Results 3,001-3,020 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is an underestimation.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: A budgetary turnaround of €12 billion is no small failure.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: The Government made a mess of it.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is ridiculous talk. The Minister has given people no hope. His budget was ridiculous to begin with. It did nothing to deal with the problems. The Government is U-turning so much that the budget has lost credibility. The Minister's budget does not deal with the circumstances to be faced in 2009. He even acknowledges that the problems are bigger. I will give him credit for the fact...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Who interrupted me? I apologise, it was the Minister who interrupted me.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: More delusion.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: He will be on the bank board; he will not be available.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: I refer to the Minister's remarks about the public service and the comments he has attributed to other political parties, which he perceives as being negative towards the public service. These remarks may indicate that it is the Minister who needs to think about what he is talking about. Nobody is criticising the public service. Most people on this side of the House are of the view that...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: A pay increase of 2.5% was paid out just a few weeks before the budget and the Minister is planning on giving a 6% increase next August, making an 8.5% increase when the country's finances are deteriorating rapidly and when he is borrowing €6 billion to pay the wages of public servants. That is not a criticism of public servants. Front line people, such as teachers, doctors, nurses,...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: We are trying to get this point across. We are not criticising the public service. Public service workers realise that everybody must make sacrifices in these difficult times. The Minister speaks about Ireland being a small, open economy which must be competitive. The difference between jargon and action is when the Minister starts to do something about it.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Now it is all jargon. Of course we know we must be competitive, but keeping our prices and costs down is what makes us competitive. We must be realistic and, as a small, open economy, keep down the costs of government. The trade union leaders suffer from the same shell-shocked attitude as Ministers when they realise the gravy train has come to a halt. However, ordinary trade union...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: This is where it starts——-

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: ——-in the Oireachtas.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: The idea that Senators think that Sarkozy and Brown are more important to how we deal with the Lisbon treaty is ridiculous. If the Government wants to take ideas to Europe it should discuss them here first with the representatives of the people. This is where it should start. I have strong views on that matter. The Government should talk to the Irish people first before it goes to talk to...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: No, that is not true.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: The Government failed with the first Lisbon treaty because it took the Irish people for granted and it was dismissive of the whole campaign the first time around. The Government is making the same mistake the second time around——-

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: The Senator should not throw those insults at us.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is Government policy.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is the policy of Senator Leyden's party.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is Government policy.