Results 181-200 of 14,090 for speaker:Marc MacSharry

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Marc MacSharry: Is it a case of having as many studies as the Senator likes until she finds the one with which she agrees?

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State and thank Senator O'Toole for tabling the motion. Of all those on the Independent benches and the Opposition side of the House, I tend to agree with him the most, on almost everything. However, that is not the case with the entirety of this motion. Looking at the text, I join in congratulating Fingal County Council and those others throughout the country that...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Marc MacSharry: In the context of other building regulations, it is also fair to say that no Administration in the history of the State has done more to improve matters. The original regulations from 1992 were improved in 1998 and 2002, and we continue to make improvements. Senator Brian Hayes mentioned that we were threatened in 1998 by business interests that manufacture particular types of brick. I will...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (1 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: It is welcome that we are debating this important issue. Whoever comes up with the optimum planning system will probably win the Nobel prizes for literature and peace. Notwithstanding that, we need to monitor the issues continually and remain open to improvements. Most of the Opposition's amendment to the motion warrants no comment other than to remind the House that nobody has done more...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (1 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: I note that the Western Development Commission's report revealed an underspend of 30%. However, that money has not been spent anywhere else and we have until the end of 2009 to spend it. I am confident the Government will meet its target in that regard. The number of houses being built today is double the figure when this Government entered office in 1997. With regard to planning issues...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: It would be appropriate if we had a debate about tribunals, their progress so far and their usefulness in the future. In many cases they have served their purpose, allowing us to change rules and to ensure that what happened in the past does not happen again. In some cases, they have no relevance in our society other than to make millionaires out of junior barristers and easy copy for lazy...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: We need a debate on the matter because there are serious issues in rural Ireland that we must take on board. It is not well known that people are at risk the next morning. We must raise awareness in this area. I am not a frequent contributor to debates on Iraq. However, it is a no-brainer to seek to kill someone in pursuit of justice anywhere in the world, especially in Iraq.

Seanad: Telecommunications Structures: Motion (8 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: I wish to share my time with Senator Dooley.

Seanad: Telecommunications Structures: Motion (8 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: Along with other Members, I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am glad to have the opportunity to make some points on this issue. I agree with Senator O'Toole, and there is much agreement on this issue. No Member would say there is not genuine concern about the possibility of health risks when it comes to radiation from masts and pylons, and I am not saying there is not. I...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: I thank Senator Quinn and the Independent Senators for raising this issue. The amendment could have been penned in a slightly different way. A figure of 2.2% is not far off2%. No matter who wishes to kick the football around or claim credit for the goals, this Administration or the larger party in it has been in Government pretty much since 1987. It took difficult decisions in 1987 when I...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: That was a remarkably technically adept contribution from a Senator who said he had no technical expertise in this area. I join other Members in welcoming the Minister of State and his officials to the House. It is interesting that we had no debate on energy in the House for some four years but have had five or six such debates in the last several weeks. Many of us have had opportunities...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Marc MacSharry: If the various car manufacturers were encouraged to make available a wider range of hybrid cars, the public could be incentivised to buy them if VRT on them was waived. This is the type of innovative approach that must be employed to get the public to engage with renewable energy. While the greener homes schemes are great on paper, it is very Irish that we cannot get wood pellets from...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Marc MacSharry: While I appreciate that Senator Ryan tabled a Private Members' motion some time ago on the issue I raise, an additional debate on homelessness in our major cities and towns is required. As we heard from many speakers earlier who highlighted the 1987 budget speech, we appear to have come a great distance in terms of our economy, but if we can rightly offer refuge and housing to many foreign...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Marc MacSharry: It is disgraceful that a small group of individuals are being allowed to affect the lives of the elderly, who are the most vulnerable in society. Will the Leader raise the issue with the Minister for Health and Children as a matter of urgency? This dispute has been going on for months and people will die as a result of it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Marc MacSharry: Will the Leader arrange a debate on the environment? As Senators will be aware, the United Nations will launch an important report on global warming later this week. Even President Bush is beginning to acknowledge that this is the greatest single issue facing the world. Ireland needs to play its part in tackling global warming and the Houses of the Oireachtas could lead by example. A...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Marc MacSharry: Yesterday the Government published the bio-energy action plan for Ireland. I ask the Leader if it would be possible to have a debate on it, in advance of the publication of the White Paper, because some useful suggestions could be made by Members. We have a responsibility, as we look to the future to protect our environment, to take steps such as those outlined by the Minister in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Marc MacSharry: I join Senator Ross in calling for a debate on planning, a subject I have consistently raised in this House for five years. It is a significant issue and on which we have not made progress. We have had rural planning guidelines and although the Minister's intention was certainly to help the process, my experience in listening to people in a number of different counties is that the different...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Marc MacSharry: No, but unfortunately it did all it could in messing up the process.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Marc MacSharry: Its role as a prescribed organisation, along with others, needs to be monitored. The influence of such organisations on the process is not always positive, although they do carry out some good work. I call for yet another debate on transport and road safety in particular. I join Senator Quinn who stated that we know the problems and asked why we are not dealing with them. Although speed...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2007)

Marc MacSharry: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his election and assure him of my full support. As Senator Jim Walsh stated when the House last met, the Cathaoirleach is one of life's true gentlemen. On this, the first formal day of normal business, I ask the Leader to request that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, attend the House for pre-budgetary statements. While I am aware the Seanad does...