Results 921-940 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: My party is concerned about No. 2 on the basis it was not originally scheduled to be taken before the Air Navigation and Transport (Indemnities) Bill and our justice spokesperson has not had an opportunity to research the motion. Will the Leader consider taking the Bill first to give our spokesperson an opportunity to conduct some research into the motion? Yesterday reference was made to the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: Politicians should be extremely concerned about an article that appeared in one of the Sunday newspapers that claimed that up to 800,000 polling cards were issued which were surplus to requirement. We should all recognise that the present system concerning local government administration and its approach to electoral registers has failed. Any Senator who checks the register in his or her own...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: I support Senator Ó Murchú and compliment him on his tenacity on the issue. We all received documentation on the issue recently and it made for grim reading about the British system of justice. We recently attended a meeting with a deputation from the Catholic church that does tremendous work with prisoners abroad. It expressed to us the inadequacy of the assistance it is getting from the...

Seanad: Hospitals Building Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: It is nice to see the Minister of State again. I was not allowed to raise this issue on the Adjournment yesterday but I believe there has been some good news on it. I will not say I was the catalyst for it as a result of raising it yesterday as I believe it was in the public capital programme. I am pleased there has been some positive news because I have consistently raised this issue. I...

Seanad: Hospitals Building Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: The original proposal was for a ten-bedroom unit which was modified to a 12-bedroom unit by the project team. I understand from the announcement that it has probably been scaled back to an eight-bedroom unit. The projected funding in 2002 was €1.7 million but it may have increased given the lapse of time. Although money for the unit would be provided through the public capital programme, I...

Seanad: Hospitals Building Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: Can the Minister of State give an indication as to the amount of funding that will be provided?

Seanad: Hospitals Building Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: Will it be an eight-bedroom unit rather than the original 12 bedroom unit?

Seanad: Hospitals Building Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: The Minister of State has probably got that information in his supplementary response and he can let me have it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: I support Senator Ryan's statement on work permits. I welcome the fact that legislation has been announced by the Minister because it is timely to introduce changes in this regard. What has happened in Eyre Square in Galway is regrettable, the impact of which has been felt mainly by 30 Polish workers who were not aware that the project was closing down. What will happen to these workers? The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: Where is the location?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: He is managing fine.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: That certainly was a party political offering from Senator Leyden. The commission has a difficult job and must abide by certain parameters in regard to the optimal population per Dáil seat. The commission members try to do this job as best they can. It is worth bearing in mind that some constituencies are still significantly under-represented with a variation as high as -7.5% in one. In some...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: In 2002, I was Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, at which time the National Aquatic Centre was in its formative stages. There were concerns regarding the contract and an investigation carried out for the Comptroller and Auditor General. Following media revelations, the then Attorney General, Deputy McDowell, issued a very critical report that led to the resignation of a prominent...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Finucane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Michael Finucane: I raised previously in the House the issue of the escalating cost of electricity. Last year charges increased by 13%. Last Tuesday, the energy regulator came before the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. He outlined the difficulties with regard to the cost of inputs and fuels. While he refuted a statement in a recent newspaper report that electricity charges...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (1 Jul 2005)

Michael Finucane: Will the Minister for Education and Science be here to respond to the matter I wish to raise?

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (1 Jul 2005)

Michael Finucane: I regret that neither the Minister for Education and Science nor one of the Ministers of State at that Department is in the House. However, I am sure the Minister for Agriculture and Food will give me a satisfactory response. I raise the issue of services for children with special educational needs at four schools in west Limerick, namely, Raheenagh, Ashford, Broadford and Templeglantine. I...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (1 Jul 2005)

Michael Finucane: I request the Minister to ask whether it is possible, as a matter of courtesy, to advise me of the eventual outcome of these deliberations.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Michael Finucane: Last weekend I attended a meeting in my own area concerning the Rossport five issue. One would have to be moved by the family members who were present. It is worth bearing in mind that the five men concerned have now been in jail for over 90 days. Yesterday the Joint Committeeon Communications, Marine and Natural Resources had a meeting for over three hours on this issue with the Minister for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Michael Finucane: Castlepollard?