Results 3,761-3,780 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: The members of the Government have been in power for so long that they think they own this country.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: They think they can run this country as if it were a branch of the Fianna Fáil Party. They treat their Government colleagues, the Progressive Democrats, like a disposable asset that can be discarded. It is amazing to see the leader of Fianna Fáil courting the Green Party and other small parties in the Dáil.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: Fianna Fáil is publicly dismissing its coalition partners.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: It is publicly dismissing its coalition partners, with three months to go to the general election.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: By pushing through this legislation, the Government is showing its utter contempt for this country and its democracy.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: I wonder how far Fianna Fáil wants to go with this strategy. Perhaps it is planning some other legislation after this Bill has been passed. The Minister for Defence might have a grand plan to become the chief of staff of the European army.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: I would not like to introduce any legislation in this House that might prevent the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, from becoming the commander in chief.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: What if the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government realises he is not producing enough wind to run the country? The Minister, Deputy Roche, might decide to rush through some legislation to allow him to use a statutory instrument to develop a nuclear power plant somewhere in the Arklow area.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has expressed the view that he has no great concerns about stem cell research. Given that the European Union strongly supports such research, perhaps the Minister, Deputy Martin, plans to introduce a statutory instrument to provide for it,

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: I am talking about EU legislation. If the Minister of State actually wants to know where I stand on it, which is highly unlikely because of the way this House works——

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: The Minister of State is getting very excited about the possibility of the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, being appointed commander in chief of the European army.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: The Minister, Deputy Roche, might build a new nuclear power plant, or the Minister, Deputy Martin, might start stem cell research in Cork, as a result of the legislation the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, is doing his best to rush through the House. The Minister of State is usually quite robust and likes to answer questions, but that was not the case when he was in the Seanad recently....

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: It is actually safe enough — the note in my hand is in my handwriting.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: The Minister of State will always be able to read the prescriptions I write for him because I would hate to do him any harm.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: Senator Bradford asked the Minister of State three questions when he was in the Seanad. He asked whether a Minister will be able to overwrite the authority of the Dáil on foot of this legislation.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: Will the Minister will be able to overwrite the authority of the Dáil?

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: I want the Minister of State to tell me what the position will be after this legislation has been passed. I am repeating the questions that Senator Bradford asked in the other House. The Minister of State should answer them, instead of throwing more questions back at me.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: I know. It is difficult because the Minister is easily provoked. Senator Bradford asked two further questions. Can the Minister unilaterally undo Dáil legislation? What safeguards are in place? The Minister said, in summing up his contribution, that he fully accepted the Bill is technical and complex and that the issues involved do not, unfortunately, lend themselves to simple...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: I am trying to keep the language simple so the Minister will understand. I hope he will accept the points made by a number of speakers. This is not good legislation and there is a serious need for the Government to review it. Whatever the people of Ireland feel about politicians and what we do in the House, and they might not be particularly worried that we do not get heavily involved in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Feb 2007)

Liam Twomey: Question 128: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the equity of tax relief provisions for pensions. [4144/07]