Results 1,081-1,100 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: I accept the Leader did not get a chance to respond yesterday to an issue I had raised on the Order of Business, so I will mention it briefly again today. I asked him to impress on the relevant Minister the need to introduce a national insulation scheme as a matter of urgency. Such a scheme would be useful and would have a number of benefits as part of an overall economic strategy. It...

Seanad: Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Statements (9 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Mary Hanafin, to the House. I congratulate her on her appointment and wish her well in her role. Now, more than ever, we are very aware of the economic climate and the difficulties faced by people, not least by Ministers, who must try this week to agree on the budget for next year. The Department of Social and Family Affairs, more than any Department, reaches...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: Like others I look forward to the debate we will have later today on the budget. We must have honesty in this debate and also an element of realism. Contrary to what the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, said this morning on "Morning Ireland", we do not have a low-tax economy.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: Let us refer to the income levy in terms of what it is, an increase in general taxation. It has been perpetrated on those who earn the lowest wage in our economy. It is an attack on the vulnerable and the lower paid and is a symptom, as Senator Buttimer said, of 11 years of greed. Now that the Government has increased taxation by 1% will the Leader prevail upon the Minister for Finance to...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: It was introduced in 2001 to win the election the following year. Is it fair, right and proper to take medical cards from pensioners? Does the Leader agree that the income levy should be referred to as an increase in income tax?

Seanad: Budget Statement 2009: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, to the House and congratulate him on his appointment. As we all know, he was a Member of the last Seanad. The measures in this budget come as no great surprise but the severity of it has disappointed many of us. It is only now that the chickens are coming home to roost and the ordinary compliant taxpayers, the hard-working families, are...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: On a point of order, Senator Boyle is replying to the Order of Business. That is out of order.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: Tomorrow is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It is shameful that the Government is trying to dismantle the Combat Poverty Agency. The bank bail-out scheme details were finally published yesterday after much delay and have raised as many questions as they answered. I have a number of issues to put to the Leader. There is no indication that senior bankers will resign or...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: On the medical card issue, it is my understanding that the Government will now have to repeal the Health Act to give effect to the most recent changes. If that is the case, can we get an assurance from the Minister for Health and Children, through the Leader, that the Minister will not interfere with those income limits next year? It is not certain whether those limits will stand next year...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: May I comment on the Minister's graciousness in saying he will consider it? He has failed to address the issues raised regarding the Chilean mussel industry.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: There is no full Department of the marine. It is unfair to expect the Minister of State to pioneer the legislation through the House, notwithstanding his vast ministerial experience. There are a plethora of Departments now dealing with marine matters. What used to be the Department of the Marine has been dismantled. It is now spread across the Departments of Communication, Energy and...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: A safari park for the Dublin 4 brigade.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: I agree with Senator Maurice Cummins in his opposition to section 7, which deals with the proposed transfer of certain ministerial functions to An Bord Pleanála, a proposal which should concern us all. The explanatory memorandum states: This amendment to the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides for the transfer of functions from the Minister for Transport to An Bord Pleanála in the...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: Tell us who?

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: I support Senator Cummins in opposing this section. My comments are on the record. I thought we had moved on to the next section, but we have not.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: We oppose this section very clearly because it envisages the scrapping of local authority directors and reducing board membership such that the community representative will be also abolished. This is an assault on local democracy. That is the thinking that surrounds this motion to oppose this section. In the Minister's previous role as Minister of State at the Department of the...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: Please do not.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: Will the Minister of State reply to this section?

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Michael McCarthy: We are discussing user representatives.