Results 2,401-2,420 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Seanad Éireann declines to give the Bill a Second Reading on the grounds that: (i) the Government has published neither the Bacon report that underpins the NAMA proposal nor any proper analysis of this enormous initiative in terms of (a) the enormous risks for taxpayers of using a dubious and politically...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Minister has. It does good to review constantly the political aspects of NAMA. The NAMA project has the potential to cost the same amount as the HSE spends in the lifetime of an average Government. In its five-year history, the HSE, with its excessive secrecy, chronic lack of information, lack of accountability to the Oireachtas and desperate policy decisions, has lost the complete...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Yes. The Minister will be aware that is the case. Many of the aspects of what happened in Leas Cross and how people have been neglected are criminal. The Minister is not too long gone from that Department to know what was going on at that time either. The Minister knows the HSE as I do. It is full of people with the greatest integrity who want to serve the greater good no matter how...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: I welcome the Minister to the Seanad. Before I speak on the matter, I should say that I grew up only two miles from where Michael Collins was born and reared. Many members from one side of my family would have spoken highly of the man in time and some of them even accused the Minister's grandfather of being responsible for his demise. They were the more passionate element of that family....

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: I would say most would accept they were great friends and that it was unfortunate what had happened.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: That is short-sighted. The Government should have gone ahead with a proposal like this because it would bring people on board. Overcoming the time delay and logistics issues would be straightforward if the Government had the will. The most appropriate investors and those of highest repute are our citizens. International and domestic media perception would be positive if it looked like the...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Some people would understand the high risks involved and would still like to participate in a scheme that is fundamental to our financial, political and economic systems. People have taken risks and been burned, but they were also burned in the purchase of their houses after the comments of the former Taoiseach. I do not underestimate the Minister's comments, but some people who would...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Irrespective of my party's views on NAMA, that the Minister is prepared to reject this proposal shows the Government's lack of confidence in its own proposal.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Not only would Deputy Kenny, as vice president of the European People's Party, EPP, and Fine Gael, as a member of the EPP, support John Bruton as the next President of the European Commission, but we will do everything we can to support the case of Ireland and every Irish person in the European project as we have done since joining the EU. We will continue to give our support to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Yesterday and last week, I stated in the House that the Government's handling of the swine flu pandemic, a serious public health issue, was poor and that the HSE did not seem to have the crisis under control. I was ignored by the Government side and criticised by some of its Members who believe the HSE is doing a great job. However, I have a supporter, none other than the Minister for...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The people wanted the Government to get on with it for the past two years. It has been asleep on the job.

Seanad: Mortgage and Debt Support Measures: Motion (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: I thank Senator O'Toole for agreeing to sharing time. Much of the motion is acceptable to most Members on both sides of the House. It should have been incorporated into the Government's motion. I am sad that this was not done. The Minister of State presented figures to suggest there is no problem but significant problems exist. The Minister of State should consider the percentage of...

Seanad: Mortgage and Debt Support Measures: Motion (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Government amendment contains no apology for the way the Government has landed the people in this mess. When the banks were giving out 100% mortgages over 30 years and suggesting there should be no interest repayments, Bertie Ahern was saying that everything was grand and people should belt away. The Government landed the people in this mess and gave them a false sense of security. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: We hear much about the relevance of the Seanad. Despite the fact that thousands of children and adults have contracted swine flu and tens of thousands of those deemed to be at risk are being vaccinated against the condition, a debate on the issue has been pulled because three Ministers, none of whom is responsible for the Health Service Executive, are unable to make themselves available to...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: It is 12 years since a Fianna Fáil-led Government initiated its policy of zero tolerance on crime. Subversive activity and home-grown organised crime are increasing and foreign criminal gangs are establishing themselves. I call on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come before the House to discuss rampant crime in certain parts of the country. The Government is...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Senator is a crackpot. What is he going on about?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Senator Hanafin has some cheek to say that in here. The Senator's party has controlled the media for ten years.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Leader should be careful. He is digging a big hole in the sand.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Can I reply?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: On a point of order, as somebody who has never been privileged to be a member of any golf club and who has never played golf, that statement means very little.