Results 9,181-9,200 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: People on both sides of the House are entitled to express their opinion uninterrupted. We did not interrupt anybody on the other side of the House and the least we deserve is to be afforded the same courtesy.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: The Deputy's answer to everything is to shout people down.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: There is an international credit squeeze. The effects of the sub-prime crisis in the US are being felt worldwide while increasing worldwide oil and food prices are putting the brake on global growth. A small open economy, like ours, is not immune to what is happening in the rest of the world. The reality, however, is that the fundamentals of the Irish economy are strong. It is a reality...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Despite that, some people still persist, in the teeth of the clearest evidence to the contrary, in insisting that the boom has been squandered. As well as the huge investment in infrastructure, health and education, we have used the surpluses to build up our pension reserve fund to almost â¬20 billion and to dramatically reduce our national debt from 65% of GNP to about 25%. The reduction...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: The underlying strength of the economy gives cause for considerable optimism.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: The truth hurts. Unlike any time in the past, Ireland is well positioned to deal with the consequences of an international slowdown. This means the Government is well positioned to get us through the tough times. The responsible course is to take the actions needed now. That is what we are doing. We are taking the necessary corrective actions needed to put our economy on a sustainable...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: The operating cost of this State must be sustainable. This means moderating our spending and driving the value-for-money agenda harder. Second, we will continue to invest in the productive capacity of the economy. We will improve our national infrastructures even further by continuing to invest in roads, communications, education and public services. My over-riding priority as Minister is...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I listened to some of the earlier debate, with spokesman after spokesman, particularly those from the main Opposition party, demanding increased current expenditure on health, education and transport while, at the same time, Deputy Bruton contends we are not imposing budgetary cuts severely or quickly enough. Fine Gael must make up its mind. It cannot be at once in favour of general economy...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: In fairness to Deputy Deenihan, his pronouncements, while in favour of increased public expenditure, have been a model of consistency when compared with those of his Front Bench colleagues. Last April, Deputies Varadkar and Kenny launched a document committing Fine Gael to reduce massively the number of State agencies. Unfortunately, news of this important initiative seems not to have...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: As I said, Fine Gael cannot be simultaneously in favour of both saving and spending. I have figured out at last why Fine Gael and the Labour Party spend so much time in opposition. It is because they are congenitally predisposed to negativity. I came across a quotation which illustrates this point and which is almost 50 years old. In 1962, in reference to Fine Gael and the Labour Party,...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Deputy Bruton should be aware that I have read his election manifesto.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: If we had done as Fine Gael proposed in its election manifesto, we would be in a far worse situation.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: When will the Deputies opposite get over the fact that they lost the election? It is time they accepted it.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Fine Gael based its election proposals on the same figures.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Fine Gael budgeted before the election for greater spending.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Deputy Bruton needs to talk to the other members of the Fine Gael Front Bench.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Has the Deputy forgotten what happened in 1986 and 1987?
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: That is why the Deputy is in opposition.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Soundbites.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Like John Bruton, I suppose.