Results 741-760 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: I wish to raise the matter of the proposal by Eircom to increase the rental cost of land lines for the third time in one year.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: The House should recommend that the telecommunications regulator reject this proposal. I understand there will be discussions on the matter at an Oireachtas committee tomorrow. However, if necessary, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, should introduce amending legislation to control the cost of land lines. It affects every business and person...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: This is the second time we have been ripped off by Eircom. We were ripped off with the shares and now with this proposed increase.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: I lost on the share issue as well as everyone else.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: Under the circumstances, the House should do something about it.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: I support the Government amendment and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, to the House. I look forward to seeing her here during the year. I express my appreciation of the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, who made an excellent contribution.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: I would also like to express my thanks to the Fine Gael Senators on the Opposition side, if "opposition" is the correct word, for putting down this motion, which gives us an opportunity to expand on the excellent work being done by the Government in this area.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: When I read the motion, I wondered why it was being brought to the attention of the House at this stage. It is certain that the contributions on the matter will not set the House on fire because the heat has gone out of the issue at this point.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: I hope the House will not be divided on the Government's amendment. It is possible that, on reflection, the Opposition will decide to support the amendment proposed by this side, which "notes that the number of places being supported under the Community Employment (CE) Programme in 2004 is being maintained at 2003 levels and that the total allocation for employment programmes has been fixed...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: The parliamentary party gets maximum attendance. I do not want to disclose anything confidential, but yesterday evening at our parliamentary party meeting we had a motion about Irish citizens abroad, particularly in England, who may have fallen on hard times, as highlighted by a recent RTE programme. There was a move within our party to ensure that we assist these people in every way possible.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: We are allocating a percentage of new houses to those returning from abroad, particularly from the UK.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: This is to give an insight into the way we operate in the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: We encourage a Minister of State to put forward his or her concerns to the Tánaiste or the Minister for Finance and to the Taoiseach. The matter is worked out within the party so that we come out united in our approach and united in the best interests of the electorate. That is what has been achieved in this matter. It has been an enormous achievement. Late last year, great concerns were...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: The rural social scheme was mentioned in the 2004 budget. The focus of this scheme, which will consist of approximately 2,500 places, is to provide ongoing income and employment support to small farmers who can no longer make a viable living on the land. At the same time, the scheme will ensure the provision, at a reasonable cost to the Exchequer, of sustainable, top class services in rural...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: I find that hard to believe. I was just starting to get into the debate.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: Late last year I received some representations from people who had problems in this area, but not to the extent that has been put forward by the Fine Gael Party. Perhaps its members tried to stir up difficulties in certain areas. However, there have been some achievements, one of the most important of which is in the area of personal carers for people with disabilities. The position of carers...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: Long-term unemployment, one of the greatest causes of poverty, is down from over 5% in 1997 to approximately 1.5% today. This is an enormous achievement by the Government. I sympathise with the Fine Gael Party for being in Opposition. People ask what is the difference between one party and another. The answer is that one is in Government and one is out. The Fine Gael Party is out and we are...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: In the interests of the country, the people's party is in charge — that is Fianna Fáil. We respond to the needs of the people when it comes to any scheme. I know it is difficult being in Opposition at this time. Members are grasping at straws, hoping for some sort of banana skin that the Government will slip on. It will not happen. We are in and we intend to stay in. We will fight the...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: Even the Fine Gael Party was going to do a deal with them one time before. The Senator must have a short memory.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Terry Leyden: That is because he knows his brief so well.