Results 781-800 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Michael Finucane: We welcome the McCartney sisters who are meeting the different Government parties today in Leinster House. They have been extremely brave in the circumstances. As a result of the reign of terror and fear of the IRA in Belfast, not one of the 50 people in the public house on the night of Robert McCartney's murder has yet come forward. I will believe what Deputy Ó Caoláin said in the House...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

Michael Finucane: Lea and Perrins has denied that it is used in its products.

Seanad: Employment Policy: Motion. (23 Feb 2005)

Michael Finucane: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Employment Policy: Motion. (23 Feb 2005)

Michael Finucane: In seconding the amendment I recognise that there have been some positive features in employment over recent years, especially the construction boom. The boom, however, is creating certain difficulties as there are people from new EU member states such as Poland who are not being paid at proper rates. When contractors for these countries quote for contracts in Ireland, as they are perfectly...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: I agree with the previous speaker on Dr. Paisley' s recent interview. While the man is 80 years of age, he has mellowed a great deal. His comments create hope for the future in the North. Members should reflect on the situation with the peace process before Christmas. At that time a photograph was holding up the process. There was the famous meeting outside St. Luke's in Drumcondra when the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: What about the hypocrisy of the Minister? One would imagine he would try to avoid publicity for a while.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: I am pleased the Minister for Social and Family Affairs is in the House because I believe he is fair-minded. I want him to convey a message to his colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. There has been much discussion recently on nursing home charges. Today I telephoned the helpline of the Health Service Executive, Midland Area, on behalf of an elderly person to find out basic...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: Yesterday I raised the issue of the helpline set up in respect of nursing homes charges with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he was in the House. If the Government wanted to set up a fair and efficient system, it could not have gone about it in a worse way. Ten people are staffing the helpline and, according to the Minister for Health and Children, 37,000 telephone calls were...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: The Senator should stick to the sales.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: I waited 22 minutes and I timed it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: I made no reference to Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: Senator Leyden gets away with that all the time.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: The Senator should withdraw his comment. I did not make an incorrect statement.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: The Cabinet is deliberating on the Travers report today so we do not yet know the final context. However, newspaper reports suggest the Tánaiste referred to systemic maladministration within the Department of Health and Children. It will be interesting to see how blame is apportioned and what degree of action takes place following this. If there was maladministration within the Department,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: During the week, a prominent oncologist left the hospital leaving only one remaining oncologist. An accident and emergency unit has been lying idle for over a year. If we judge these events in the context of the three hallmarks, we have not achieved quality, fairness or easy access. There are other questions I would like to ask when the Tánaiste comes to the House because in focusing on the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: I had intended to move an amendment to the Order of Business but I will not do so on the basis of the reassurances given by the Leader that the Travers report will be discussed tomorrow. Most of us have only had sight of the report over the past hour. It is an interesting report but I would like to study it in greater detail. One pertinent issue emerging from the report is the serious...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: Yesterday was a bleak day for the Irish taxpayer. We had the publication of the report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the redress scheme. It provides a very interesting insight, given that in 2001, when the redress scheme was approved, the estimated costs were €254 million. On that occasion, the religious orders were legally "fireproofed" regarding damages, and the estimate was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: Senator Leyden should not generalise.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Michael Finucane: It was a debate on child care.