations and health reform. All these promises allowed the Government to obtain its goal - more luck to it, as it secured a massive majority. We suffered a heavy, crushing defeat, which we...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: They were so necessary that the Government, on assuming office, immediately carried out its first U-turn, namely, to implement the same budget and provisions within the finance Bill that it had vehemently opposed. They were great men in opposition with great populist rhetoric. They made marvellous promises when standing on a soapbox in Roscommon, the back of a lorry in Castlebar or on the...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: They were like Mighty Mouse but in government they are nothing but Mickey Mouse. They promised a new way of doing politics - transparent, open and reforming - but on 9 March at the first Cabinet meeting it was decided to adhere to, support and implement the Fianna Fáil budget, the one the Government parties had voted against and, more importantly, campaigned against. The Government has...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: I refer to promises on hospitals, Army barracks, bondholders who cannot and will not be burned, child benefit and welfare cuts.