Results 11,941-11,960 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Feb 2005)

Billy Kelleher: Disability must be debated in an open forum like this. Fianna Fáil gave a commitment in 1997 to bring forward a disability Bill but it was later withdrawn. That, however, afforded an opportunity for people representing disability groups to come forward and discuss these issues on a broad, consultative basis, ensuring their views were heard. There is no doubt looking back that people with a...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2005)

Billy Kelleher: I wish to share time with Deputy Dan Wallace. I welcome the opportunity to discuss social welfare issues, which impact on many people's lives, including lone parents and pensioners. Kevin Myers's article in The Irish Times did significant damage and it hurt many people, particularly lone parents and their children. Such articles do nobody a service, as they inflame emotions and stigmatise...

Domestic Refuse Charges: Motion. (15 Feb 2005)

Billy Kelleher: It is nice to see the Labour Party decided not to behave like a spoilt brat when the writs were moved today with its threat of opposition and disruption to the business of the Dáil. It is nice to see Labour Party Deputies tabling a motion that ultimately gives us the opportunity to highlight all the positive aspects to waste management that have occurred in recent years.

Domestic Refuse Charges: Motion. (15 Feb 2005)

Billy Kelleher: I have listened to a great deal of nonsense from that side of the House with regard to waste management. The vast majority of people in Cork city pay their service charges. For years Members opposite opposed every opportunity to bring forward an equitable system. It took Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and some other members of Cork Corporation to make bold decisions with regard to the introduction...

Domestic Refuse Charges: Motion. (15 Feb 2005)

Billy Kelleher: That is Deputy Sherlock's problem, not in my backyard, NIMBY. He has been saying that all his life. However, there is the greater good to be considered as well. Perhaps he should start acting in that system as well. On bring sites, I acknowledge great advances have been made. However, we need to be proactive in ensuring that the bring sites are monitored and cleaned up on a regular basis....

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Health Bill. It gives Deputies an opportunity to broaden the debate on the health service. At the outset, we must acknowledge a few simple facts. We have spent large sums of money in this area, more than €10 billion this year. The health budget has been doubled in seven years. The number of people working in the health service has been increased from...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Billy Kelleher: It is an area we will have to consider. While the committee structure works reasonably well, it is often only the members of the committee who attend, although any Member of the Houses can attend to ask questions. However, Members have constituency pressures and sit on so many committees that they may not have time to state their case. Some measure should be introduced so that a Deputy can...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Billy Kelleher: One might also get a prompt response but some mechanism should be in place to guarantee Members a reply and accountability. I urge the Minister to consider this concern, which was raised by the Opposition but is a concern of all Members. My question is whether I can get an answer if a problem arises in my constituency or on a broader matter.

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Billy Kelleher: The motto of the Health Services Executive should be fairness and equality. There is no doubt, as Deputy McManus stated, there is apartheid in our health system. It could be argued that there is apartheid in many systems, such as the education system and society in general, which is a matter we must address. For example, a family may have a great deal of money but their child gets free...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Billy Kelleher: Did the Deputy's party have the bottle to implement it? It was quick to implement it but the public saw through that stunt by a previous Government.

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Billy Kelleher: With regard to fairness and equality, I welcome the general practitioner-only medical card. No Member should criticise that positive, imaginative and proactive measure which ensures that those who are just outside eligibility for the full medical card will now get free GP care. I urge the Labour Party to reconsider its opposition to this imaginative approach. I wish the Bill a speedy passage...

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Billy Kelleher: I hope we will have more accountability to this House at the end of the process. I hope all working in the health services can implement the Bill in a spirit of co-operation to ensure we provide better services to all who require them.

Health Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Nov 2004)

Billy Kelleher: There are fewer poorer people since this Government took office.

National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Jun 2004)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the chance to discuss the Bill. Although it is narrow in its focus — Carrickmines — we must take a broader focus on public transport and development of our road and rail infrastructure. I take issue with Deputy Eamon Ryan. Most of the people I see on the roads are members of the public. The roads are a form of public transport and we cannot dismiss the fact that the vast...

National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Jun 2004)

Billy Kelleher: ——high-rise developments and rezoning. People in Dublin in particular should ask Deputy Ryan where they are to live. Where can they live? If we adopted Green Party policy we would rezone no lands, we would not allow high-rise developments and we would run out of land very quickly. While we have difficulties with high housing prices at present, if the Deputy's policies were pursued,...

National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Jun 2004)

Billy Kelleher: I would welcome that but to develop Cork, Galway and Limerick we would have to rezone lands. There were major objections in those cities to rezoning potential. It seems to be part and parcel of Green Party policy that regardless of merit, there is an automatic objection to any development, be it student accommodation or high-rise apartments. I could list a myriad objections. We have an...

National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Jun 2004)

Billy Kelleher: As one travels between Cork and Dublin, I assure the Deputy the Rock of Cashel is a beautiful sight but I do not want to sit outside Cashel in a traffic jam for half an hour admiring it. I would prefer to take the new ring road to avoid the town and look at it from a distance.

National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Jun 2004)

Billy Kelleher: If I want to visit the Rock of Cashel, I will be able to leave the bypass and enter the town. Traffic must be taken out of towns to improve quality of life.

National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Jun 2004)

Billy Kelleher: Most members of the Green Party continually object to road developments, wherever they are proposed, regardless of their merit or whether a site of historic importance is nearby.

National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Jun 2004)

Billy Kelleher: There have been footprints on our island for millennia. No matter where a road is proposed, a site of significant historical importance will be discovered and it may not necessarily be a national monument. If every site of historical importance was designated, a field would not be ploughed nor a motorway built.