Results 901-920 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 May 2006)

Michael McCarthy: She refused to attend the INO conference. It is the first time in 50 years that a Minister has failed to attend an INO conference.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 May 2006)

Michael McCarthy: That is unfair.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 May 2006)

Michael McCarthy: By going to Pennsylvania.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I move: That Seanad Éireann —noting the continuing rapid rise in the price of new homes; —recognising the failure of the Government to take effective measures to control the price of building land; —deeply concerned that more and more people on modest incomes are now effectively excluded from the housing market; —noting the successful provision of affordable housing by Irish firms...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I will make some points which I did not get a chance to address in my initial contribution. A retrograde step taken by the Government over the past few years, which I believe was intentional, was the abolition of the first-time buyer's grant. We had many debates in this House about this step. The €3,800 which was available under the scheme went some way towards providing a deposit or easing...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I agree with the sentiment expressed by Senator Brian Hayes. In the past two weeks, the Seanad has taken a very measured approach to the issue of the payments which were made to the Taoiseach. Nonetheless, it is clear an outstanding question remains glaringly unanswered.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: Where did the Taoiseach keep the £50,000 he gathered, by his own admission, between 1987 and 1993?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I ask Senator Callanan to cease interrupting for a moment. Can anyone explain where the £50,000 was held? The Taoiseach has admitted he did not have a bank account of his own in this jurisdiction between 1987 and 1993.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: Throughout all this controversy, that question has remained glaringly unanswered. Many myths have been thrown out and many red herrings have arisen, but that question still remains unanswered.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: It is a wonder the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform got so animated and emotional on national television last Thursday evening about the £8,000 the Taoiseach received in Manchester, whereas he rejected out of hand yesterday the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, which clearly states the Government paid almost twice the market value when buying 150 acres of...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: That is outrageous.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I did not have £50,000 in 1989.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, line 22, after "work" to insert ", use". I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to the House. This amendment essentially broadens the category of person whose interests can be considered in developing a district. Users of the area, for example, customers, should be also...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, line 8, after "concerned," to insert "and on the internet". These amendments essentially provide for free public access to any proposal on the Internet. I had tabled another amendment. The correction, as suggested in my amendment, will be included at the reprint stage. Therefore, it does not appear on this. I therefore cannot claim credit for it, but I will.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: The Minister of State's response sounds very reasonable. On that basis we withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: That is reasonable and may be beneficial in the future.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 43: In page 26, subsection (2), line 35, to delete "2003" and substitute "2004". These amendments have been tabled to correct an error and take the Local Government Act 2003 into account.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 45: In page 3, line 20, to delete "2003" and substitute "2004".

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I, too, thank the Minister of State and his officials for the swift and professional manner with which they dealt with the Bill. Such was the agreement from Senator Bannon that he did not table any amendments. That reflects the uniformity of consensus in the House.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McCarthy: I wish to raise a related point. The Minister of State and I sat near each other when we were members of Cork County Council. I raised an issue on the Order of Business regarding the service local authority officials now provide to Oireachtas Members. Last month marked my fifth year working on improvement works in lieu of housing and by next March I will have been dealing with an...