Results 21-40 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

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

Billy Kelleher: We will explain that following the next general election. The Opposition should not take comfort from the recent elections. I compliment the Minister and the Department on acknowledging the significant traffic problem in Dublin city. The construction of the M50 should enhance the quality of life of communities along the commuter belt as it will be easier for people to travel to work and to...

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

Billy Kelleher: That is effectively what he is saying.

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

Billy Kelleher: He is saying to the people of Dublin that he is sorry but they should not be allowed to travel to the west, to west Cork——

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

Billy Kelleher: I can safely say that west Cork is a beautiful area but if we are realistic, there will not be a railway line to Bantry in the short term. Whether or not Paddy Sheehan, a former Deputy, wants one, it will not happen. In the meantime, we should have a quality road network to the west so that Dublin people can enjoy it and vice versa so that people from the west can come to the capital city...

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

Billy Kelleher: I commend the Bill. While we must have democratic accountability, the minute it is proposed, it is objected to. There is the accusation that power is being given to the Minister to make cynical decisions. I do not understand the logic behind that accusation. The National Roads Authority is attacked for not being democratic but when the Minister brings forward proposals to ensure...

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

Billy Kelleher: I commend the Bill and castigate the cynicism of some of those who have spoken.

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

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

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.

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....

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...

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...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Charges: Nursing Home Charges (22 Feb 2005)

Billy Kelleher: Question 137: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will consider accessing the national pensions reserve fund on a once-off basis to fund the cost of reimbursement of the nursing home charges on foot of the Supreme Court's decision of 16 February 2005 that such charges were unlawful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5928/05]