Results 1,521-1,540 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Finance Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: Since the beginning of this crisis the resilience of the Irish people has been truly remarkable considering what we have been through in recent years. We have seen the total collapse of our financial services, construction industry and massive budget adjustments, yet in the midst of all that we have managed to start to get control of public spending and there is still growth in the economy....

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: When listening to Opposition contributions, I am sure Members on these benches wonder what Government would be like if, for example, Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan was Minister for Finance and Deputy Mattie McGrath was his Minister for State. What sort of catastrophe would ensue if their rhetoric became a reality? I do not think Sinn Féin is as financially illiterate as its rhetoric in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services (14 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: To ask the Minister for Health the actions taken to tackle overcrowding and the use of trolleys in the accident emergency department in Wexford General Hospital; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7547/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) with National Newspapers of Ireland (7 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: In the same spirit, we want to see more open government. There will always be toing and froing and everyone feels they are hard done by in the media in this game. I am sure we are not and that it is merely our sensitivity. I thank the witnesses for their attendance. All submissions and discussions will go into our final report which will be forwarded to the Department to form part of its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) with National Newspapers of Ireland (7 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: I will play the devil’s advocate. I was a member of the committee in 2003 when the then Minister, Charlie McCreevy, reversed the legislation. It was considered to be a retrograde step. If I could get senior civil servants in here in private session and turned off all the cameras, I would hear words like "frivolous", "vexatious", "fishing exercise" and "unethical". It all boils down...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) with National Newspapers of Ireland (7 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: A mobile telephone is on which is interfering with the sound system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) with National Newspapers of Ireland (7 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: The joint committee is meeting in public session to continue its public consultation on the draft heads of the freedom of information (amendment) Bill 2012. I welcome Mr. Carl O'Brien of The Irish Times, Ms Dearbhail McDonald of Irish Independent, Mr. Frank Cullen, director of National Newspapers of Ireland, and Mr. Mark Tighe of The Sunday Times. The format of the meeting will be as...

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: The previous Government on behalf of the sovereign State of Ireland signed contracts which bind us to the promissory notes. Those who are prepared to support the Technical Group in a vote on this motion should be prepared to tell the people of Ireland the consequences for them of defaulting on the €3.1 billion payment.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: There will be consequences. Many Members opposite are either deliberating misleading the people of this country-----

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: -----or are financially ignorant of what is happening in saying-----

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: -----that we can default on this repayment and walk away.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: That is nonsense. It will be interesting to know the Members of this House who would like to see Ireland default-----

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: -----leaving us unable to meet social welfare payments or nurses' and teachers' pay.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: Deputy Mattie McGrath was previously a member of Government at which time he made decisions on behalf of the people of Ireland, about which they were not too happy.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: If we go the road suggested by Deputies opposite we will end up like Argentina in the early 1990s.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: There is a huge amount of foreign direct investment in Ireland and we are moving as a country to being a massive exporter. Do Members opposite believe that having just recovered our reputation, which was on the ground only a short while ago, this Government is going to risk ruining it again? Some of the arguments being made by Members opposite are morally and politically irresponsible....

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: The Technical Group is trying to gain some notoriety by way of this nonsensical motion. I do not believe that Deputy Mattie McGrath, who is also a business person, actually believes his own nonsense.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: I do not believe that other Members of the Opposition, who claim to have a better understanding of economics than I do, believe some of the nonsense spoken in this House. We know what will happen if we default. It would not be pleasant for the most vulnerable people in our society, whom some Members opposite claim to support.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: This Government has done a great job during the past couple of years in restoring our international reputation and stabilising our economy. It will soldier on for the next couple years despite that what it must do is difficult and will b e tough on the people of Ireland. We will do what is right for this country in the next couple of years and will not engage in cheap political gimmicks. I...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (6 Feb 2013)

Liam Twomey: I would like to ask the Minister of State the current status in terms of opening a renal dialysis unit at Wexford General Hospital. The physical infrastructure for housing the dialysis unit is up and ready. It seems some legal hold up is stopping patients from being able to have their renal dialysis carried out in Wexford General Hospital. At present, patients have to travel to Waterford...