Results 661-680 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: He has been decentralised.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: This section deals with access to and publication of registers. It would be a worthwhile gesture to include the Internet in that respect. We are in an era when information technology drives much of the economy and the Government. It is a medium through which people should be expected to declare whatever they need to. It is an avenue of knowledge that was not there for a number of years, but...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Section 47 is about the recognition of education and training programmes. I say that in the company of a former Minister for Education and Science. Do sections 47(6) to (8), inclusive, mean that the Minister can make the council recognise a course? If that is the case, is there a similar provision in courses like law, medicine and engineering?

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Section 51(2) of the Bill states that "a complaint may be made under subsection (1) on the grounds of professional misconduct or poor professional performance even though the matter to which the complaint relates occurred outside the State." If something happens outside this jurisdiction, how can it be pursued and investigated here? What grounds would there be for such an investigation? Would...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I note the Minister of State's reply, but it is important to ensure that the provision in section 51(2) is realistic. I refer, for example, to the functions which are available and the legal ambit in which such an investigation would take place. We need to be mindful of this matter in the context of the remaining Stages. We need to be assured that it will be possible to pursue a complaint...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Can I make an observation about section 53, which relates to the preliminary filtering of complaints? The section states: "If the preliminary proceedings committee is of the opinion that there is not sufficient cause to warrant further action being taken in relation to a complaint, it shall inform the Council of that opinion." However, it does not refer to malicious complaints. We are all...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: It is not as if Fine Gael has a problem with that.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Section 58 deals with powers and protections relating to witnesses and evidence. I draw the Minister of State's attention to subsection (4)(c) regarding collecting evidence before a committee, which reads, "as otherwise allowed by those rules, including by means of a live-video link, a video recording, a sound recording or any other mode of transmission." Regarding giving evidence and...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Perhaps the Minister will revisit the matter on the next Stage.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: This section concerns the need for the High Court to confirm any sanction against a member of any profession. If the person against whom the sanction is directed does not appeal, why need the matter still go to the High Court? For the sake of simplicity and to avoid the obvious demands and burdens that a High Court hearing might place on people, is it really necessary to go to the High Court...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: In cases where the sanction is not being appealed, common sense should prevail. Perhaps the provision might not be used. I accept the Minister of State's reference to constitutional rights, which are reflected in that section. However, for the sake of simplicity, we must be clear on the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The Motor Insurance Advisory Board issued its final report yesterday. Some of the functions of that authority will be transferred to the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority. It would be timely and appropriate for us to debate the whole industry, particularly the findings of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board and where we go from here. Ms Dorothea Dowling gave a very good interview...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Government Senators did not applaud.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: They did not applaud here.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The Government is still penalising carers.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The Leader said No. 3 would be taken between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. this evening. She then said the sos would be between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Can she clarify the matter? In comments made yesterday, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, spoke of the amount of litter fines issued in this country last year. Approximately...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: He has the figures to prove it.

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Roche, to the House. I was not present on the last occasion on which this matter was debated but I contributed to a debate on planning following the Minister's appointment. These are related issues. I welcome the legislation and I will be supporting it. The tribunal must be given as wide an ambit as possible. Back in 1997 nobody would have envisaged the amount...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister for attending. It has just dawned on me that on the last occasion on which he was in the House, he left before I had a chance to congratulate him on his appointment. I do so now. I recall meeting the Minister in late 1992, though the he may not, when he was canvassing for the Seanad in west Cork.