Results 1,101-1,120 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: For the sake of clarity, I never mentioned local authority members. I have pointed out that section 8 envisages scrapping local authority directors and reducing board membership such that the user representative will be abolished. I stated I would oppose it because it was an assault on democracy. I accept the Minister of State has been listening to us speak on this amendment for almost 35...
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: I accept that.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: There have been 30 reports on Seanad reform, none of which has been implemented.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: We are not raising objections at the last minute. Who were the authors of that report? What is their expertise? How many local authorities were consulted? I presume if these reviews looked at all the issues, they would have taken on board all the points of local authority members throughout the country. I would be surprised if there were any support among local authority constituencies...
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: Councillor Grant Farrell Sparks, no doubt.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: And the previous consultant was also a councillor.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: Who is Raymond Burke?
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: I second the amendment.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: It is amendment No. 2, section 9.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: It will not help if there are no schools then.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: The Government has turned it upside down.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: It is merely its retention. It is not an extra payment.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: We debated at length last week the merits and demerits of this proposal. I will not reiterate them now other than to urge the Minister to consider our perspective. We are arguing for the retention of local authority membership on the boards of port companies. They have been elected to their positions, they provide a vital connection to local democracy and they bring a certain expertise. I...
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: The Minister of State's boss is the Taoiseach.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)
Michael McCarthy: In the spirit of political generosity, I note the Minister of State made a commitment regarding the Government's possible acquiescence on Report Stage to appointments to the boards. Senator Cummins also made a valid point in this respect. I will reciprocate the Minister of State's generosity by withdrawing my opposition to the section.
- Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)
Michael McCarthy: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)
Michael McCarthy: The Senator should not flatter himself.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)
Michael McCarthy: People may be of the view that there is nothing much left to be said following Senator O'Donovan's contribution. However, I wish to place this matter in context. Amendments Nos. 7 and 10 to 12, inclusive, are grouped for the purposes of discussion. My name, along with that of Senator O'Donovan, is appended to some of those amendments. I will certainly not repeat the extremely salient...