Results 501-520 of 1,467 for speaker:Geraldine Feeney

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: ——on a point of order, are we allowed to defend ourselves?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: Then why did you allow the Opposition speak the way it has?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: My apologies. I would not undermine the Cathaoirleach in any way.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I have too much respect for the Cathaoirleach to undermine him in that way.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I take this opportunity to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, to the House this morning. I am delighted to have an opportunity to have a few minutes to contribute to the debate on the Health Bill 2008. There is no doubt that this is very important legislation. It is fair to say, after listening to my colleague, Senator Frances Fitzgerald, that the Bill will not have a very...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: If yesterday's proceedings in the other House are anything to go by, we are certainly in for an eventful day. Everybody is keenly aware of the current economic climate. The first item on the news this morning was the Minister for Finance telling us that the first half of 2009 will be even bleaker than we imagined. Having listened to Senator Frances Fitzgerald this morning, the Opposition...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: Around the same time, Deputy Michael Noonan of Fine Gael said in the Dáil that in these circumstances, he did not think it was justifiable to extend the automatic entitlement of a medical card to all our citizens over 80 without reference to being means tested. He was not even talking about those aged over 70 but those over 80. I have not heard any Labour spokespersons contribute yet, but...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I met Fine Gael people from Sligo at the protest in Dublin who, although they were not losing their medical cards, told me they were up for the crack.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I will not be bold enough to name them.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I did not interrupt anyone, but I have been interrupted three times. The truth hurts. Opposition Members can give it, but they cannot take it. The Opposition certainly put a lot of spin on the medical card issue. Its Members did not want anyone to know what they were entitled to. People went away from the big march in Dublin thinking they were going to lose everything, including free...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: In the same way, Fine Gael introduced the red herring about the VHI.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: On 15 October, I put the record straight on the VHI. I went to the trouble of ringing the VHI. I wonder if anyone in Fine Gael rang the VHI to find out what the true situation was——

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: ——before spinning the story they wanted in the media. Unfortunately, the media pick up what the Opposition is saying because all they give out is doom and gloom. I thank God, for the people of Ireland, that the Opposition is not in Government. I listened to the debate in the Lower House yesterday concerning widows, of which I am one myself, and retired teachers. I hope the Minister of...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I am meeting retired teachers in my constituency on Monday. It would be nice to know we will continue to give them some comfort. I am proud to stand as a Government Senator, knowing that my party, along with the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats, will always stand by and look after the elderly in our community.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: My party in particular has been the champion of the older community from the foundation of the State. I will not go into what the Opposition parties have done down through the years for the older community. They are Johnny-come-latelys to this group of people. They rant and rave about what the Government has done, but if it were not for Fianna Fáil-led Governments over the decades, the...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I am being misquoted.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: The spokesperson on finance on this side of the House is male.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: I was not here on the night the budget was introduced.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: Three times the normal cost.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Geraldine Feeney: Hear, hear.