Results 2,761-2,780 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: Over the past two days this budget has been debated extensively in the Lower House so much of what we say today will be repetition to some degree for the Minister. Ministers should be described as super, but rather than in the traditional sense of the word it is in the sense it is used with supermodels. We have supermodels in the Cabinet rather than on the catwalk. It is not the way the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: Later we will have an extensive debate on the budget but I call on the Leader of the House to arrange a separate debate on this new organisation, the national asset management agency. Nonsensical amounts of money are being advanced by the taxpayer to set up this organisation, yet at the same time we are not 100% sure whether it is the right thing to be doing. The establishment of the agency...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: We need to have a serious debate in this House on that issue because if we nationalise the two major Irish banks, more taxpayers' money will have to be spent and that will continue the exposure of the taxpayer to billions of euro in the coming years. The outcome of that decision necessitates a serious debate involving questions and answers with the Minister for Finance. The establishment of...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: Does the Senator realise he is a Fine Gael man?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: That might restrict him in nominating him for an honour.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: That's right.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Senator should not make a fool of herself.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: That includes everybody.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: All the better.

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: Senator Boyle feels there should be a cosy consensus in this House but the role of Fine Gael is to offer constructive opposition. The two Government parties have more than enough of a majority to look after their own interests. Someone must stand up for the people and show them there is also democracy here. Fianna Fáil in recent years had no problems showing it is happy for the rule of...

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: He was resigning as leader of his political party. The Senator can explain it to Green Party members in his own time but that is my interpretation. He was resigning as leader of the Fianna Fáil Party, not as leader of the Government. The Green Party leader submitted to being in the same photograph as all the senior members of the Fianna Fáil Party at the time. If the Senator really...

Seanad: Elder Abuse: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: I listened to the Minister of State on the monitor and I heard what she said with regard to Leas Cross. Is there a Garda inquiry going on as I believed the inquiry was suspended until the report awaited by the Department and due to be published in May was completed? I believe that report is by a senior counsel.

Seanad: Elder Abuse: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: Is it not Mr. O'Donovan, SC?

Seanad: Elder Abuse: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: There is a report due from Mr. O'Donovan, SC, and the Garda inquiry has been suspended. Has that report been completed? That is the report we are waiting for.

Seanad: Elder Abuse: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: I was informed that an inquiry is being carried out by a senior counsel and that on completion of his report, the Garda will resume its investigation. Perhaps the Minister of State will clarify whose report is being awaited.

Seanad: Elder Abuse: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: My gut instinct from what the Minister said in her statement is that everybody in the Department is politically correct in terms of being seen to do the right thing, have the right policies, put the right structures in place and, yet again, review the recommendations of a previous report but they are not really concerned about what is happening on the ground. That is probably because the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: The champion of Christmas cards himself.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: Sucking up to the bankers.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: In view of the fact that co-location has effectively been abolished as Government policy, will the Leader inquire of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, the policy regarding capital developments in the health service? For the past four years, the Minister has continually stated that the only way to create additional beds in the public health system would be through the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Liam Twomey: Toxic assets totalling €90 billion, half of which are bad, is another increase of €50 billion on the national debt. The Government said yesterday in the budget that it will cut the social welfare payment at the end of the year, take away the child care allowance, tax the people to the hilt but double the national debt to bail out bankers. If I was to give some advice to the Government I...