Results 481-500 of 1,594 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Mick Wallace

Topical Issue Debate: Public Sector Allowances (19 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: This is a poor direction for the Government to take. The decision that new teachers will earn 20% less than teachers who started in 2010 will have a disproportionate impact on new entrants to the profession and will create a two-tier system in our schools. A new teacher who starts on a salary of approximately €30,000 after training for four years could earn more by pushing a...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Sector Allowances (19 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: It is said one should never waste a good recession. In this recession, a wedge has been driven between the private and public sectors. The recession was caused by the private sector, including people in my own business, but the public sector has been made a scapegoat for it. I still employ more than 50 people in the private sector and every time pay is cut to low paid public sector workers...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: With a view to maximising and maintaining the security of the Irish troops in Lebanon, we would best serve them by ensuring we retain a neutral position on events in Syria. I would not for a second try to defend Mr. Assad and I have no sympathy whatsoever for his organisation; neither would I take sides with the rebels, who are being armed by Saudi Arabia. There is a civil war in the region...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: On both sides.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: I also condemn the violence on both sides. I take the Minister of State's point about the Irish being on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, but when I mentioned staying neutral, I was referring to the need for Irish personnel in Europe to maintain Ireland's wonderful neutral position when commenting on the situation. Our position has been well known for years and should be preserved.

Other Questions: National Play and Recreation Policies (26 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the recent report by the Irish Refugee Council entitled "State Sanctioned Child Poverty and Exclusion: the case of children in accommodation for asylum seekers"; her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40659/12]

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: I, too, will be supporting the Bill, which is welcome, and commend the Minister on the work she has done on it. What is being done is both positive and long overdue. Observations or comments I may make should not be taken as criticisms of the Bill. I want to highlight the need for joined up thinking across Departments if the theory is to be put into practice. It is very good that the...

Magdalene Laundries: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: I too commend Sinn Féin for introducing this motion. I also find it difficult to understand why the House is not in full agreement on the motion. I have no doubt that everyone in the House must find it difficult to read the stories of the people concerned, the survivors. The stark submission from the Magdalene group indicates that the State was involved in sending women and girls to...

Other Questions: National Play and Recreation Policies (26 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the recent report by the Irish Refugee Council entitled "State Sanctioned Child Poverty and Exclusion: the case of children in accommodation for asylum seekers"; her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40659/12]

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: I, too, will be supporting the Bill, which is welcome, and commend the Minister on the work she has done on it. What is being done is both positive and long overdue. Observations or comments I may make should not be taken as criticisms of the Bill. I want to highlight the need for joined up thinking across Departments if the theory is to be put into practice. It is very good that the...

Magdalene Laundries: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Sep 2012)

Mick Wallace: I too commend Sinn Féin for introducing this motion. I also find it difficult to understand why the House is not in full agreement on the motion. I have no doubt that everyone in the House must find it difficult to read the stories of the people concerned, the survivors. The stark submission from the Magdalene group indicates that the State was involved in sending women and girls to...

Other Questions: Youth Unemployment Numbers (2 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: Does the Minister agree that the labour market has become much too focused on the short term and there is too little investment in training and apprenticeships, though which it takes time to reap rewards? Even prior to the recession in the construction sector, apprenticeship schemes had almost disappeared and we became reliant on eastern Europe for tradesmen. There has to be direct...

Other Questions: Unemployment Levels (2 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: The depression of the 1930s in the United States was probably worse than the present depression. That country worked its way out of it by applying the philosophy of John Maynard Keynes. The top priority was the creation of employment which led to growth and eventually to a balanced budget. I know the Minister is focused on job creation, but does he not think the Government is putting...

Other Questions: National Monuments (3 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Minister said that any matters relating to the development of the site would be an issue for the developer and local authority. He also said that 1916 belongs to the people. In my view, the site also belongs to the people. Given the developer in question is knee deep in NAMA and NAMA is a State body the site in question belongs to the taxpayer.

Other Questions: National Monuments (3 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: My telephone is switched off. It is strange that the State has not taken more control over this site given the taxpayer owns it. It would be obvious to most people looking at the over-design project that it was designed for a different time, that a scaled back version of it would make more economic sense and would facilitate development of the historical quarter, which will be good for...

Other Questions: National Monuments (3 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Minister said that planning permission was granted to the developer. However, the developer is involved with NAMA, which now owns the site. As such, NAMA owns the planning permission. The Minister has more control than he realises. My understanding is that once a developer is involved with NAMA it is within its remit to control the sites involved, which are owned by the taxpayer. Is...

Other Questions: National Monuments (3 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: Unfortunately, I do.

Addiction Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (3 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: I commend Deputy O'Sullivan on tabling the motion, and the aspiration, to prioritise addiction as a health issue, not primarily as a criminal one, and ensure the necessary allocation of resources, is a noble one. I would like to speak about alcohol because for too long we have not recognised it as a drug. We think of it almost as part of our diet. At this stage it is so interwoven into who...

Addiction Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (3 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: One cannot play sport at this level and abuse alcohol, which emphasises the value of sport. It is in the State's interest to invest as much money as it possibly can in sport. Every sport is beneficial.

Addiction Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (3 Oct 2012)

Mick Wallace: It is amazing how much sport can help with the problems we encounter in these areas. I am a great believer in education, and we need to target alcohol. We must teach people more and be more specific about the harm of alcohol. Improvements have been made over the years with regard to cigarettes. I can remember in my last year in secondary school that 40 out of the 60 pupils in the two...