Results 541-560 of 14,090 for speaker:Marc MacSharry

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: Maybe he is younger.

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: We still have a full complement of Members around the House.

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: I join others in welcoming the Minister of State. I will be supporting the Government amendment. I wish to use this opportunity to make a few suggestions of my own and to thank the Labour Party for using its Private Members' time to have a discussion on this important issue. I apologise for using a script but I wish to cover some ground and I am conscious I may not have sufficient time to...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: I join other speakers in calling for a debate on special needs. We all have experience from our constituencies of cuts in hours, the insensitivity of special educational needs organisers, SENOs, in certain areas and frustration at the parrot like responses that come from the National Council for Special Education when one appeals to the Minister for Education and Science. Every case is...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: I agree with Senator O'Toole on the issue of employment raised in recent day by Mr. Michael O'Leary and Ryanair. Ryanair is very professional and good at coming forward with ideas when it has not succeeded in getting its own way. It suggests it could have done something if it had been allowed to do something else. There is a touch of the George Lee about it. Not to be facetious, it is...

Seanad: Proposed Emergency Funding to Greece: Statements (16 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: I join others in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. I am pleased to have some brief moments to make some points on the proposed emergency funding for Greece. As Senator Alex White remarked today, given our economic crisis it would appear to be a most unusual topic of debate. However, I disagree with Senator White that he would prefer to be discussing Ireland. The ramifications...

Seanad: Proposed Emergency Funding to Greece: Statements (16 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: On the issue of job creation, yesterday there were welcome announcements in the context of a number of schools around the country going to tender and construction. As we all are focused on the smart economy in the future, in the context of awarding these tenders for construction of the schools announced yesterday I want to see us focused on the sensible economy and ensuring to the fullest...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Marc MacSharry: I also welcome Senator Dearey to the House and wish him well in the years ahead. I am sure we will benefit greatly from his contributions. I also support the calls made for a debate on banking, particularly on the availability of credit. It was announced in Paris last week that the world rally championship would not return to Ireland in 2011. This was to be the largest sports event to...

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on job creation. Last week, we had a debate on unemployment, which is obviously the biggest issue facing the country at present. I welcome the opportunity to make a few new points and to reiterate others that were made in the last couple of debates. This is a subject we must discuss on a monthly basis at least and if people can suggest new innovative...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: Would it be possible for the Leader to arrange an early debate on the retail sector? As everybody is no doubt aware, the retail sector, like many other sectors, is facing a crisis, nowhere more so than in the Border area where the sector is challenged by the different VAT rate in the North, a lower minimum wage and 25% of a differential in the currency exchange rate. In that debate I would...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage. (24 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage. (24 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: I join others in welcoming the Minister. As Members are no doubt aware, the finance Bill provides for implementation of the measures announced in the budget. I am glad to have an opportunity to make some points on it. What has occurred in recent years was unimaginable in terms of the economic downturn, the decisions that have had to be made in recent budgets and the economic measures the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage. (24 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: It was to give credibility to the criticism I was about to make of a policy of the day. I assure the Senator it has nothing to do with nepotism.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: While I appreciate there is no recommendation on this section, on Second Stage when the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, was in the House, I made a point which I would like to repeat to the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary. Senator Twomey has proposed a recommendation on section 26. Regarding the 80% windfall tax, while there is no question that we would wish to require...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: While the Minister of State may not be able to accept the recommendation, this issue deserves further investigation because certain individuals make a significant financial contribution to the country, even though they may not pay income tax directly. If it is possible through the look-back clause to take account of the days that these people can or cannot spend here, it may be worthwhile....

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: Like previous speakers, I welcome last night's announcement that agreement had been reached in the pay talks. This is a momentous development, particularly in the light of the problems we have experienced in recent years. It was difficult for those who work in the public sector and their families to sustain the extremely draconian pay cuts imposed. I am pleased that there is now a basis on...

Seanad: Banking: Statements (31 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: The events of recent years have been horrific. That was the word used by the Minister for Finance yesterday to describe the figures relating to the banking crisis, the amounts of capital required and the loans which need to be transferred to the National Asset Management Agency. There is no question about that. Senator Twomey referred to the Government's responsibility in this regard. It...

Seanad: Banking: Statements (31 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: Certainly. Professor Philip Lane, professor of international macroeconomics, has a different view. I respect the fact that there is difference on this issue and that it is the function of the Opposition to oppose. One of the nation's strengths, which is acknowledged in international commentary, is the public debate on this issue as we have taken the appropriate actions in recent years....

Seanad: Banking: Statements (31 Mar 2010)

Marc MacSharry: With the benefit of hindsight, I regret that a national and international regulatory regime allowed ourselves, nationally and internationally, to get into the horrifically difficult position in which we find ourselves. All of the people are justifiably angry, not least at the pay-cuts which have been suffered by many families working in the public sector and at the unpalatable nature of the...