Results 1,781-1,800 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: They are not that foolish down in Kerry.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: We are with Senator White there.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: On Senator Feeney's point, the reason we use words like "U-turn" is that some Senators on the Government side have admitted they do not understand big words, so we are trying to keep it simple when we are explaining things.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: I hope some of the comments made in the House this morning do not receive a wider audience because the idea that we cannot have debates that might become political and upset a sensitive Minister of State is ridiculous, when we see that exactly the same debate is happening today in the Lower House. Let us get real about this. The Leader should ignore those comments. We should have debates...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: What does that mean?

Seanad: Stem-Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: I thank Senator Ross for allowing me two minutes of his time. It must be clear that there is no protection for the embryo until implantation starts in the uterus. That is the present situation. There is no legislation whatsoever in Ireland, just Medical Council guidelines, to cover the period from fertilisation to implementation. The only people in this Chamber who cannot do research into...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: Will the Leader request that either the Taoiseach or the Minister for Foreign Affairs make a statement in the House before the former travels to Brussels to present his proposals for a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty? A statement on this matter should not be made in Europe until the Taoiseach or the Minister come before the House. Since the first referendum on the Lisbon treaty,...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Finance to come before the House? The Minister has not appeared in this Chamber in quite some time. The position in respect of the economy, particularly with regard to the banks, is changing daily. There is a need for a serious debate on this matter. There is a short article in today's Irish Independent which highlights the position of the Harvey...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is Government policy.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is the policy of Senator Leyden's party.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is Government policy.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is your own policy.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: She would be at home with Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I refer to the Minister's remarks about the public service and the comments he has attributed to other political parties, which he perceives as being negative towards the public service. These remarks may indicate that it is the Minister who needs to think about what he is talking about. Nobody is criticising the public service. Most people on this side of the House are of the view that...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: A pay increase of 2.5% was paid out just a few weeks before the budget and the Minister is planning on giving a 6% increase next August, making an 8.5% increase when the country's finances are deteriorating rapidly and when he is borrowing €6 billion to pay the wages of public servants. That is not a criticism of public servants. Front line people, such as teachers, doctors, nurses,...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: We are trying to get this point across. We are not criticising the public service. Public service workers realise that everybody must make sacrifices in these difficult times. The Minister speaks about Ireland being a small, open economy which must be competitive. The difference between jargon and action is when the Minister starts to do something about it.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Now it is all jargon. Of course we know we must be competitive, but keeping our prices and costs down is what makes us competitive. We must be realistic and, as a small, open economy, keep down the costs of government. The trade union leaders suffer from the same shell-shocked attitude as Ministers when they realise the gravy train has come to a halt. However, ordinary trade union...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: This is where it starts——-

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: ——-in the Oireachtas.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: The idea that Senators think that Sarkozy and Brown are more important to how we deal with the Lisbon treaty is ridiculous. If the Government wants to take ideas to Europe it should discuss them here first with the representatives of the people. This is where it should start. I have strong views on that matter. The Government should talk to the Irish people first before it goes to talk to...