Results 201-220 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace
- Direct Payment Schemes (6 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: I thank the Minister and give him credit for appearing to be very interested in his subject. He is one of the few Ministers who comes to the House and is able to give his replies without notes. This shows a strong level of interest and an understanding of the situation. The Minister answered my question, more or less. If we were arguing about social issues or any other issues that concern...
- Coillte Assets (6 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: We do not have to go into the argument of the merits or otherwise of selling a State asset. Some 18 million visitors use Coillte land every year and I imagine if it was sold for private purposes, there would be some serious insurance issues arising from the public using the land which is currently a magnificent facility for the people.
- Job Losses (12 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: Would the Minister agree that for a long time the Government has concentrated on foreign direct investment? It is great that we have foreign investment here; unfortunately, however, there is always a temptation for such companies to move to countries where their costs are lower. For too long, we have not concentrated enough on indigenous industry. This is a major problem for us. In...
- Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (12 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: Question 15: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will publish the plans and proposals prepared by the Industrial Development Agency Ireland for increased actions and activities in the south-east region due to be completed by 12 October 2011; the action he will take on these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28869/11]
- Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (12 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: Question 23: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will consult with stakeholders in the south east in relation to the plans and proposals prepared by the Industrial Development Agency Ireland for increased actions and activities in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28870/11]
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: I am also of the opinion that it is not good business to sell 25% of the ESB.
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: Will the Government sell off less than 50% of it?
- Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: Will the Government establish what it believes to be a fair price in this regard and will it, if that cannot be achieved, refuse to sell? It is not rocket science that this is not a good time to sell. It will be hard to get real value for a minority stake in the ESB, just as it is hard to get value in respect of anything in this country at this time. I know that only too well. Will the...
- Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if, following the observation during the UN review of Ireland's human rights record that austerity measures should not disproportionately impact the elderly, she will guarantee that the State pension and the free travel pass will be protected in Budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29402/11]
- Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: There can be no doubt that the Government's austerity measures have had the greatest impact on the more vulnerable members of society, including the elderly. A new report published by researchers at UCD and St. Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, shows that more than 10,000 elderly people per year are subjected to some type of abuse, of which the most common is financial abuse....
- Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: I agree that many older people have difficulty keeping their homes heated to a safe level. I recently received information from a company called Wexford Viking Glass which installs glass in window frames without taking the frames out, offering an increase in insulation levels of 60%. The company has proposed that the Government consider abolishing the VAT on its services in order to assist...
- Private Rented Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: As the Minister of State knows, I have raised these issues before. He has indicated that the introduction of mandatory certificates of compliance for builders and designers of buildings will confirm that statutory requirements of building regulations have been met. That will not mean anything unless there is on-site supervision 100% of the time by an independent authority. An engineer...
- Private Rented Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: The Government must try to understand what goes on in the industry and many areas must be given thought. Will the Government consult people in the industry who know what is happening because it must do so? The people doing the paperwork will not give the required cover in the area.
- Report by the Interdepartmental Working Group on Mortgage Arrears: Statements (Resumed) (20 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: I was always taught that when reading a factual book, the first thing I should do is see who wrote it, when he wrote it and in some contexts, particularly in history, where he came from and his background. When I looked at the Keane report, I was surprised that it came from people who did not have a direct relationship with the problems they addressed. That was a mistake. I am not sure if...
- Insurance Industry (20 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: The time is up.
- Mortgage Repayments (20 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: I promise this will be more peaceful. I raise the issue of Priory Hall, which we all know has become an absolute nightmare for those involved. The madness of it has meant the people there have had to move into hotel accommodation or apartment accommodation, often at quite a distance from where they work or where their kids go to school. It is a frightening scenario and hopefully there will...
- Mortgage Repayments (20 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: I thank the Minister of State for his positive response. In arguing the toss with banks and other lending institutions on a case by case basis about whether there is room for manoeuvre on a better deal, a write down or compensation for what occurred, some people will be in a poorer position than others. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable people are likely to get the rawest deal when...
- Waste Disposal (20 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: Question 9: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views on whether giving local authorities the power to regulate the scrap metal industry within their own jurisdictions is productive in view of the ease with which criminals can travel to neighbouring counties, which may have lesser regulation, to sell their stolen metal; if he will implement...
- Waste Disposal (20 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: I am sure the Minister is aware that there is a great deal of theft in the countryside, in particular, but believe it or not it also happens in Dublin. A copper cable 22 mm thick feeding a crane 36 metres high was robbed from me a couple of weeks ago. Copper scrap is achieving â¬6,000 per tonne and although I do not know what price the thief got, it cost me â¬5,000 to replace the cable....
- Waste Disposal (20 Oct 2011)
Mick Wallace: Metal is money.