Results 1,121-1,140 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: It is a terrible thing to call someone a gombeen man. A far superior service is available. In respect of whether what is available in Wexford can replicated in the areas in question, I will not get into a debate about whether it should be Roscommon or Ballinasloe. That is unfortunate party politics that we normally do not do in this Chamber. I feel a bit aggrieved and annoyed. I do not...

Seanad: Economic Growth and Job Creation: Statements (4 Mar 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: The Minister is welcome back. He always gives us the benefit of his time. I agree with Senator Byrne, in that none of us on this side or the other is here just to blow kisses and backslap. Any time we can make a positive intervention, it can only be of benefit to many people. We have made progress, but many challenges remain. One of the largest has probably taken up more of the Minister's...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to raise the issue of the number of people and, in particular, properties affected by the construction of wind farms. I am speaking as an ardent supporter of the renewable energy sector, particularly wind energy. I have knowledge of this issue from people who did not object to the farms' construction. They are honourable, good and decent people. That said, their properties have...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to be associated with the comments to Senator Kelly following the bereavement in his family. I congratulate everyone concerned with the management buy-out of the Elverys group. Some 654 jobs have been protected. It is important not only to create new jobs but also to protect those that exist. I welcome the management buy-out, given the groups it was competing against, such as Sports...

Seanad: SME Envoy Networks: Statements (3 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I welcome the Minister of State. Is he the Irish envoy?

Seanad: SME Envoy Networks: Statements (3 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I do not think that was clarified. We must put where we are currently into context. I think Senator White mentioned that unemployment is at 11.8%. Much progress has been made from where we were two years ago when it was more than 15%. In the first quarter of this year, the deficit has been reduced by €1.4 billion since this time last year, which is an incredible achievement. There...

Seanad: SME Envoy Networks: Statements (3 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 8 April 2014.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Eligibility (9 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: The Minister of State is very welcome. Many of us who do our day-to-day work in constituency offices receive queries concerning medical cards. One area of continuing confusion is the notional rate of interest that is applied to applicants' savings. I am referring to the full medical card. When I tried to discover how the rate is applied, I found the situation was confused. The Department...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Eligibility (9 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: In light of what the Minister of State is saying, I presume the notional figure will change again on 1 January 2015. While people will receive certificate of interests, I am of the view that deposit interest retention tax, DIRT, which is charged at a rate of 41%, is going to have to be taken into consideration in the context of the calculation of interest. For a single person, interest is...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: Like others I congratulate everybody who made it through in the different areas of election over the weekend. I commiserate with those who lost seats and particularly those who in participating put their life blood into local and national politics. It is a difficult day for those people. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Clune, for her achievement as it is not easy to get elected to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I raise an issue which has received surprisingly little attention, namely, the good performance of the nation's finances in the first five months of the year. By way of comparison, the deficit in the first five months of last year was €5.3 billion, whereas the deficit in the first five months of this year was €3.5 billion. It is clear, therefore, that the nation's finances are...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: On a point of order, I think the Seanad should take some time to consider this matter. I propose, therefore, that the sitting be suspended for 30 minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I am asking that the Leader-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I ask that the Leader move the suspension of proceedings for a period of 30 minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I support Senator Power's view that birth certificates would be made available. That would be very helpful for many children throughout the country. I also support the call for a debate on employment. We need to do a full analysis of where people are employed. There is a massive drive to promote employment through foreign direct investment jobs in particular in Cork, Galway, Limerick and...

Seanad: Companies Bill 2012: Second Stage (10 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: One of the broad criticisms made when the crisis hit a number of years ago was that we did not have sufficient legislation on the books. That was true of financial and economic legislation, but our companies legislation was not codified correctly either, which to some extent is what this Bill is doing. The demerging of the common law and statutory legislation can only be welcomed. It is...

Seanad: Johnstown Castle Agricultural College (Amendment) Bill 2014: Order for Second Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Johnstown Castle Agricultural College (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: It is a pleasure to support this Bill. Some of the statistics the Minister gave us are interesting such as 35,000 visitors attending Johnstown castle each year. However, this is nothing to what it should be; it should be ten times that number. The Johnstown Estate comprises 1,000 acres, almost 2 sq. m. I support the provision of a burial area and graveyard for the community of Murrintown....

Seanad: Order Of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I want to raise an issue which has nothing to do with banking inquiry but which is far more serious. At some stage, we must get back to the business of representing the people. Going back to the previous budget, in my view the health budget was cut to a point where it cannot function correctly. I ask the Leader of the House to bring in the Minister for Health, the Minister for Public...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I do not know if I have ever heard so many clichés in a sentence. I wish to raise the case of State citizens who were given a flu vaccination and who now suffer from narcolepsy. To my great disappointment, the current Minister for Health has done nothing for them. I am hopeful that if there is a change in the Department of Health, the incoming Minister - whoever he or she may be -...