Results 881-900 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: That does not make him an expert in water. I would have thought it a good idea to give the post to an engineer. Perhaps the Minister of State thinks otherwise. We could disagree on that but my preference would have been for a top-class engineer with, of course, administrative skills. How many people applied for the job?

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: I thank the Minister of State. There are 3,000 people working in water services. Local authorities have funding for water services through commercial rates in particular, but they will not have this funding anymore. They still have their staff and I presume the Croke Park agreement protects their jobs so there will be no forced redundancies. How will this balance out? If the local...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: Will there be contracts between Irish Water and local authorities to provide services?

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: Does the Minister of State see many of the approximately 3,000 people who work in water services in local authorities being involved in Irish Water?

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: I realise it is not Question Time.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: I thank the Minister of State. The Aer Lingus scenario is probably in the background for many of these people. It would be a concern that they might end up in the same place and that there may be an impact on their pensions in the long term. I do not have enough information to comment but I know that people are concerned. That Irish Water will not be subject to freedom of information...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: So the assets of the local authorities will be just diminished from the time of transfer.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: I look forward to that.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: The decision to transfer water service functions away from local authorities was based on an independent assessment carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers, with a view to improving efficiency of delivery. If the Government is really interested in efficiency, the retrofitting of pipes should be the first job of work to be completed. I say this because so many people, as a result of their...

Written Answers — Department of Health: European Court of Human Rights Judgments (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his plans to implement the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in A, B and C v Ireland case by way of legislation with regulations, within the parameters of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the X case; if he will comment on media reports that he plans to have the threat to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Levels (14 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the need to introduce a sugar tax on soft drinks or a so called fat tax in order to combat obesity here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7540/13]

Other Questions: Road Safety Statistics (19 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: Is the Minister comfortable with the road safety information being furnished by the GoSafe company, a private operator that records many speed violations? Its information is dependent on the performance of its drivers and whether its machines are working properly and are at the right angles. We have been approached by a number of its drivers who are unhappy with their work practices and...

Magdalen Laundries Report: Statements (19 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: More than a year ago, I was approached in the Italian quarter by a woman who had been in one of the Magdalen laundries. She had spent 16 years in an industrial school, was found by her mother and moved with her to England, where she stayed for nine months. She left because she was being abused by her stepfather and on her return to Ireland, she was picked up by the gardaí and brought...

Magdalen Laundries Report: Statements (19 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: I will conclude. However, the committee also went beyond its brief to provide information on the living and working conditions in the laundries and on their financial viability. The report implies that little physical abuse took place in the laundries. However, as Amnesty International has pointed out, the report also cited psychological punishments, which also should be deemed to be...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Project Contracts (19 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if those who were served with notice to treat prior to the announcement of Budget 2012 are still eligible to receive the €5,000 per acre goodwill gesture which was available when negotiations commenced; the number of landowners affected by the Enniscorthy bypass, County Wexford, currently in negotiation over compensation; and if he...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (19 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason public bus and rail services do not operate in conjunction with the scheduled timetables of passenger ferries at Rosslare Harbour Europort, County Wexford, resulting in substantial delays for tourists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/13]

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (20 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the fact that Marian Price has been interned without trial for a period of nearly two years, if he will consider raising the matter at a European level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8952/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Airports (20 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recently published report entitled Globalising Torture: CIA Secret Detention and Extraordinary Rendition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8953/13]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Retail Sector (21 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to assist the retail sector in Ireland which is facing significant challenges in areas such as commercial rates and high rents due to upward only rent reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9208/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (26 Feb 2013)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the need to maintain a strong rural post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9986/13]