Results 741-760 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (1 Feb 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: Question 145: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an application can be made for a child (details supplied) in County Wexford already on the early childhood care and education scheme in one Montessori school to switch to another Montessori school at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4659/11]

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: When will the forensic evidence and DNA sampling Bill be brought forward on the legislative programme? This important legislation, which arises from the Prüm treaty, was on the previous legislative programme. While a UK case ended up in the European Court of Human Rights, delaying the introduction of the legislation, the case has been concluded. It is crucial the Garda has every tool...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: During a raid on a post office in County Wexford earlier today two people were injured, although their injuries are not life threatening. However, robberies have reached a new stage. Banks and An Post have protocols in place which have resulted in criminals gaining little from their wrongdoing, but we are moving to a new stage where shots are being fired to injure rather than to threaten...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to raise the issue of social welfare fraud. TV3 broadcast a very good programme on this subject last night which involved a top class level of investigative journalism. We continually speak about issues over which we have some control but we have full control over this one. It appears, however, that we do not want to grasp the nettle on this occasion. Significant sums of money are...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to share the last minute of my time with Senator Keane. I take this opportunity to inform Members that as the Government spokesperson for finance in the Seanad, I am keen to state openly and clearly that I hope to be positive in this role, that we do not get into a Punch and Judy show, the term used by the Leader, and that everyone involved can put forward ideas. Members can use me...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: Before calling on Senator Bradford, I remind Senators that, if they go beyond their time, they are taking up someone else's time. They should conclude when asked.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: To this and the other house.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: It is a pleasure to speak on the motion and I am happy to do so, but if we are being honest, the truth is there is nothing this Chamber can do, by changing around procedures, to connect with the people. There is only one thing that can happen politically and that is that the people would elect Senators to this Chamber. Everything else is tinkering around the edges and tiptoeing around the...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: On that issue, yesterday I stated that we have a difficulty in this State because our cost base is too high. One area in particular where the cost base is too high is hairdressing. The problem has more to do with the black market rather than the green economy. The black market economy provides nothing for the State. It deals in cash. The cash goes into somebody's pocket and the State...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: We must remember that the biggest tax relief available in the State has been for pension funds.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: It is up to 40%, which is substantial and has been helpful. It has been helpful in that it has encouraged people to start paying into pension funds in the first instance. A figure of 0.6% is modest. In the 30 to 40 year lifespan of a pension fund, this will not have a very significant impact. Some who may be approaching retirement could be affected more than others, but, unfortunately,...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: The Minister of State made the point about the benefit of the tax relief available - €3.5 billion out of €13.5 billion of tax reliefs put on Revenue. Also, people have had the benefit of having funds that have the benefit of the tax relief being placed into a management fund that makes profit. The tax relief that the State has given is also increasing in value because the profits are...

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I welcome the motion. I welcome the fact that we are engaging in a good debate on this matter, which is giving rise to carnage among families throughout the country. There are certain issues with which we must deal. The first of these relates to what constitutes a home and what constitutes a family home. In the context of the Celtic tiger - and to paraphrase a former US President - some...

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: At 10:30 a.m tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: The death of former Senator, Mr. Myles Staunton, should be recorded.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: The Order of Business is a shambles and a joke, and it is getting worse. I have been a Member only a few weeks but if this continues there will be no need to worry about retaining the Seanad. It will be gone. Unless it improves it will be a good riddance, as far as I am concerned. I take no pleasure in saying this. It looks as though the ECB will raise interest rates by 0.25% and that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I have a question for the Leader. Would he consider inviting the Governor of the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator to attend the House for a debate on the procedures taken by Irish institutions, which are funded by the taxpayer, when the ECB raises interest rates? We must ensure that people who have loans from Irish banks are not ripped off. The debate should be narrow, so that...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (13 Jul 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I hate to stand up after two Members have spoken to say effectively the same thing. It is not often that this happens. I was in the Dáil with Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, and Senator O'Brien, then a Deputy, when the civil partnership legislation went through and I saw the cross-party consensus for it. It was a genuine consensus rather than, as is sometimes the case, a pretence of...

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: Having a house or property repossessed leaves a scar on the Irish psyche. The number of repossessions is low compared with the number in the United Kingdom. In 2008 there were 40,000 house repossessions in the United Kingdom, but that number climbed to near 80,000 in 2009. I have been unable to find the figures for 2010. In Ireland the number of repossessions is low; it is not even up to...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: My colleague, Senator Byrne, always amazes me in terms of how short his memory is. His memory was short about the previous Financial Regulator, Mr. Patrick Neary, the guy who was in office for years who was appointed by the previous Governments, who did not do his job.