Results 341-360 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: Recommendation No. 17 is out of order.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: I welcome our student visitors to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: I join the Deputy Leader in calling for a debate on criminality and the justice system. No family should have to leave their home or country because of thugs and criminals. We all share the pain of the Collins family who emigrated at the weekend. It is up to politicians to sort out the problem and ensure those people are put behind bars, where they deserve to be. We cannot allow the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: What is so depressing about the Mahon tribunal report is that nobody at a high level shouted, "Stop." Since the 1960s the dogs in the street knew there was corruption in the political system and that there was illegal activity within government, particularly Governments led by the largest party. Several former Ministers and Taoisigh have been disgraced. It is ironic that the person central...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: Sanctions must be imposed on those who have acted illegally and broken their contract with the people. As previous speakers said, their pensions must be looked at and they should be hit where it hurts most, in their pockets.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am surprised this legislation has come before us at all because my understanding was that once the budget was passed this was the law of the land. I was, therefore, a little surprised this morning to see that we were going to discuss this Bill. We all want to reduce CO2 levels and I applaud what the previous Minister for the environment was trying to do.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: The Senator is opposed to any increase in taxation.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: The Senator is out and about telling people not to pay the household charge.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: The Senator talks about the Government being anti-rural Ireland. He is anti-rural Ireland. On a regular basis he encourages people to travel to Dublin to protest outside Leinster House and to attend protest meetings all over the country.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: The Senator is costing them an absolute fortune. To oppose a €5 septic tank charge he has cost people several hundred euro in train and bus fares and petrol charges.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: People will, eventually, see through this. Many in rural Ireland have already paid as much as the household and septic charges in coming to Dublin to protest about them and they will still have to pay them. I must correct my good friend, Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, on something he said about our debate on the Finance Bill. I raised the issue of tax on fuels and raise it again today. As...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: I did. However, I raised this matter when the Minister for Finance was in the House. The Senator talks about taxing the wealthy, but who are they? Are they the people who were lured into buying an extra house or two? They were encouraged to do so by the Government and financial institutions and are now left with property worth a fraction of what they paid for it and on which they are...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: We need to think about these issues as we discuss taxes. It is welcome that the level of tax on vintage cars is not increased in the Bill. These cars add to the attractiveness of many shows and events. In my own town of Ballinasloe there is an annual vintage car rally which draws large numbers of people to the town and generates economic activity. I would hate to discourage those who...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: It is a good reason to pay the household charge.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: Despite the impassioned plea made by Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú on behalf of Marion Price, Members of the House are probably not very familiar with the case. I ask the Leader to take up the matter with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Obviously, there is a real human rights issue involved which should be addressed. I support the call made by Senator Ivana Bacik for a debate on...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: That is not what the Senator called him previously.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: What about the pension services?

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: I, too, welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. While she has a challenging role, she has hit the ground running and I have no doubt she will do an outstanding job in the years to come. On voluntary housing projects, how much money will be available in 2012-13 and how will the funding be shared out among the local authorities? I ask this because I am aware of a particularly...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: There must be flexibility in the system.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Michael Mullins: On a positive note, I welcome the fact there has been a significant increase in the number of people paying the household charge. I encourage people to continue to make payments over the next couple of days. The moneys raised are going to provide services in local communities. I deplore the fact that people who are paid from the public purse has been actively campaigning against the...