Results 181-200 of 839 for speaker:Michael Kennedy

School Accommodation (30 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: I am sure the Minister has more than a passing interest in this reply.

School Accommodation (30 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: I propose to share time with Deputies Michael Kitt, Cyprian Brady, Niall Collins and Frank Fahey.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cuffe, and wish him well in his portfolio. The Fine Gael motion informs us that visitor numbers to Ireland decreased last year, and nobody is denying that. However, that decrease is not a result of the travel tax, which is a departure tax and applies to flights out of the country.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: I am surprised that Deputy Olivia Mitchell seems to be confused in this regard. Another government will charge those passengers on the way home. Let us deal with the facts. Mr. George Lee's departure from the Dáil must have made Deputy Mitchell a little too relaxed. We are talking about a departure tax that is charged at Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Belfast.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: Yes.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: If one comes back from London, it is the British Government which imposes the charge, not the Irish Government. We must get the facts right.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: I consulted a website yesterday and discovered that the minimum price for two people travelling to Spain would be €1,000. Are Fine Gael and the Labour Party suggesting that an additional €10 charge will deter people from embarking on a sun holiday? I am unconvinced.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: We are talking about a departure tax that raised €100 million in ten months last year. The anticipated revenue for 2010 is €125 million.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: In the context of a budget deficit of more than €20 billion, every €100 million we can raise is very welcome.

Tourism Industry: Motion (Resumed) (24 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: The United Kingdom, France, New Zealand and Australia have departure taxes at a much higher rate than we have. We must deal with reality. One can understand why airlines that want to offer zero-cost flights would call for the removal of the departure tax. However, those airlines that are charging €40 for personal check-in, €5 for the privilege of an on-line check-in, €5 for credit...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: Question 767: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status and provision for the building of a new school in north County Dublin (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12756/10]

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Review of Rent in Certain Cases) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. We all realise the value of small businesses and retailers to the economy as they account for approximately 250,000 jobs. Like other speakers I have concerns about the big institutional banks and insurance companies who drive rents upwards. I acknowledge they are in business to make a profit but in the current context, they have a social...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Review of Rent in Certain Cases) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. If the Government has legal advice and is prepared to say who provides it and what it says, I hope Deputy Lynch will inform the House who is providing the Labour Party with legal advice-----

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Review of Rent in Certain Cases) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: To suggest to business people going through difficult times that there is an instant solution is wrong. I wish to refer to the issue of consumer spending. A problem for retailers is that people are not spending as much money as they used to, for good reasons as they have less to spend-----

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Review of Rent in Certain Cases) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: Statistics tell us that a total of €88 billion is on deposit in the banks and this does not include what might be lying under the mattress. If the prophets of gloom in this House were a little bit more responsible and were not spreading this daily doom and gloom, people might spend a little. If only 5% of the €88 billion was spent - €5 billion - we would achieve an income on VAT alone...

Road Traffic Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle as ucht deis a thabhairt dom labhairt ar an Bille tábhachtach seo. Ta mé an-sásta go bhfuil an Bille seo á thabhairt isteach. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire, an Teachta Dempsey, as ucht an reachtaíocht á thabhairt os comhair na Dála. Os rud é gurb í seo seachtain na Gaeilge, ba mhaith liom labhairt ar feadh...

Road Traffic Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: It may well be. We agree that the 30 km/h speed limit is unnecessary and is doing nothing for road safety. Analysis of the accidents occurring within the Dublin city area shows that they are limited in number. If we are serious about increasing safety from speeding, there are other roads we should be looking at. I offer my support for the Road Traffic Bill. It provides for a reduction in...

Civil Liability (Good Samaritans and Volunteers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Mar 2010)

Michael Kennedy: Is it agreed that Deputy Billy Timmins has 15 minutes and Deputies Bannon, Tom Hayes, O'Mahony, Perry and Breen have five minutes each? Agreed.