Results 10,021-10,040 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: Has Deputy Durkan been allocated time to speak?

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: He can speak to his Whip if he wants a few minutes.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: Could we ask the Deputy to leave?

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: Three strikes and you are out.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: I am not standing for this.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: Did I open my mouth when the Minister spoke?

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: The electorate was fearful and filled with trepidation. Especially at the time, the public expected politicians in a potential Government to say it as it was and be truthful in describing how it would proceed.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: During that election, Fine Gael and Labour gave the distinct impression that there would be an easier and softer way of tackling our problems.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: He is out before he is put out.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: It is only right and proper that the people are reminded of some of the contributions made by the leading lights in the Government. The Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore, said, "Child benefit is a red line issue." The phrase "Every little hurts" was used in a campaign by the Labour Party which lambasted its colleague, Fine Gael, for its proposed cuts in child benefit. The Taoiseach was quoted as...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: We were promised 165,000 jobs in NewERA. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, spoke about "not another cent." Various promises were made on hospitals, Army barracks, Garda stations and health reform. All these promises allowed the Government to obtain its goal - more luck to it, as it secured a massive majority. We suffered a heavy, crushing defeat, which we...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: They were so necessary that the Government, on assuming office, immediately carried out its first U-turn, namely, to implement the same budget and provisions within the finance Bill that it had vehemently opposed. They were great men in opposition with great populist rhetoric. They made marvellous promises when standing on a soapbox in Roscommon, the back of a lorry in Castlebar or on the...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: They were like Mighty Mouse but in government they are nothing but Mickey Mouse. They promised a new way of doing politics - transparent, open and reforming - but on 9 March at the first Cabinet meeting it was decided to adhere to, support and implement the Fianna Fáil budget, the one the Government parties had voted against and, more importantly, campaigned against. The Government has...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: I refer to promises on hospitals, Army barracks, bondholders who cannot and will not be burned, child benefit and welfare cuts.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: The beauty of the budget, if it could be so described, from a political prospective, is that at last - we have waited nine months - the Government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party can be adjudicated on its choice, decisions and cuts in specific and vulnerable areas.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: The Government has made efforts to seek to appease its supporters by putting it out that social welfare rates have not been cut but have been maintained, when, in fact, what it has done is targeted vulnerable and poor families, rural dwellers, the disabled, the elderly, students - primary, secondary and even third level - employers, SMEs and community employment schemes. It could be argued...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: The budget and the Social Welfare Bill is not only anti-family, it is anti-women. Child benefits will be cut -----

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: I am glad to see the Minister reciprocating the respect I showed by not interrupting her.

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: From 2014 the one-parent family allowance will only be paid until the youngest child reaches the age of seven. Last year the Fine Gael finance spokesperson asked Mr. Brian Lenihan what he had against third children. What has the Minister against children over the age of seven?

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Barry Cowen: The double child dependant allowance will be discontinued where a lone parent is on a community employment scheme. The earnings disregard will be reduced over five years from €146 to €60. The disregard for income from employment as a home help with the HSE will be abolished in all social assistance payment schemes. It just gets worse. The number of contributions for the widow's...