Results 2,701-2,720 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: The budget is a great achievement for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, and its generosity is also to the credit of his predecessor, Mr. Charlie McCreevy. We all know that if this budget had taken place six months before a general election the Opposition would have accused us of trying to buy votes.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: However, here we are in the middle of the term of this Parliament with no election in the course of the next 24 months at the very earliest.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: I hear no comment from the other side about buying votes. That rings a little hollow. Fine Gael should forget the auction politics it tried to use at the last general election. I think it learnt a very hard lesson when the people did not buy all the baubles and delights it offered them at the last general election. This is not an election budget, but one borne out of the passion of the...

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: This is especially true for young people throughout County Kildare who would thank him if he had made the change.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: It should not have surprised people that the Minister made such radical and generous proposals on disability funding. While the disability consultative group still has concerns about the legislation to accompany this package, nobody is arguing about the funding. This is a clear indication of the commitment of the Government to that sector. I wish to follow up a small point made by Deputy...

Written Answers — Property Valuations: Property Valuations (2 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: Question 220: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will amend section 28 (4) of the Valuation Act 2001 which requires that a material change must have occurred to allow a revision of valuation in order that properties can obtain more realistic valuations that would in many cases allows a ground rent to be bought. [2950/05]

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: Section 12 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2003 addressed the core issue of whether the Minister for Finance would consent to provide funding. This is a normal legislative provision. Section 5 of this legislation goes further, as it requires the Minister, for the first time, to make sure resources are provided and it is up to each Government to decide on...

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: I wish to share time with Deputy Moloney.

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: The Disability Bill is very welcome and I am glad to have the opportunity not only to speak on it but to be listened to, which is an equally important part of the debating process. I will concentrate some of my initial comments on the debate on whether the legislation should be rights based and the compensation which can be made if it is not. Politics is a tough old game which is all about...

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Feb 2005)

Barry Andrews: Some are never happy. It is unusual to be heckled so early in my comments and before I have really arrived at any point whatsoever. I am sorry to see Deputy Stanton is in such a mood as I have ten minutes of further comments to share with him. Politicians must identify priorities and make tough decisions which, inevitably, cause some to disagree with them. For too long, politicians have been...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Barry Andrews: I wish to share time with Deputy Mulcahy.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Barry Andrews: I will address this topic under three headings, the first being the question of the procedure by which the matter came before the House. The others are the urgency and timing of the referendum and the substantive issue. I am the chairman of the Fianna Fáil justice policy group and we spoke to the Irish Refugee Council earlier this year. I have spoken on the immigration issue a number of...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Barry Andrews: No. I would have thought it appropriate for the All-Party Committee on the Constitution to have at least been informed, if not invited to speak——

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Barry Andrews: ——on the issue and that would have been fair. However, I do not believe this to be a ground for objecting to what is being proposed as I will explain later. It is symptomatic of a long-standing problem within this House, which was a problem when both Fine Gael and the Labour Party were in Government and for as long as Government backbenchers are generally herded into the Chamber as voting...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Barry Andrews: If there is a fall-off in the number of refugee applicants, as there has been, then I ask why there is an urgency now. Why not await the outcome of the European Court of Justice hearing in the case of Mrs. Chen to find out what it is about and what effect it will have on our legislation? The Minister says there is an urgency but I remain to be provided with the evidence of this. I hope he...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Barry Andrews: I ask Deputy Costello to allow me make my points in the short time available to me. If I have time, I will answer Deputy Costello's questions. I have heard many things on the doorsteps about social welfare abuse, people vaulting over housing lists and all sorts of similar abuses and, as far as I am concerned, most of this is folklore and myth. However, there is a capacity in every nation to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Mar 2004)

Barry Andrews: Question 250: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he can reply to a letter dated 12 February 2004 from a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow regarding an application for resource teaching hours at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [9643/04]

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (10 Feb 2004)

Barry Andrews: Question 336: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the status of St. Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire and of St. Colmcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, in relation to current services provided and proposals for changes in those services in view of the Hanly report. [3648/04]

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (10 Feb 2004)

Barry Andrews: Question 378: To ask the Minister for Transport the projected cost of delays arising from the High Court decision in the Carrickmines Castle case on 29 January 2004 and the cost of re-aligning the motorway in a manner that will not interfere with the site of the castle. [3646/04]

Written Answers — Garda Vetting: Garda Vetting (10 Feb 2004)

Barry Andrews: Question 408: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support the extension of the functions of the Garda central vetting unit to include vetting of school caretakers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3642/04]