Results 61-80 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Finneran: I wish to share time with Deputy Michael McGrath.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Finneran: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, and compliment him on doing a great job, although he might not get much credit from across the floor. Sometimes when we are considering an important Bill such as this, we forget about its principal aims and refer to parish pumps and byroads. It is no harm for us, therefore, to advert to the main aims of the Finance Bill 2008, as outlined...

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Finneran: It is not where I come from in the midlands. If anything, it is accelerating. New house construction accounts for 13% of our gross domestic product. Anybody with family or relatives buying a house will say it was inappropriate that house prices were increasing at a rate of 20% per year. What was to happen to young people who wanted to get a house for themselves? Prices were so high that...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2008)

Michael Finneran: I welcome the Minister to the House and I compliment him and the staff at all levels of his Department for the courtesy and help they provide to us as public representatives in our regular contacts on behalf of our constituents. One always feels one's representations have been received in the best possible way. The ongoing contact to follow through on cases is to be commended as is the...

Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)

Michael Finneran: I appreciate that we are dealing with two amendments seeking tax relief for refuse collection and services charges but scorn has been thrown by Deputy Burton on the tax relief available for child care costs. I remind the Deputy that her former leader, Deputy Quinn, when Minister for Finance, did not even consider it appropriate to bring forward tax relief for such costs.

Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Michael Finneran: I welcome the amendment. I compliment the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance on his innovative proposal regarding the further provision of hospice or palliative care. The banner headlines achieved by Deputy Burton have been somewhat subdued today given that representatives of the hospice movement have now endorsed the proposal. All those with whom I have consulted welcome it very much. I...

Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Deputy has had his say.

Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Michael Finneran: Sinn Féin in its time over the past 35 years opposed everything. It opposed our entry into the European Economic Community and every treaty. It is all no, no, no and being critical. That is the extent of its contribution to the State. We needed to spend hundreds of millions of euro to protect the State against its activities. There are important issues regarding the hospice movement. I...

Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage. (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I move: "That the Bill do now pass." This is a short Bill to address matters concerning bodies established under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971. Following the advice of the Attorney General in regard to the Health (Corporate Bodies) Act 1961 and the subsequent passing of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007, the Attorney General advised that the possible...

Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Hogan for his kind remarks. Like me, Deputy Hogan has come through the local authority system. We both have an interest in the issue of local authority housing be it affordable or otherwise. I look forward to interacting with Deputy Hogan and all Members of the House on the provision of housing, an important issue for many people. Indeed, the purchase of a home is an...

Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputy for his questions. The basis for this Bill is the advice of the Attorney General. It is pre-emptive to stave off what happened in health. I always hope the House is the premier place where information is available to Members. This is my reading of the situation and I hope it will be the case. I cannot give exact answers to all of the Deputy's questions on my first full...

Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputy for his contribution and for his best wishes. Limerick Northside Regeneration Agency and Limerick Southside Regeneration Agency are jointly funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In 2007, they were allocated a sum of €1.13 million which was made available to the agencies for initial costs of establishment, salaries and works in the...

Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: Yes, indeed. The Government is committed to it. It is a novel scheme in some ways and I know all Deputies, public representatives, community groups and gardaí from the area have shown their support for it. We all hope it will be a success.

Seanad: Mental Health Services (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senator Ivor Callely for their kind words on my elevation to the position of Minister of State. I take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the Seanad the plans for the re-development of the...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I acknowledge the words of congratulation from the Senator, for which I thank her. I will be responding to this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I am pleased to take this opportunity to address the important issues raised by the Senator. Young people with disabilities leaving school have access to a range of training, employment and...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I assure the Senator and the House that I will convey her views to the Minister and outline the concerns she has expressed following my contribution.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Senator for his words of congratulation. They are appreciated. The Waterford towns and villages scheme is approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 at an estimated cost of more than €48 million. The scheme entails the construction of new or upgraded wastewater treatment and collection systems in Ardmore, Ballyduff-Kilmeaden,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: Funding for the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) is allocated on the basis of local authority areas. The recently announced capital allocations for 2008 are provided for the supply of local authority housing and for a range of improvement works. The allocations for Cork County Council, and Mallow, Fermoy, Youghal, Cobh and Midleton Town Councils are detailed in the table below....

Urban Regeneration. (20 May 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. The fact that three Deputies are combining to speak on this issue reflects its importance and the very real concerns about the regeneration process in the areas affected. The regeneration of estates is a key element of the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, and more than €120 million has been...