Results 2,201-2,220 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: The well chosen throw of the rattle out of the pram is acceptable. However, when all the backbenchers throw it out at the same time, we know we have stepped into dangerous territory. Our backbenchers spoke clearly and eloquently and I would make no criticism of them. Fianna Fáil has never shied away from honest and robust debate within the parliamentary party. A number of people have...

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: I was referring to myself. Deputy Shatter should have paid attention throughout my speech. The names Lemass and de Valera are used in the context of not using high office for personal enrichment. Older people have rung me and asked about the values of Lemass and de Valera. We have come a long way from that time.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: At the beginning of the State our statesmen had no interest in self enrichment through public office. At the end of his life de Valera was worried about his own pension, which demonstrates the kind of people they were. It is wrong for people to assume that by bandying these names about, they can imply they are the inheritors of their legacy. That is a wrong assumption.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: I wish to refer to a reference made as far back as 1977 that will give some context to our situation now in 2008. We have had this debate before, have been in this position and will get out of it. People must accept this. In 1977, the NESC published research carried out by Eithne Fitzgerald, later a Member of this House, that concluded by stating: The problem of coping with limited finance...

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: We have had an extraordinary downturn in our economy and in the global economy and must accept we are in a difficult position. It is not a case of people running for cover or of people avoiding responsibility. We must show we have the confidence to govern and that we will make the tough decisions. That will serve not our short-term interest, but the best interest of people in Ireland.

Drugs Payment Scheme. (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising it as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the current position. In 1999, the drugs payment scheme, DPS, replaced the drugs cost subsidisation scheme, DCSS, and drugs refund scheme, DRS, whereby patients reclaimed drug expenditure from the former health boards....

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: Have some manners.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: This has been a very difficult week for everybody in politics.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: Anybody opposite who delighted in the difficulty over the past week should be ashamed. It was a difficult week for everybody in politics. Anybody opposite who would say otherwise should be ashamed because it was not pleasant for anybody to hear some of the concerns and emotions expressed by older people in our community. They telephoned the offices of every Deputy and Senator.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy should let me speak.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: If Deputy Bannon had a little control and restraint, there might be a small bit of illumination on this issue because people want to know what went on over the past six days or so and the way we approached this issue. They do not want to see Deputy Bannon jump up and speak his usual incomprehensible garbage.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: What happened over the past few days was——

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The Cabinet had a number of difficult choices to make. We are in a very difficult position. Many of the older people who telephoned me lacked information on the specific detail of the scheme.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: Again, we take responsibility and we are sorry for that. We apologise to right thinking people with common sense who know the score, who know we had extremely difficult choices to make and who know we will have more extremely difficult choices to make. It will be a measure of this Government and its supporters that we will get through this. Older people know that we have come through other...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the opportunity to address this House on the budget for 2009. I thank Senators for requesting a debate on this matter at this time, especially as major changes are taking place in the Irish economy and on a global scale. As the Minister for Finance outlined in his budget speech, and as reiterated by all of my colleagues in Cabinet, there is no doubt that the economy is facing major...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: I thought the Senator might say that.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: I was only joking.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: That was somewhat unfair.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements (21 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: These are two separate issues.

Medical Cards. (16 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: I thank Deputy Jan O'Sullivan for raising this Adjournment matter, which I take on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. In the budget, the Government decided to end the automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over, with effect from 1 January 2009. This was done to ensure that public health funding is used to help those most...