Results 341-360 of 1,594 for speaker:Mick Wallace in 'Dáil debates'

Human Rights Issues (21 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: I was glad to see the Tánaiste visit Gaza. He has agreed previously in the House that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the main source of problems in the area. Will the Government lobby this year for a little sanity with regard to Iran, given that Israel might be tempted to take advantage of the US election in November? President Obama is probably at a vulnerable point where he is...

Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: Legislation on a strategic investment bank has been promised for a long time. As the Taoiseach knows, small and medium-sized businesses are still having major difficulties accessing credit, and this is hampering employment and job creation. After a year, does the Taoiseach still plan on introducing this legislation, or has it been forgotten about?

Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: Will the investment bank be set up?

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: It would appear that improvements are being made in this area. However, I am not sure just how good the rights a worker working for an agency will have. As building contractors, we used to sometimes employ agency workers, for a number of reasons. We generally kept our own direct employees but, if we were under pressure and needed them, we hired agency workers. They were paid at a rate...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Minister would be surprised by the number of people who remain on a full-time basis with agencies. I assure him that during a building boom a few years ago, most of the large building firms in this city had many more agency workers than direct employees on their books. This was because it had become somewhat more attractive to employ the former. I have not seen the figures - I would...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: Will the Minister clarify one point? Am I right to think that if a person registers with an agency and is in full-time employment, he or she is guaranteed? I refer again to the construction sector. If the labour rate in that area is €14.80 per hour, as it was, will the agency worker working full-time for the agency who goes on to the site full-time be guaranteed the same rate or can the...

Sale of State Assets (28 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Minister told us there will not be a fire sale. He said he will get full value for the State. Would he agree that is not likely to happen in the next two or three years given that the price of everything has gone so low? It beggars belief for him to think he can get real value for this in the next two or three years. Will there be a detailed cost benefit analysis to weigh selling...

European Council: Statements (29 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: I wish to share time with Deputies Boyd Barrett and Ross.

European Council: Statements (29 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: When the Taoiseach goes to Europe for the European Council meeting, if he gets the opportunity I urge him to ask Chancellor Angela Merkel if she believes that the latest Greek bailout will work, given that it will probably deepen the recession, cause greater unemployment and social unrest. The European Union's prediction is that the Greek economy will only contract by 4.3% this year, 0% next...

Redundancy Payments (29 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Minister is dead right to say that much of the behaviour of companies that leaves a lot to be desired is not illegal. However, I wish to raise a different point, that much of the behaviour should be illegal. Too often what companies do is legal but it should not be.

Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: Question 10: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation when the development capital scheme outlined in the action plan for jobs will be operational; the way Enterprise Ireland will identify indigenous companies eligible for the scheme; if consideration has been given to targeting indigenous companies operating in unemployment blackspots such as the south east; and if he will...

Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: Question 42: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation if priority will be given to indigenous companies located in unemployment blackspots such as the south east in addressing the funding gap for mid-sized, high growth indigenous companies with significant prospects for jobs and export growth, as per the development capital scheme outlined in the action plan for jobs; if he...

Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: We are all aware that Ireland is organised in a centralised fashion and it is not easy for the Minister to address counties individually. Instead, he must discuss the south-east region. County Wexford's population is 145,000 whereas County Waterford's is 113,000, yet no town in Wexford could even dream of having the benefits enjoyed by Waterford city. Wexford loses out due to the...

State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: I wish to share time with Deputies Catherine Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett, Shane Ross and Clare Daly.

State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Mick Wallace: I am not convinced selling State assets is a good idea, especially at the current time. The Government has assured us it will get value for money but it is obvious that getting a proper price for anything is practically impossible. The short-term benefit will be outweighed by any long-term damage. There are many reasons that a state should retain some control over its assets. I was...

Community Employment Schemes (1 Mar 2012)

Mick Wallace: Representatives of three community employment schemes in Wexford, Ferns, Grantstown and Tagoat, have contacted me. They are in a bad way and are very upset about the proposed cuts. I asked them for a breakdown of their costs and spending and I can say that they could give lessons to a number of businesses on how to manage money. I was amazed by how well their schemes were put together and...

Control Savings (1 Mar 2012)

Mick Wallace: I agree with the Minister that it is very important to tackle fraud. For example, if two blocklayers are pricing a 50 m wall and one of them is signing on the dole illegally then it is an unfair playing field. Because of the manner in which the figures were presented, the right-wing media is liable to use the figures in the manner in which they were presented sometimes in order to paint the...

Hospital Services (6 Mar 2012)

Mick Wallace: In the last 24 hours, I have spoken to Professor Michael O'Keeffe in Temple Street and Dr. Orla Franklin in Crumlin. Both are pretty horrified at the situation they are facing. Professor O'Keeffe was at pains to point out that he feels the hospital is being penalised for being too efficient and too effective, and that it had too many operations last year. He states that it will be forced...

Hospital Services (6 Mar 2012)

Mick Wallace: No matter what the Minister does, there is little doubt but that the new hospital is further down the road. Even if he was to reduce the height, the steel and concrete drawings would have to be redone. There is much work to be done to reach a stage where one can start work on the hospital. The children of today deserve a better deal in Crumlin and Temple Street. We need to spend money on...

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Mar 2012)

Mick Wallace: It is not long ago when Berlin was very eager to be seen as the champion of European unity. I am not convinced history will put this slant on it following this crisis. There is no doubt the attitude towards Greece has changed. I had the impression 18 months ago that under no circumstances would Germany allow Greece to fall away from the eurozone but I am not convinced of this any more. A...