Results 21-40 of 14,090 for speaker:Marc MacSharry

Seanad: Strategic Rail Review Report: Statements (Resumed). (21 May 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister to the House and in congratulating the Department and Booz-Allen Hamilton on the publication of the review. The review sets out a solid and reliable framework for the development of the rail network over the next 20 years. There is no doubt it is a very comprehensive report. It is clearly the most significant review and rigorous analysis of the...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Marc MacSharry: This is not a broadcast on behalf of Sligo for decentralisation, but I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. I join others in welcoming the Minister of State to the House.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (10 Jun 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I join other Senators in welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to the House – the third Minister today in this debate. I note the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, has to leave to continue his excellent work. I congratulate him and all the Irish team at the Convention on their superb representation at such a critical time in the history of Europe. The Union today is a model...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Jun 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I agree with the call by my colleague, Senator Ulick Burke, for the Leader to ask the Tánaiste to come to the House to debate the IDA's successes in the BMW region. Since the Government policy was introduced in 1999 the objective of putting 50% of all new projects into the BMW region has been a resounding success. While there have been only seven projects in 2003, we are still in the middle...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2003)

Marc MacSharry: Will the Leader arrange for the appropriate Minister or Ministers to come before the House for a detailed debate on the urgent matter of planning and, more specifically, to debate the appropriateness going forward of State funding for organisations, the integrity of which must be called into question? Members know to what I am alluding in this regard. I refer to the organisations which...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jun 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I thank Senator O'Toole for his support of the comments I made yesterday on planning, specifically in respect of the organisations which are State-funded and which persist in blocking planning. I reiterate what I said yesterday. This is a vitally important issue. If time is available this afternoon, we should use it to discuss the matter. No real preparation is required, as everyone is aware...

Seanad: Military Neutrality: Motion. (25 Jun 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann," and substitute the following: "considering that the Convention on the Future of Europe will shortly be finishing its work on the drafting of a new EU Treaty; acknowledging that the Government has engaged fully with the work of the Convention, including on security and defence matters; acknowledging that, as set out in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I join others in asking the Leader for a debate on transport and the penalty points system in the new session. I reject the claims by Senator Ulick Burke that it is a failure of Government on the basis that the penalty points system to date has shown that the number of fatalities on our roads is down by 50 in the year to date. While I regret very much the terrible carnage on our roads at the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Marc MacSharry: Following what Senator Bannon said, it was my intention today to ask the Leader for an urgent debate on planning. Throughout the last session there were several calls for a debate on planning and I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House for a good, clear, detailed debate on the issue. There is now a gross level of inconsistency...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. - Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I join others in welcoming the Minister to the House and I am pleased to contribute to this debate. I also welcome the Bill, which will have positive implications for those citizens affected by the terrible financial consequences of oil pollution of the sea. We have seen the importance of dealing with issues of compensation and civil liability in recent years following the incident involving...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2003)

Marc MacSharry: Many local authorities are approaching the time for estimates and budgets again. This is an appropriate time for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come to the House to debate local government funding. Such funding is inadequate, particularly when one considers that a very small section of the community – the business sector – seems to pick up the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. - Local Radio Licensing: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome this opportunity to comment on the Fifth Report of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, focusing on the licensing system for local radio stations. As a member of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources I was delighted to be associated with the excellent work of Senator O'Meara in drawing up a report on the licensing of...

Seanad: Fishery Policy: Statements. (15 Oct 2003)

Marc MacSharry: I join with other Senators in welcoming the Minister to the House. I congratulate the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Browne, and the entire team negotiating on behalf of Ireland in the fisheries negotiations in Brussels. They have shown tremendous resolve, persistence and superior negotiating talent in being able to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Marc MacSharry: Following on from Senator Norris's remarks about the troops who are leaving for Liberia on a most dangerous peacekeeping mission, there has been concern among some of the participants in the force about appropriate equipment. In my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim, a number of personnel from the Western Command will be participating in the mission. Their families have expressed concern that the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Marc MacSharry: Following on Senator O'Toole's expression of concern as to the representation on the national disability advisory group, I ask the Leader to raise the issue with the Minister for Education and Science. It appears that the representation on this worthwhile advisory group is not fully representative of the people who need to be on it. There is secondary school representation on the group but...

Seanad: Services for Victims of Domestic Violence: Statements. (28 Jan 2004)

Marc MacSharry: I join with others in welcoming the Minister of State and I welcome representatives of Women's Aid and the national network of women's refuges. I commend them on their excellent work, which is achieved with very limited resources. I welcome the opportunity to speak about the need for continuing awareness and action to improve services for victims of domestic violence. Violence perpetrated...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion, which I support, and I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Decentralisation is an integral part of the Government's commitment to balanced regional development. I am delighted civil servants and their families will relocate throughout the regions as part of the programme. I wholeheartedly agree that balanced regional development is an...

Seanad: Water Sports Vehicles. (11 Feb 2004)

Marc MacSharry: This is a very serious issue. I agree with my colleague, Senator Glynn, that proper regulation is required for jet skiing and water skiing on our inland waterways and at sea. I should declare an interest at the outset — I am an avid water ski enthusiast and I own a jet ski. The activities under discussion have resulted in fatalities and serious injuries throughout the country, for example...

Seanad: Competition Authority Report: Statements. (25 Feb 2004)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome members of the Irish Brokers Association who are in the Visitors Gallery for this debate. I congratulate the Competition Authority on a comprehensive and informative preliminary report and consultation document. There is no doubt that an investigative report which highlights possible anti-competitive practice by elements of the insurance industry is both necessary and timely if we...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2004)

Marc MacSharry: I join with others in welcoming the Minister and thank him for attending today's marathon session. It is much appreciated when one considers his busy schedule. The Garda Síochána Bill is a long-awaited and timely piece of legislation, which allows, for the first time, full investigations into alleged Garda misbehaviour to be carried out by people other than members of the Garda Síochána....