Results 581-600 of 1,467 for speaker:Geraldine Feeney

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: The Senator is scaremongering again.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: We are not that stupid over here.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: Senator O'Toole might think we are stupid, but we are not.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: The stupid ones are in front of Senator O'Toole.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: Like others I would welcome a debate on the issue of medical cards as laid out in the budget. We had three hours of discussion yesterday during which much of this was debated and we will not go back over that ground. I agree with Senator Boyle that there is confusion and perhaps a lack of understanding on the Opposition side——-

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: It is causing a nervousness and a confusion——

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: ——among those over 70 years of age. Some of these people contacted me this morning in my own constituency. When I explained what I had said in this House yesterday they understood the matter reasonably well. Does the Opposition support the principle that those in our society who can afford to pay for commodities, regardless of their age or gender, should pay? That is the only thing I ask.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I say also——

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I will leave that matter stand. In asking for the debate, I say to the Leader that, of the savings of €100 million in the area of health, the biggest saving is €84 million which will be taken from the doctors, not from the patients. Therefore, it is the better off in our society who will be the fall guys rather than those aged over 70. Yesterday members of the Opposition referred to...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: The VHI said that it has very few such former members and that there has been no noticeable decrease in customers in the over 70 age bracket leaving the VHI. In 2001 there were 88,989 people over 70 in the VHI and today there are more than 120,000. The VHI will take the former members back in the morning without any penalty. The only thing it will ask for is that they pay the premia that...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: ——regardless of what illness they suffer. It is important that——

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: It is important to set the record straight. The Opposition is frightening elderly people——

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: It is important to put the record straight when others are frightening these people. In the society in which we live, in the country in which my party is the leading one in Parliament, nobody, regardless of their age, will ever be denied any medical help, whether they are rich or poor.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2009: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome our former colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. This is the first time I have been in the House in his presence. I am delighted to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate. Opposition parties over recent months have referred to the need to secure an economic and social future for our country and they said the budget should be designed to do that. In my...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2009: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: Our over 70s will take what is coming when they know the great savings that will result for the economy. Fine Gael proposed €700 million in savings, which would result in the closure of three hospitals and the loss of 10,000 jobs immediately. I am glad we are not doing that. I refer to the 1% income levy. I have three children employed at the lower end of the salary bracket — they are...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I support Senator O'Reilly who called for a debate on nursing homes and the fair deal scheme on the Order of Business yesterday. If the legislation, which is ready, is not to be introduced to the House until the new year, will the Leader accommodate Senators by having a debate on the issue? I welcome the additional €55 million allocated to the nursing home scheme in yesterday's budget as...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: Oh now.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I, too, extend good wishes to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan. Driving up to Dublin this morning, I thought the grey, dark, terrible weather is probably in keeping with what will take place in the Other House this afternoon. As other speakers noted, people across the spectrum will feel pain as a result of the budget. I hope, however, that the most vulnerable will feel less...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: And women.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Oct 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I support the Leader who is not an unreasonable man. He has been very reasonable throughout the past year and I am sure he wishes to continue that way. He gets support from the Opposition benches. As Senator Walsh said, this is an uncertain time for us economically. Most of us have never known a time like this in global markets or in the State from an economic point of view. Whether or...