Results 1,741-1,760 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I acknowledge that Deputy Stanton has bona fides on this subject which I have discussed with him previously in the corridors. The Deputy repeated this evening many of the points he makes in private in regard to Dáil reform. However, I must address my remarks to the motion before the House. Deputy Doyle stated that the saving envisaged in this motion constitutes 1,000th of what is needed,...

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is a ten second point, a soundbite.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: Let us be fair, it is populous. Deputy Kenny is populist, not popular. The minor nature of these savings——

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I want to deal further with the comments made by Deputy Doyle. He made the interesting comment that if one was dealing with one's household budget and if it was seriously in debt and one chooses to spend a whole evening considering 1,000th of that debt, one would have to question what it was one was trying to do. I accept there is a demonstration effect in terms of what we do as Ministers,...

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: There is also a demonstration effect in our spending three hours discussing an issue as minor as this. Capital markets are looking at this country wondering whether we have the capacity to get out of our current difficulties.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I find absolutely amazing the fact that the national debate was geared by Fine Gael this week to deal with the demotion of five to seven people.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: Members opposite speak about leadership. Deputy Bannon is getting excited about leadership. Leadership is not about trying to plug into the prevailing mood and going with it. Leadership is about leading. Last week, we had a debate on Ministers of State, which the people have left behind——

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: Deputy Bannon is stuck with this Private Members' motion which is——

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: ——-without any interest. In journalism and politics people get obsessed with issues that, while interesting, are not important. Who will lose their position as Minister of State is an interesting issue.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: That is interesting but it is tabloid politics.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is tabloid politics and populism. Fine Gael need to be honest with themselves and accept——

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: ——that this motion is naked populism.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I want now to underline some of the points made by Government speakers. One point is the vital role played by Ministers of State in many different Departments. In terms of my work, the amount of responsibility is immense. The workload is ten times greater than the workload of a backbencher. These are facts. People tell me on a daily basis that they would not take on my job for all the...

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I believe this is an important issue but it is very much a niche and in-house issue. It is a minor issue which seeks to address 1,000th of the problem by way of a three-hour debate. Fine Gael has taken its eye off the ball.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is a debate.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I did not lecture the Opposition.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: I just made my points.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: There was no lecturing.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: We are not out of touch.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Barry Andrews: That point has been made.