Results 1,641-1,660 of 3,225 for speaker:Paul Connaughton Snr

Road Safety: Motion. (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: This is an opportune time to raise the issue of penalty points. I thank my colleague, Deputy O'Dowd, for bringing this issue to the attention of the House. Having read the details of the motion I thought the Minister would want to accept it. I do not know how long he expects to be in his position — I am sure he hopes to be in it for the next three or four years, all going well, but I...

Road Safety: Motion. (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: ——in that time most of the proposals by Deputy O'Dowd will become law because they make sense. Deputy Noel Dempsey was not the Minister responsible for this area when the penalty points system was introduced but he was in Government. He will recall that at the time it put the fear of God in every motorist throughout the country, including me. It was the talking point in every corner of...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: What of medical cards?

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: Benchmarking.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: Spin doctors.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: We will tell them.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: When will they be brought forward?

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: Everybody is wrong but the Deputy.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: Why did the Deputy not vote against them?

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: What about the vision when the Deputy walked through the lobbies with the Government?

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: Let us hear it.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: Let us hear it.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: I understand. The Deputy wrestled with his conscience and it lost.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: We did it before.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: When you are in trouble.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: Much has been said about this budget and I have heard many Budget Statements in the House. I will give the Government one bit of credit on this. As far as spin is concerned, it is top of the pops. It conditioned the entire electorate into believing this year's budget day would be the darkest day in history. However, we knew better. This time the Government balanced the books by borrowing...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: ——when the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance stated at one of their great press conferences that, on a predicted growth rate of 4% for 2008, the Government would be able to do A, B, X and Y, reduce the top and bottom rate of tax, reduce PRSI by 2% and give out medical cards like confetti. Only the Government knew what was really in the books. The Opposition did not...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: All we could do was read between the lines. Six months ago, the Government led the country astray. Outright lies were told about the state of the economy. What would have happened if the economic growth rate for 2008 was only 1% or 2%? Many great opportunities were lost. When the Dáil met in June, the Opposition implored the Government to tackle the stamp duty issue to give the housing...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: Many commentators gave the thumbs up to the budget although it has little to do with agriculture. The Minister received credit for making available another €30 million to continue the 60% grant for the farm pollution scheme. Why would she not? It was announced three years ago and there is a written contract with every farmer to the effect the grant is available. It was announced...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Paul Connaughton Snr: I know that well and the Minister of State is good too. The Minister was not so forthcoming with the 40% for the farm improvement scheme. Just before the general election, on a fine morning at the great press conferences, I heard there would be a 40% grant for every farmer in the country for matters relating to the environment, up to 2013. Lo and behold on 31 October the hatch was raised...