Results 421-440 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: May I propose that we sit at 10.30 a.m. as Members were expecting to finish on Thursday evening?

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: We welcome the fact that the long saga of the proposed development of the stadium at Lansdowne Road was brought to an end yesterday. William Shakespeare once said that procrastination is the thief of time and this saga, which has gone on for about five years, is a classic example of that. In that period of time, the proposed Eircom Park was scuttled and the Government influenced a GAA...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: I move: "That Seanad Éireann — acknowledging the work undertaken by community groups, throughout the country with the assistance of the FÁS Community Employment Schemes, and the deteriorating economic climate for people who are displaced from community employment schemes who fail to gain access to other work — recognising the deep concern of community, health and sporting organisations...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: I thank Members for their contributions which I followed closely on the monitor. I sought a copy of the Minister of State's speech as I wanted to analyse it in more detail. I do not think he had a speech, which is unusual, as most Ministers come in armed with information. Has he lost interest in this issue? Is he not as concerned about the matter as he was prior to Christmas? This may be an...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: The Minister of State's heart must be in it then.

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: I wish the Minister of State could convince the Minister for Finance. In 1998, there were 40,000 participants on the scheme. AnCO and FÁS were the forerunners of this scheme. As a result of the schemes, there was a great growth of community centres in rural areas. Another pattern then followed and many of the schemes became involved in practical activities in towns and villages. My concern...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: Yesterday, Senator O'Toole raised the issue of the murder in Mountjoy Prison. It is the second murder in the history of the prison service, the first having been committed in 2000. I want to raise an issue of concern, which is beginning to get out of control. While I am aware of the ongoing debacle between the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Prison Officers' Association...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: Senator Dardis may feel it is all right to laugh, but I regard this as a serious matter.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: I do not know what the joke is about.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: I know the Minister is a colleague of the Senator's, and I would like him to come to the House to answer questions rather than to make statements. We should be concerned with what is happening in the system.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (29 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: If the Immigration Bill is not being taken in the Dáil until Wednesday, it is an excellent suggestion for this House to take it on Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: I wish to express my party's unhappiness with the proposed Order of Business. Last week we were advised of the proposed business of the House for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. On Tuesday, the Leader indicated to us that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was anxious to press the legislation through the Dáil this week and it would come before the House on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: On a point of clarification, on the Order of Business, is it still proposed to take all Stages of the Immigration Bill, or just Second Stage?

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: I want to make it quite clear that if all Stages are being taken today, we will be walking out of the House. We are agreeable to taking Second Stage only. I am making it quite clear that the Government Members can have it to themselves.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: We could do it on Tuesday or Wednesday. This is nonsense.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: Big deal.

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Second Stage. (30 Jan 2004)

Michael Finucane: I do not want to rehearse what happened this morning but the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should learn from the mistakes of the past. This Bill is being rushed through. Though one speaker said it is necessary to deal with the Bill today, if it is not going to the Dáil until Wednesday afternoon we could deal with it next Tuesday. Taking the Bill today shows a lack of respect...

Seanad: Garda Stations. (4 Feb 2004)

Michael Finucane: I wish to raise the issue of the Garda station in Galbally. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, recently announced that certain older Garda stations will be sold off and replaced with more modern buildings. One of the stations selected was that at Galbally, which was built in the 1930s. Galbally station differs from some of those which are ex-RIC barracks and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

Michael Finucane: I support the comments of Senator Ulick Burke about the EPA report. I would like the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come before the House to debate this issue. There have been statements by the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, on rural housing. It has been identified in the report that much of the...