Results 3,261-3,280 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is wrong.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: I thank Senator Hannigan for sharing his time with me. Throughout this row, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education and Science have said the issue is not funding but providing the most appropriate education for children. That is blatantly untrue because this is a row about resources and whether it is the parents, the State or a combination of both who decide a child's education. Who...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: The Minister, Deputy Hanafin, is hiding behind civil servants again and blaming them for what is clearly a resource issue. There is a shortage of special needs assistants. The Minister must face up to that and stop talking in riddles to people outside this House. There is a lack of resources.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: When the Minister states there are so many places available, does that mean we have enough?

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is the Senator's argument consistently but we should look to the future. We need more special needs assistants, more teachers and more places.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: The parents and the State should work together in providing those and the Government should not dictate to the parents what they will get.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: I wish to set the record straight regarding the court case we are discussing. The child was assessed as needing ABA by a psychologist, not by the parents, but the State refused to find a nearby ABA place for that child. There is no appeals process in regard to this——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: There was no appeals process for this child and the only option left open to the parents was to go to court because the only place they were offered was in the constituency of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, which was 50 miles from the child's home. That was the background to the court case. The parents were being boxed in by the State, so to speak, in that they were given no other option but...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: There is a sense that the State has become arrogant.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: If I was not interrupted——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: The Senator can look at the situation in 1922 if she wants to——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: ——but I would be happier to look at the situation in 2008 and what will happen in the coming years.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: Talking down to people about the situation in 1997 is not the way to deal with this matter. There are parents——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: ——whose children are being denied an opportunity to mix with other children, get into mainstream schools and have the emotional and psychological love of their parents, siblings and friends. That is what is being denied. The Senator should not be so arrogant and talk about the situation in 1997.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: We are trying to get services for these children. The Minister should come out and talk. She should not send people on to radio stations to say they will deliver this and then vote against it in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: The Minister came into the House today and spoke many fine words but when push comes to shove, she hides behind civil servants. The "lingering animosity" statement made by a former Minister for Education should be explained to this House because it blames civil servants for what is a Government issue.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is what the Senator should do.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: That is not true.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: I respect what he is saying because he is making some good points but he should not try to make out that my contribution is making a political football of this.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Liam Twomey: She should whisper in his ear.