Results 421-440 of 562 for speaker:Larry Butler

Seanad: Budget 2010: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: Well done.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: The Senator must follow him.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 December 2009.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (15 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank her for her fine presentation of the budget. This ensures the less well-off in our society have been protected to the best of her ability. Fianna Fáil has a fine record in terms of social welfare and working for people who cannot help themselves.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (15 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: All one has to do is examine the figures presented in the budget. We are borrowing €530 million per week. We care about people but the problem is that we have run out of money.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (15 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I disagree totally with the idea that the Government squandered money. It has a good record and the infrastructure that has been built in this country over the past ten years is exemplary. No Government would be ashamed of the way the money was spent. The evidence is in the budget. It is important to bear in mind that those on social welfare have a difficult life. They do not take many...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (15 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I would like to make a couple of points about carer's allowance which is probably one of the payments for which we are getting real value for money. In recent years we have been very generous to carers who do a fantastic job by keeping people out of hospitals and nursing homes. When things get better, we should look after them by providing for an increase in the allowance once more. We are...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (15 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: It was a lot more than €8 at that time. The Fine Gael record is not good. The Senator cannot talk.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: You are deviating quite a bit.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I would like to respond to Senator Buttimer's proposal that we do nothing. The budget hurts everybody, regardless of from where they come. Fine Gael's policies are very suspect. It states its policies have been costed. I suggest it is taking soft options, rather than dealing with the difficult position in which the Minister finds herself.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I have listened carefully to the debate and it is very good, but I would like to draw on Senator Doherty's remarks about punishment. His party would know more about punishment than most. It uses its own punishment system.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I did not interrupt Senator Doherty.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I have no intention of withdrawing them.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: Excuse me, I did not interrupt you, Senator Doherty-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: -----I listened to what you had to say. Your economic policies make no sense.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I will do so. Many are making comments about cuts in child benefit and so on. It is not so long since Fine Gael lost power owing to a tax on children's shoes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: Taxing children's shoes was a big issue at the time. Fine Gael lost power because of it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: Do not try to lecture-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I listened to Senator Buttimer earlier.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Larry Butler: I listened to what he had to say and many contributions were valuable, to which I will respond now. I do not think the Opposition can lecture Fianna Fáil and the Government on what it has done on the issue of child care in the last few years. We probably have one of the best child care facilities in Europe. It is regrettable that we must take budgetary action to reduce such facilities....