Results 2,961-2,980 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I have no problem in saying that. The Senator can quote me exclusively on it.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I am getting a little upset by the contributions from the Government side of the House. Consistency does not mark the number of U-turns Senator O'Malley has made on the budget. Does she believe in the U-turns she has made in regard to this scheme up to this point, or does she believe there should be a return to giving vouchers to the over 70s, as was the proposal initially announced?...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is the result.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: They are facts.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: There is only one thing worse than a sick economy and that is a sick society where the rich are looking after their own interests to the detriment of the poor, sick and elderly. That is what has happened in the budget. That is Government policy.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I can see why the Government would proceed with that.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Ministers and Members of the Oireachtas paid themselves a few thousand euro extra in September and in October we took medical cards from those over 70 and disability payments from people with disabilities.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Significant cutbacks were made to social welfare payments. Members of the House who are not bleeding heart liberals understand what has happened but it is clear the Government is far too arrogant to understand what I am talking about. The Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, describes her office as being responsible for a comprehensive policy vision to bring cohesion to Government planning,...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: The Senators should read the contributions of Government representatives in the Lower House. The cost of giving a medical card to every single person over the age of 70 is €5.8 million.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I am sorry, Senator O'Malley, but it is a very simple figure. The cost of providing a medical card to every single person over 70 is €5.8 million.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: For God's sake——

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I assume Senator O'Malley knows the one I am talking about is the fairer system where there is only one payment for everyone over the age of 70, not the one——

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I would never support the sort of discriminatory practice allowed by the Government.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: The discrimination and inequality the Government parties supported for the past seven years in regard to poor and elderly patients is a disgrace.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Let us move on. If France, England and Germany can provide a comprehensive primary health care service, not just to those over 70 but to practically the entire population, why can we not do it? Why are we setting out to penalise people over the age of 70 just because things got a little tough?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: We were able to pay ourselves a 2.5% increase in September and the Government has spoken about paying ourselves another 6% next August. Why can we not keep universal entitlement not just for those over 70——

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Senator O'Malley should be aware that the budget cutbacks on the provision of medical cards amount to €5.8 million and it would cost approximately €10 million to vaccinate every single young girl in the country. The 2.5% increase we paid ourselves in September is approximately €300 million and next August we are going to spend another €800 million or €900 million on increases. How...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I do not give a hoot about what Senator Feeney thinks of my opportunities for being re-elected to Dáil Éireann. I am more concerned about the Government's betrayal of elderly people by taking from them the entitlement to a medical card, the way it tried to replace the medical card with vouchers, and the way it dismissed giving medical cards to children under the age of five. For someone...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is typical of the kind of silly remark Senator O'Malley makes. We should show leadership and say we will not accept a 6% pay increase and retain a few automatic entitlements for the people instead. This complements our belief in citizenship. Senator O'Malley is all talk because she does not know what consistency or a U-turn means. She does not know whether she wants to support the...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Consistency is what we are talking about.