Results 1,381-1,400 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I support the Government's counter-motion. First, I will address some of the issues raised by Deputy Sherlock, as he leaves the Chamber. He says there has been an undermining of politics in the country. Fianna Fáil and the Green Party had a bad election. However, let us think about politics. People came out in record numbers, for various reasons and motivations.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I make this point to contradict the view the politics is undermined. Ireland had, probably, the highest turnout in Europe for the European and local elections.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I challenge the view that politics is undermined. Outstanding candidates from all parties presented themselves on the ballot paper for the first time and endorsed, by their courage, the political system. What Deputy Sherlock said is nonsense. Deputy Sherlock should also be careful when he interprets the outcome for the Labour Party. Support of 14% is not a massive endorsement, given that...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Only 14% of the people voted for Deputy O'Sullivan's view of the world. She should not get carried away with the idea that this is a tidal wave of support and for the soothing words which provide balm for the obvious pain people are suffering.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: People are suffering pain. We have said people's incomes will be affected by the changes that are occurring. The Labour Party may provide soothing words and present a false juxtaposition, criticising the Government for recapitalising the banks and complaining that social services are inadequate.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: They should say that to President Obama or Prime Minister Browne, who are capitalising banks in the US and the UK-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: -----or tell the European Central Bank about our inadequate social care services. It makes no sense. It is cheap and empty political rhetoric.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: That is why they have only 14% support.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: People are sophisticated enough to see through it. We accept that we had a bad election but the Labour Party does not understand that the people of Ireland know that the alternative Government, such as it is, is incoherent. There are two Oppositions in this Parliament, Fine Gael and the Labour Party. In the previous Dáil the Mullingar accord set general principles and approaches. That is...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: We have two Oppositions in a race to the bottom of Irish politics to find the lowest common denominator of political accountability.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: That is wrong. That is why there is a notorious incompatibility between these two parties.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Their incompatibility is not only on nationalisation, where the Labour Party wants to create 40,000 extra public service workers by nationalising all the banks. Does anyone in Fine Gael think that could be done?

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Even temporarily, no one in Fine Gael agrees with that. That is a fundamental question when we are talking about an alternative Government.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Let us consider social partnership. A picture of the Labour Party leader is hanging from Liberty Hall on an 80 foot banner fluttering in the wind, while Fine Gael promises public sector reform. How will they square that circle? That is why people did not buy into the Labour Party's view of the world. That is why I warn them not to be so arrogant as to think the election result provides...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, the Adoption Bill, 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, was published on 23 January, 2009. Under the proposed new legislative regime, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention as well as from those...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: My Office is continuing to work towards securing a strengthened inter-country adoption agreement with the Vietnamese authorities. In light of several concerns raised by other countries during the last year, the Government decided that it was necessary to reinforce the initial bilateral agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Also, with the publication of the Adoption Bill, 2009,...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (10 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which will come into operation in January next, and for the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) which was introduced in January 2008. Under the ECCE children will be able to avail of a free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which will commence in January 2010. The scheme will allow children to avail of a free playschool place in their pre-school year, which will be provided for three hours per day, five days per week for 38 weeks. It will also...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (9 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: Children's services provided by the HSE aim to promote and protect the health and well being of vulnerable children and families. A wide range of services are provided including early years services, family support services, child protection services, alternative care, services for homeless youth, search and reunion (post adoption) services, psychological services, child and adolescent...