Results 41-60 of 138 for going forward speaker:Marc MacSharry

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Marc MacSharry: ...the Minister to take the time to be here to listen to all of the points being made. Before getting into any of its detail, I note that the Bill is indicative of the tail wagging the dog in government. I would love if the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, was here because I do not like to speak about him when he is not in the House. However, I had the...

Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (21 Feb 2017)

Marc MacSharry: ...made a similar attempt through the Seanad, as Deputy Darragh O'Brien mentioned, in 2015. Now, through Deputy Frank O'Rourke, we have an opportunity for the House to collectively move this issue forward. In our wish to be good Europeans, we have been penny wise and pound foolish. While the Committee of Public Accounts, in the report that was prepared by the Minister of State's...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Uisce faoi Úinéireacht Phoiblí) (Uimh. 2) 2016: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Nov 2016)

Marc MacSharry: I am glad to have an opportunity to make a few points on the Bill. I welcome the legislation and commend those who brought it forward. Notwithstanding the Water Services Acts in place and the safeguards they provide, there is distrust among the public about issues such as the ownership of Irish water and other aspects of public property. Anything we can do to facilitate this is welcome....

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Marc MacSharry: ...blame in terms of regional neglect over the years, this budget provided a real opportunity for us to front-load infrastructure projects throughout the country. It was an opportunity to say we are going to put our best foot forward, push the boat out and enable the regions to begin to perform to their potential. Instead of being seen as pain in the national side, placated with an odd bone...

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Second Stage (4 Oct 2016)

Marc MacSharry: First, as our senior spokesperson and Deputy Cahill have noted, Fianna Fáil supports this Bill. It contains some good measures with many more to come. However, while the Ministers of State are present in the Chamber, I will use the opportunity to raise a number of other issues. First, I wish to raise the issue of arthritis services for children in Ireland, which are in a bad state. I...

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Marc MacSharry: ...own benefit at the expense of others - is fundamentally wrong. It is an appalling abuse on the part of the EU Commissioner involved and on the part of the Commission collectively for agreeing to go along with it. To juxtapose the state aid rules in Article 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in some way to use that to determine the tax laws of an...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Marc MacSharry: ...the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the HSE, the Charities Regulatory Authority and the remaining directors of Console itself. We all look forward to the outcome of those reports in order that we can have some peace of mind that the charity's good work over many years can continue and that its reputation can be cleaned up. ...

National Asset Management Agency: Motion [Private Members] (29 Jun 2016)

Marc MacSharry: I am glad to have an opportunity to make a few points. I thank Deputy Clare Daly for bringing forward the motion and hope some of the points made in it can be taken on board. Obviously, I will be supporting the amendment, to which I will come back. Clearly, it is in all our interests that NAMA is successful and ultimately make a profit for the people of the State. When I was Fianna...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Marc MacSharry: I think we could go around in circles here for a good few weeks. I speak as one of the four people here who spent a good few weeks going around in circles at the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis before we decided on a way forward. We could get to 29 June quite quickly and have nothing done at all.

Workers' Rights: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2016)

Marc MacSharry: ...not doubt their commitment in any way. I am glad to have the opportunity to make a few points on this motion. I thank the Labour Party for using its Private Members' time to bring this issue forward. We would all aspire to a living wage of €11.50. Indeed, we would all aspire to a living wage approaching €14, as suggested in amendments. In ideal circumstances, we would...

Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 May 2016)

Marc MacSharry: ...Member of the Seanad, frequently used to speak of the secret back stairs in the Department of Finance to which bankers seemed to have exclusive access, and it certainly seems like that when we see good legislation being put forward that puts first the people who have suffered and who have ultimately sacrificed in beginning that recovery which seems to be taking hold here in Dublin but not...

Irish Water: Statements (27 Apr 2016)

Marc MacSharry: I do not know what is in this deal and I look forward to hearing from my own parliamentary party and from the Fine Gael parliamentary party as to whether or not there is a way forward. The roots of this debacle go back to 1977 when our predecessors in this Chamber, from all parties and none, engaged in American-style auction politics. Fine Gael decided it would reduce domestic rates and...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Marc MacSharry: ...on from recommendations of the Mahon tribunal, notwithstanding current challenges in housing. While we are supporting it, one of the concerns is that if some guidelines of planning institutions go beyond the national standards in terms of quality and what they bring to it, we would not seek to undermine those or give a blanket no to any improvements. I am specifically speaking about the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2015)

Marc MacSharry: ...debate on the issue of repossessions. As far back as 2008, when I was on the Government side of the House, I commenced the debate on the need to prepare for this issue. Senator Byrne and I put forward the Family Home Bill in July 2011 in an effort to afford some level of support and protection to the family home. On that occasion, the Bill was voted down by just three votes. Since...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (18 Feb 2015)

Marc MacSharry: ...by the Greek Finance Minister in recent days. They are used at state level in the United States as a kind of IOU. If a state in America is in difficulty, it can say on the basis of tax that is going to be paid in the future that money will be ring-fenced to pay that debt. I believe that was the suggestion put forward by the Greek authorities in recent days. I am not talking about the...

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Marc MacSharry: ...National Pension Reserve Fund, NPRF, to finance the implementation of water metering; further noting: - the impending charges of €25 million due on the outstanding loan to the NPRF in September 2015 and ongoing repayments on the loan; and - that water meters will be redundant for the first five years of their 15 year average life span; condemning: - the confused series of U-turns on...

Seanad: Eye Care: Motion (16 Jul 2014)

Marc MacSharry: ...this motion. An attempt was made to add a motion to it, but it is being withdrawn as it would take from the motion and we do not wish to dilute the very important issue the Fine Gael Party has put forward. We fully support the motion and welcome the fact that it has been tabled. We are already dealing with some of those choices that face the Minister in the context of what can and...

Seanad: Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Fund Bill 2014: Second Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am glad of the opportunity to put forward the Bill this evening and thank Senators Leyden and Darragh O'Brien for co-sponsoring it. The issue is very close to all of our hearts. At least Senator Gilroy, who has done a great deal of work with regards to the health committee and is a health professional, is no stranger to the issues that I...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Second Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Marc MacSharry: ...families who are to the pin of their collars. Those aims are noble and we certainly support them. The medical cards debacle was highly regrettable. We had a taste of it ourselves when we were in government in respect of the over-70s. However, it went on for some time and that is regrettable. In fairness, the Minister of State has acknowledged that it is regrettable that Members on all...

Seanad: Racism in Ireland: Motion (4 Jun 2014)

Marc MacSharry: ...and will support it. However, I question the need for an amendment at all but appreciate what Senator Conway has said. The motion reminds me of the thing that I hated the most about being in government. I refer to motions being dealt with in a self-congratulatory tone and approved by Cabinet as a way of saying how good a job we were doing. Instead of doing something, as proposed by the...