Results 101-120 of 14,090 for speaker:Marc MacSharry

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: Yesterday, people picketed the gates of Leinster House seeking radiotherapy services for the south east. While I agree the region should have such a service, it is worth noting that there no plans for such a service north of the Dublin-Galway line. Debates on the BMW region and the national spatial strategy would be worthwhile as we plan for the future.

Seanad: Development of BMW Region: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State. I am delighted to have this opportunity to make a few points on this issue. The many representatives from the BMW region in the House have been seeking this debate for some time. I welcome the Minister's speech and broadly agree with its main thrust, although I have some concerns about aspects thereof. We in the BMW region do not wish to have anything at the...

Seanad: Development of BMW Region: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: We should be doing a number of things to improve rail transport. None of the 400 new rail carriages being purchased by Iarnród Éireann is for the Sligo to Dublin line — we will get the hand-me-downs from the Cork line. We will be glad to get them, considering the 18th century stock we are currently using, but there is no visionary approach to the fact that 1 million people will locate...

Seanad: Development of BMW Region: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: Iarnród Éireann has closed its freight facilities in Sligo, which is a gateway city. From where did that decision come? There is no university north of the line between Dublin and Galway, other than St. Angela's College, which is a constituent college. There are excellent institutes of technology, which are the shining lights of the region and are propping it up in many ways. We should seek...

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I wish to share my time with Senator Kenneally.

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I am grateful for the opportunity to make some points on this issue. I welcome the OECD report. It is timely to have a review at this stage. Moreover, there is no better person in either House than the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, to make the necessary improvements and changes as Ireland evolves and requires more specific and strategic planning. It is clear from...

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: What of Tulsk?

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister. I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. We have had similar debates in recent weeks in respect of the BMW region, regional transportation and, yesterday, the OECD report on third-level education. I ask, therefore, that the Minister indulge me if my comments are somewhat repetitive. The national spatial strategy is probably the best plan...

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

Marc MacSharry: There has been an unprecedented level of investment in all areas of infrastructure. However, I have a number of major concerns about the strategy. While I have no doubt that the Government and members of the Cabinet are loyal and fully committed to the aspirations and principles of the national spatial strategy, I stated when it was launched that there may have been a need for legislation or...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Marc MacSharry: We will have the debate in the afternoon.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I join Senator Kenneally in calling for a debate on cancer care. Before Christmas the people from Waterford picketed outside Leinster House seeking radiotherapy services in their region. There are no plans for radiotherapy services north of the line between Dublin and Galway. We in those counties wish to make our case for this service. I join with other Senators in calling on the Leader to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2005)

Marc MacSharry: Yes, but would the Cathaoirleach give me a small degree of latitude please?

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Apr 2005)

Marc MacSharry: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, to the House so we may debate the recent report commissioned by Fáilte Ireland from PricewaterhouseCoopers, which recommends that the regional boards such as North West Tourism should be subsumed into Fáilte Ireland or Tourism Ireland or indeed replaced by another group. This would be a backward step. We...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I join with Senator O'Toole in calling for a debate on the situation at the Marino Institute of Education. Some of the details which emerged yesterday were shocking and many questions need to be answered. Our primary concern is for the students and staff, but we could all benefit from a debate on the issue as a matter of the utmost urgency as it is a very serious situation. I also wish to...

Seanad: Sea Pollution (Hazardous Substances) (Compensation) Bill 2000: Second Stage. (10 May 2005)

Marc MacSharry: As always, it is a pleasure to welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Gallagher, to the House and I also welcome the opportunity to comment on the Bill. I do not want to be repetitious, but there are a few points I would like to reiterate. The Bill is designed to enable Ireland to implement the International Convention on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I concur with Senator O'Toole's call for a debate on the McCann report for West on Track, which was published last week. It would be most appropriate if this House would note the contents of the report and debate its many merits. This issue and the lobby for this project are not political. It is a great achievement by all the affected communities on the western seaboard to take the project to...

Seanad: Nursing Homes: Statements. (1 Jun 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I join other Members in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. I thank the Fine Gael group for making available its Private Members' time to deal with this issue. It is a very serious issue and not a political football. Before I left my office to come to the Chamber, I noticed many files. If I had wanted to bring the set of files on the underwhelming performance of previous...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I join with others in welcoming these amendments. As an avid jet skier, I concur with Senators McHugh and Kenneally that the amendments bring clarity and will enhance safety for people who operate jet skis. I welcome any regulation which lays down clear parameters for people who would like to use and enjoy jet skis responsibly. It is positive and gets rid of any reckless behaviour, such as...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Marc MacSharry: Age might indeed be considered. I wish to add to Senator Kenneally's question. Does this Bill regulate the loading of containers or trucks? Vessels may be upset if ballast is poorly loaded but this would only be determined by looking inside containers.

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Marc MacSharry: I join with other Senators in welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House, as I welcome the opportunity to make a number of points concerning this motion, the consumer strategy group and its recommendations. I welcome the group's strategies but, in supporting the motion, I will point out that some of the group's findings are somewhat naïve and are not founded on the...