Results 941-960 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: School Transport. (28 Sep 2005)

Michael Finucane: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, to the House. Is it permissible for me to share my time with Senator Brennan?

Seanad: School Transport. (28 Sep 2005)

Michael Finucane: The Salesian College in Pallaskenry in County Limerick and the parents of its pupils were notified in July 2005 that the school transport facility, primarily for the Ballybrown and Clarina area, would not apply to first year pupils from September 2005 on. The parents were stunned by the announcement as they had enrolled their children for the school in November 2004. Over the last 15 years, a...

Seanad: School Transport. (28 Sep 2005)

Michael Finucane: I am very disappointed with the Minister of State's response as I believed that she empathized with the parents. In this case, pupils got very little notice from the Department of Education and Science as they were contacted in July. This could be a factor in a decision to make an exception in this case. I am disappointed, as will the parents and pupils in the area.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Michael Finucane: Over the summer, the issue that appeared to dominate was rip-off Ireland and the programme presented by Mr. Eddie Hobbs seems to have resonated with the public. By the end of the summer, people were talking about this issue as though this was a banana republic without the bananas. Indeed, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs agreed on television that we have developed into rip-off...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Michael Finucane: It could be a great deal better.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Michael Finucane: That is out of order.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: I support what Senator Ryan said about beefing up the inspectorate division. There has been a dramatic expansion as a result of Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian and many other nationalities coming to Ireland. In every rural town there are workers from those communities. While everybody has focused on the position of Irish Ferries because of the numbers involved how can we ensure there is not mass...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: I support Senator Brian Hayes' comments on consultants. I raised the matter on a previous occasion in this House, when I referred to the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, who had approximately 130 studies and reports carried out during his period as Minister. Many of those reports have gathered dust. Departments often adopt an easy approach to hiding problems by engaging...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: We were here all night.

Seanad: Corrib Gas Field: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: I welcome the Minister of State's statement which outlines the latest developments in regard to the Corrib onshore pipeline. Although it is quite a distance from Rossport, a public meeting on the issue was recently held in Newcastle West in County Limerick. The families of the Rossport men were represented and Dr. Mark Garavan, spokesman for the Shell to Sea campaign, spoke at length. It was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: I am a member of the sub-committee of the relevant Oireachtas committee that produced the report on salmon fishing. Much work was done on the report by the sub-committee. I agree with most of the findings, which were based on consensus. Like Senator Dardis, I, too, would have placed a ban on drift net fishing. If the enthusiasm exists at Government level to respond to the recommendations in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: Padraic White, I am sorry. Some €45 million was allocated towards decommissioning part of the fleet. In that context, it is surely possible to allocate a sum of money to achieve this objective. On the basis of the advice that exists, it will cost much less than €45 million. I hope the Government will commit itself to responding to the report.

Seanad: The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act: Motion. (11 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: I welcome the Minister to the House and am aware of his interest in this matter as we have recently received various statements from him regarding it. There is no doubt that the events of 11 September 2001 changed America profoundly, especially in respect of security awareness. It plunged many Irish illegal immigrants, as they are classified in America, into a twilight world of uncertainty in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: I welcome Senator Mansergh's raising of the quality of life issue as it is nearly a year since the Tánaiste promised 20,000 extra medical cards. Despite her promise, there has been a reduction of 10,000 in the number of such cards.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: Yes. She promised 200,000 special doctor-only medical cards. Negotiations were delayed as a result of talks between the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and the Irish Medical Organisation. We thought recently that the matter had been resolved but the IMPACT trade union is now holding it up on behalf of its members. I cannot understand why, if the Department had...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: We now have the farcical situation of the matter being held up again despite the commitment to introduce the cards. Parents are currently neglecting their health. While they take care of their children and bring them to doctors, in many instances they cannot afford the same expenditure on themselves. Will somebody get off his or her backside and resolve this issue, once and for all?

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (19 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: Amen.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: The death of Mr. Patrick Walsh has resonated throughout the country. Many people are extremely concerned at what has happened. They are concerned on the basis that the Health Service Executive now administers the system. By eliminating the various health boards we gave rise to the possibility of potential conflict between the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive....

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: What is Government policy?

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Oct 2005)

Michael Finucane: Is this a geography lesson?