Results 9,561-9,580 of 9,903 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: I appreciate that and nor does not stop when the Chair interrupts me.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: The rate of deflation for working households is 7.5%, a significant decline about which no one can cast doubt.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: What would I or the Minister say to a blind person, carer, lone parent or person with disability if his or her payment was not made next March because the Government had failed to take difficult and unpalatable decisions? That is a serious question because our finances and economy are at serious risk. Deputies may laugh if they like.
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: If we do not recognise the decline in prices and taxation receipts, the position will become so serious that making many payments will not be possible next year. We must admit this is the case and recognise that many of the subsidiary and ancillary benefits for social welfare recipients, for instance, free travel and household benefits, are still available. These benefits provide...
- Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: The living alone allowance, over 80 age allowance and fuel allowance are still in place and are very important. When the carbon tax is introduced a system will be established to assist people who have difficulty with the higher fuel bills that will result. None of this is mentioned by Opposition Deputies who also ignore the fact that the cut in child benefit will not affect hundreds of...
- Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (9 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [46362/09]
- Written Answers — Nursing Home Support Scheme: Nursing Home Support Scheme (8 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: Question 204: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the income and assets of a person wishing to avail of the nursing homes support scheme are taken into account when calculating their contribution to care; if assets that include land and property are taken into consideration; the rules governing contributions based on property assets, where a principal residence has been signed...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (8 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: Question 291: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a club (details supplied) in County Louth are entitled to draw down unclaimed payments that were awarded to the club under the sports capital grants programme 2004; if so, the conditions under which the moneys may be drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45789/09]
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (8 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: Question 340: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath who has gone through the interview process to join the Army; and when the moratorium on recruitment to the Defence Forces will be lifted. [45311/09]
- Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: Deputy Gilmore said something different last week.
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: The fundamental criticism of the Government by the Opposition at this time is that it has spent too much and has let the public finances get out of control. Child benefit has increased from â¬638 million in 2000 to â¬2.5 billion this year. Is it this to what they are referring when they say spending is out of control? The Government has spent a large amount of money in this area. We...
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: It has lots of choices.
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: It is hard to make choices when â¬4 billion is required.
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: The Labour party has made no choices. It simply agrees with every group with whom it meets.
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party leader has suggested that to achieve the â¬4 billion required public sector pay could be cut by 5% but that on individual salaries it would not work out like that.
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party is saying that it agrees with an overall cut of 5% in the overall budget but will not touch salaries. It speaks about magic figures and people have found it out. This is its across the board answer to everything.
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: This Government's record is one to be proud of, as is the Government's commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and those in need. I include among the most vulnerable those with high mortgages and high outgoings but not the wealthy. I fundamentally disagree with the principle of universality of child benefit. It is not appropriate-----
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: It is totally inefficient to tax people and then hand back to them money in the form of child benefit which they do not need.
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party is not able to take justified criticism. I do not agree with taxing people and then handing back to them money which they do not need. I agree with taxing people in order to provide services and to protect the most vulnerable and needy. The most needy includes middle income families with high debt, which must be acknowledged.
- Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)
Thomas Byrne: I ask that the Minister bear in mind the needs of mothers of twins, triplets and so on. There are two families with triplets living within a few hundred yards of my constituency office. There are few families in the country with triplets and above. I ask that the Minister deal with these families in the most sympathetic fashion as they do not receive a great deal of other support from the...