Results 361-380 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: I acknowledge what the Minister is saying. I examined this in the context of the amendment, considering what he said about "the Irish experience in European and international contexts". It would be easy to add to that "to foster understanding of the global dimensions of Irish society". It would be no big deal to do so, as the Minister is expressing that with his references to "European and...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: The Minister's officials have probably given him a note to say that he agrees with that.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: No, but the Minister is usually accommodating. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: I wish the Minister well with the Bill in the other House. We have seen many of his Bills start off in the Senate before going to the Dáil. If anything, in the context of what we have been discussing recently, namely, Senate reform, and what is evolving in the Senate itself, it gives more recognition and status to the Senate that that is now happening regularly. We had a very interesting...

Seanad: Address by Ms Mary Banotti, MEP. (13 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: Senator White would be proud of Ms Banotti.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: That is not relevant and the Senator knows it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: The Senator should not be confrontational.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: I would like the Minister for Finance to raise an issue with the banks as a matter of urgency. Credit card scams are estimated to cost about €10 million a year. The banking institutions have promised to introduce changes to PINs and various security protection measures to make credit cards foolproof in the future. Those advances are being made in the UK and it is widely anticipated problems...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: Hear, hear. It is a waste of money.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: I would say she will if she—

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: I am pleased the Cathaoirleach gave Senator O'Toole latitude to express his view. I will not elaborate in detail but, as a long-serving Member of both Houses, I resent that a person who has only been in politics a wet day is coming here in an open-necked shirt and criticising politicians with such rhetoric. How many people in this House have rung constituents at 10.30 p.m. only for them to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: I welcome the decision of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to free up gardaí from administrative duties and have them out on the beat in order to increase resources. I am concerned, however, that this could lead to the closure of rural Garda stations. I would like to hear the Minister's viewpoint on the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: Name and shame.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: The Senator's act will be a very hard one to follow. In respect of Senator Ryan's comments on poverty in this country, it is interesting that we had all the different organisations in Buswell's Hotel yesterday where they were talking on this specific subject, particularly on the recent cutbacks. It is significant to note that community welfare officers on a national basis, who administer the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: Good cop, bad cop.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: There will be more investigations in Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: I support the comments made by Senator Brian Hayes about the importance of the Road Traffic Bill, which will come before the House tomorrow. It is regrettable that the Minister does not incorporate in that Bill his intention to introduce more speed cameras around the country. As Members know, we have three speed cameras. Some time ago the Minister indicated he would expand that number to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: Perhaps the Leader could alleviate some of the confusion about community employment schemes by explaining what is happening. My understanding is that the Estimates provided for 20,000 places on the scheme next year, the same number as will exist at the end of January. The Leader's 40 colleagues signed a statement saying they wanted this number increased by 5,000. The budget is next Tuesday,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: —and we will get the extra 5,000.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Michael Finucane: I am looking for clarification.