Results 5,221-5,240 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Feb 2003)

Michael McCarthy: It has huge international consequences.

Seanad: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Feb 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Who demanded that section 12 read as it does? Whom does it benefit? Does it benefit the science foundation, the Minister or the Civil Service? When did the section appear in the Bill? Senator O'Toole rightly pointed out that it may possibly have appeared after it was seen by the Minister at draft stage. Who explicitly decided to debar all public representatives, politicians by and large, from...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Feb 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 7: In page 12, lines 13 to 16, to delete subsection (2). This subsection, which we propose to delete, states: In the performance of his or her duties under this section the Director General shall not question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a Minister of the Government or on the merits of the objectives of such a policy. We have come...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Feb 2003)

Michael McCarthy: As previously stated, this section has appeared in other Bills. However, it appears to me and others in this House as an affront to accountability and transparency. Why does this Bill state the director general shall not question or express an opinion? That is an affront to democracy. I do not accept the Minister's response or what the Government Senators have just said. We are passionate in...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Feb 2003)

Michael McCarthy: How does the provision on confidentiality conform with the principle and ethos of the Freedom of Information Act?

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I wish to set the record straight. The Leader of the Labour Party declared quite clearly in Cork on the weekend in question of the famous issue of bin charges in Dublin that it was a matter for each local authority. In certain respects, that is correct but as the Minister pointed out the increases in Dublin were quite small by comparison with those in Cork county where it was €200 which is...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

Michael McCarthy: When is it proposed to resume?

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 was published this morning and introduced by the Leader of the House. Page 3 contains a number of amendments which remove the obligation from local authorities to collect—

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2003)

Michael McCarthy: It also attempts to erode further the responsibilities and functions of councillors—

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Is this the precursor to the abolition of the dual mandate?

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2003)

Michael McCarthy: If it is, it is contemptible. It is a disgrace.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The abolition of the dual mandate and councillors.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Does the Cathaoirleach intend to amend Standing Orders to allow Members of the same group to shout at each other on the Order of Business?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael McCarthy: Not for much longer.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael McCarthy: There were calls to abolish the means test.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael McCarthy: She does not mean sterling.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. It is nice to see a Minister as tall as me here on occasion. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important Bill – I am conscious of the importance of the topic but am not so sure about the importance of the content of the Bill. I would look at various levels of society to see which areas have benefited and which have not...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael McCarthy: It can be argued that the budget has not delivered to a great extent to those most deserving. To make that argument, we need only look at recent reports issued by a number of bodies, such as the Combat Poverty Agency. It did not invent the figures which show that Ireland now has the highest percentage of children living in poverty in the developed world after the USA. That is a startling and...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael McCarthy: The Tories inherited a fine system from the Labour Government, but they messed it up. The Government spent three years doing feasibility studies on Abbottstown in an attempt to build a vanity bowl for the Taoiseach.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael McCarthy: People can switch the television off. I support the Government for allowing the national broadcaster to increase the licence fee. I do not have a difficulty with that increase because I support State broadcasting. However, I have a problem with the 12% increase in car tax. That hurts everyone. It pinches people's pockets. A 12% increase is substantial. Such an increase in other areas might...