Results 2,721-2,740 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: That request came from the Deputy's Leader's side; I was just supporting it.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: Senator Mullen.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: While I has intended to await the Minister of State's reply, I will just throw this point into the mix. The Minister of State has met representatives of the Taxi Alliance of Ireland, which has been lobbying on this Bill, and much of what I am about to say comes from that organisation. In the context of regulation, I share fully all the points that have been made about deregulation but for...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: Did we pass section 5?

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: I support Senator Barrett. Will the Minister of State explain why the Garda will be withdrawn in this regard? My understanding is that the taxi industry supports the retention of the Garda in an enforcement role. Indeed, the Garda has been called upon a number of times, particularly in cities, to sort out difficulties on various taxi ranks. The other aspect of this argument is that the...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: What is the thinking behind the amendments? Might it have something to do with the fact that the industry itself has said there is a real problem of illegal taxi drivers? Representatives of the Taxi Alliance of Ireland to whom I have spoken estimate that as many as 5,000 illegal taxi drivers are operating in this jurisdiction. I understand some of these illegal drivers operate by using the...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: I raised the issue previously, and I had a private word with Senator Sean D. Barrett, but we seem to be at variance on our figures. I do not for one moment dispute his figures. He showed me the source of the figures he has just put on the record but the source I have, which is the Taxi Alliance of Ireland, states that 74% of all taxi licences are in Dublin and if the cities of Galway, Cork...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: My colleague, Senator Thomas Byrne, has outlined the Fianna Fáil Party position on this issue. I am interested in the figures involved in the sale of the national lottery licence and the Government's view that the lottery has been a wonderful and extremely successful facility. As the Minister will be aware given that his party was in government at the time, the national lottery Act was a...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: Is it correct that only 30% of what is left goes to good causes, with the remainder going to the Exchequer?

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: In that case, none of the income remains in the Exchequer.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: It is an interesting point. The Minister is making the point that an upfront payment is being sought in order to finance construction of the new hospital. Therefore, it is important-----

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: Therefore, no money is retained by the Exchequer.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: That is an important point to make. The view has been that when the changes were made by the Fianna Fáil Government, money was being retained and how much was allocated was then at the discretion of the line Minister. Am I correct in assuming that under the national lottery Bill, the 30% will be ring-fenced?

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: Okay. I share the view, which the Minister does not share, that a one-off lottery each week for a period of weeks, which money would to be dedicated towards funding the children's hospital, would not result in a drain of funding from other areas. I do not believe there is any scientific evidence to support that.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: I think that is an opinion that has been expressed within the Minister's Department to offset this particular argument. Everything is evidence based. There is no evidence on which to base that particular assumption.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: It works both ways. The Minister also cannot give an assurance. He is putting it out that he is against this particular concept, which is an innovative one, based on no evidence. Yet, Senator O'Donnell has put forward evidence that when it was used for the Olympics in the UK, it worked. Several references were made to online and interactive gambling. I understand the online gaming...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: Yes. The semi-postal system involves the issuing of a specific stamp, the funding from which goes specifically for good causes. Perhaps it is an idea that might be considered in the context of the overall funding of the national children's hospital. I await with interest the bids expected that are going to generate the ¤400 million required. Everybody across the House shares the...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: Always the bitter word.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Irish National Stud: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: Fáilte to Mr. Matt Dempsey and Mr. Joe Keeling. Even though they are both chairmen designate I congratulate them on their appointment. Mr. Dempsey's CV is impressive and a cursory glance at his background, commitment and active involvement in the agricultural area and agricultural science tell us that this country is blessed to have somebody of his calibre who is prepared to take on a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome Mr. Joe Keeling. I have had to jump between meetings and I ask him to forgive me for not being here for all of his presentation. I echo the comments which have been made and wish him well on an important aspect of our industry. I want to focus on funding. Mr. Keeling said one of his priorities will be to achieve a long-term, secure funding base arising from changes in the...