Results 16,621-16,640 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: I did not say it was normal.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: Whether we move to a unicameral system is a matter for the people. We will put it to them and will hear and respect their view on the matter. With regard to last night's debate being characterised by Deputy Martin as shambolic, I reject that.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: It was a proper debate in this House for those participating in it and it was passionate and real. What is shambolic is what occurred in the dying days of the Fianna Fáil Government, when it was left with just seven Ministers.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: That was barely constitutional. The Opposition can shout us down if it wants, but if it wants a yardstick for a shambolic exit, that was it.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: If Fianna Fáil wants a yardstick for a shambolic end to a government, it is when Ministers resign with such alacrity that government is barely constitutional at the end.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: At the time, the then Government was looking at the prospect of reappointing Ministers who had resigned. That is a shambles.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: We are now dealing with a difficult, sensitive and important piece of legislation. I know Deputy O'Dea has more views on this than Boris Karloff had faces.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: This is an important issue for people and we are allowing the fullest possible debate. We are respecting the views of all and affording the opportunity for their views to be heard.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: As normal, the Deputy opposite never lets the truth of a situation get in the way of a line. Normally she is wrong. Let me give the facts. Some 43% of the population now have medical cards, the highest number ever.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: Last year, 1.854 million people were covered by medical cards. This year it is planned that to extend that to 1.9 million people. Therefore, the numbers covered by medical cards are increasing and the funding provided for them is increasing. There are decisions being made about medical cards - for example, with regard to automatic provision of medical cards in some categories - because...
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: There is no question but that we in this House understand the gravity for any individual or family touched by cancer. Most of us have friends or family members who have endured that. There are a variety of very serious illnesses that equally strike terror into people. The principles underscoring the provision of a medical card as set out in the Health Act 1970 are that we provide...
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: We make rational decisions on the basis of the determinant laid out in the law. If there is hardship involved in the provision of proper and robust medical cover, then a medical card should be provided, regardless of the illness.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: This is a speech.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: I thank Deputy McGrath. I originally heard the speech yesterday and he has repeated it today. It is a well-known construction of law that laws passed by the Oireachtas are presumed to be constitutional until the contrary is established - that is the presumption of constitutionality that is assigned to every piece of legislation that is enacted until it is deemed to be unconstitutional by...
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: I said in reply to Deputy Martin earlier that I respect the authority and the right of the elected Members of this House to act as a Parliament.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: It is abundantly clear. I know there are people of such arrogance that they believe that if one does not agree with them-----
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: ------one should be denied the right even to speak. Let me say this to Deputy McGrath. It is extraordinary that he would contemplate a court challenge when the deliberative process of the Oireachtas is still in mid-stream. That is extraordinary. I regard that as a contempt for the House. Everybody can-----
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: Everything we do is justiciable under the Constitution but the right to legislate is uniquely placed in the Oireachtas.
- Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: The will of the people determines who sits in the Oireachtas. Let us at least carry out our constitutional duty in an open, clear and democratic fashion. It is open to anybody, once that process is complete, to oversee, review or judicially challenge that decision. That is all well and good and in accordance with the Constitution. In the meantime, however, there must be respect for the...
- Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)
Brendan Howlin: It is proposed to take No. 14, motion re a tribunal of inquiry into the fatal shootings of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan; No. 15, Revised Estimates for Public Services 2013 - Votes 1 to 10, inclusive, and Votes 20 to 40, inclusive, back from committee; No. 4, Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013 - Order for Second Stage...