Results 681-700 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

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

Michael McCarthy: I was learning from the master at that stage. I wish the Minister well in his post.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: When is a commitment not a commitment? This is the basis on which an individual wrote to the Government Information Service during the period when Government commitments were rolled back or not fulfilled. The response he received stated that Government commitments have no legal standing. I appeal to the Leader, as the Government representative in the House, to clarify for future reference and...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The Senator will need to start roaring.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the thrust of the Bill. I support its attempts to facilitate access by private financial institutions to the affordable housing mortgage market. It will allow local authorities and housing authorities to place a charge on such properties, which is important. People renting local authority houses who were given tenancy in the 1980s have been able to purchase them, before selling them...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State and his officials who were present for the passage of this important Bill, short though it is. I omitted to congratulate him on his re-appointment to ministerial office. He is obviously doing something right or he might have a particular relation.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage. (15 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Brennan, on his new appointment and welcome him to the House for this important debate. While some elements of the budget were very much needed and are welcome, I do not agree with other elements of it and may concentrate on those for the larger part of my contribution. Overall, there has been a welcome increase in spend and a concentration on people with...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "1.—The Minister shall as soon as may be after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the implications of abolishing the means test for carer's allowance.". I welcome the Minister to the House. This amendment reflects the points I made about carers on...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister for his reply. Keeping an open mind on something is certainly better than saying an outright "No". Since he became Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan has stated on a number of occasions that he has the largest budget of any Department. I accept that €160 million is a great deal of money. In a budgetary context, however, it is not that great,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "1.—The Minister shall as soon as may be after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the implications of extending the social welfare free schemes to widows and widowers who do not currently qualify in that regard.". This amendment is self-explanatory....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "1.—The Minister shall as soon as may be after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the implications of increasing the fuel allowance and living alone allowance to take into account the increase in the cost of living since those allowances were last...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I support Senator Terry's amendment. Economists of differing persuasions have had a long-running debate about the various types of poverty, an issue which deserves more than a cursory glance. The arguments made by both sides are particularly intriguing. I agree with the Minister that employment is a useful weapon in the fight against poverty, but education is also critical. The back to...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I share the sentiments expressed by Senators about the late Eileen Desmond. To put her political career in context is quite amazing as she came into politics as a result of tragic circumstances. Her husband Dan, who was a Dáil Deputy and deputy leader of the party, died suddenly leaving her with two young children. She won the subsequent by-election and the result of her victory was the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Michael McCarthy: There is a report in this morning's Irish Examiner from Ms Niamh Nolan. I will paraphrase the first part of it. If one is raped or sexually assaulted in Ireland, she says, there is almost a 50-50 chance that one will not tell anyone. If one decides to report it to the Garda, there is only a one in four possibility that the DPP will choose to press charges. If the case makes it to court, there...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I add my voice to those who request a debate on the waste collection issue. It is remiss of the House not to acknowledge the crisis in waste management. Waste management strategies of various local authorities have been given an added bump by the Government. The former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, took the decision-making ability to set waste...

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, and his officials to the House. I welcome also the opportunity to debate regional transport policy. Those of us from rural areas have continually made the point that there is a mindset that invariably confines the debate to the greater Dublin area. From a national and a regional perspective, road transport is by far the most important mode of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Feb 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I wish to raise the same issue as that raised by the previous two speakers. The Supreme Court judgment was a well-deserved rebuke for the way this issue was handled all along. It raises a number of issues, not least the property rights of pensioners, a vulnerable group in society who had money taken from them illegally. We all know the advice that was available to the Government and what...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I raise the plight of 40 Polish workers employed at the Dublin Port tunnel whose contracts of employment are being examined by Government labour inspectors. It appears the Polish workers earn approximately half of what their Irish counterparts receive, notwithstanding the standard wage agreed by all companies involved in the construction industry. The failure to provide the Polish workers...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Michael McCarthy: A misunderstanding.

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I hope we do not get the knock the Minister of State experienced in Government.

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Michael McCarthy: We can provide a good Government.