Results 561-580 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

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

Barry Cowen: The beauty of the budget, if it could be so described, from a political prospective, is that at last - we have waited nine months - the Government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party can be adjudicated on its choice, decisions and cuts in specific and vulnerable areas.

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

Barry Cowen: The Government has made efforts to seek to appease its supporters by putting it out that social welfare rates have not been cut but have been maintained, when, in fact, what it has done is targeted vulnerable and poor families, rural dwellers, the disabled, the elderly, students - primary, secondary and even third level - employers, SMEs and community employment schemes. It could be argued...

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

Barry Cowen: The budget and the Social Welfare Bill is not only anti-family, it is anti-women. Child benefits will be cut -----

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

Barry Cowen: I am glad to see the Minister reciprocating the respect I showed by not interrupting her.

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

Barry Cowen: From 2014 the one-parent family allowance will only be paid until the youngest child reaches the age of seven. Last year the Fine Gael finance spokesperson asked Mr. Brian Lenihan what he had against third children. What has the Minister against children over the age of seven?

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

Barry Cowen: The double child dependant allowance will be discontinued where a lone parent is on a community employment scheme. The earnings disregard will be reduced over five years from €146 to €60. The disregard for income from employment as a home help with the HSE will be abolished in all social assistance payment schemes. It just gets worse. The number of contributions for the widow's...

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

Barry Cowen: The entitlement for certain new claimants to a concurrent half-rate of jobseeker's benefit or illness benefit will be discontinued. The Bill is not only anti-family and anti-women but also anti-rural. The means test for farm assist will be changed, school transport charges will be increased and REPS and disadvantaged area payments will be reduced by 10%. The community employment schemes...

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

Barry Cowen: -----and SMEs employ 750,000 people but I do not know how much longer they will do so because of the VAT hike and the broken promises on upward only rent reviews. There were more soapbox promises on reforming rates to make them less regressive. The sick pay issue has been parked or, in the new buzz word, paused.

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

Barry Cowen: Fair play to all the small and medium enterprises that have managed to hang on over the past few years. They will work with their accountants to hang on until the new year. Perhaps they will launch new campaigns, target certain niches or announce special offers to hang on to their employees. If their efforts do not work where will they be? They will decide to let their staff go now if the...

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

Barry Cowen: I call for a quorum. It important that backbench Deputies from both Government parties make themselves available to hear some of the contributions from the Opposition. They have every right to state their reaction to this Social Welfare Bill. Members from Government parties may wish to take part in this debate.

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

Barry Cowen: The Deputy should have read the Fine Gael manifesto.

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

Barry Cowen: You are digging a hole now.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: It sets the context.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: We will hear about it at our clinics tomorrow.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: It is about the manner in which the Bill is being rammed through the House.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: A few clinics tomorrow back in the constituencies.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: There are more cuts targeted at the vulnerable.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: What is the Tánaiste on?

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: It was actually fairer last time round.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: It is just closing the doors.