Results 1,201-1,220 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (4 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Cathaoirleach for accepting this important matter for my area on the Adjournment and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey. Kinsale community school was born out of the amalgamation of the Convent of Mercy and the vocational school. It was sanctioned as a new school by the rainbow Government of which my party was a strong participant, with Niamh Bhreathnach, the former...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: Later today the European Central Bank is expected to cut interest rates from 2% to 1.5%. While that is welcome news, unfortunately, it is of no benefit to those who hold fixed rate mortgages. Given the manner in which the State has bailed out and guaranteed our financial institutions since the advent of the global financial crisis, the least we should expect is that banks would pass on the...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, line 24, to delete "2006" and substitute "2007". Are amendments Nos. 2, 4 and 21 being grouped?

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: Amendment No. 3 is not part of that grouping.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: Amendment No. 2 proposes "In page 5, line 24, to delete "2006" and substitute "2007"." This is a technical amendment proposed by my party. It is to correct a citation which was updated by the Water Services Act 2007.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I will withdraw the amendment on that basis.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 5: In page 9, to delete lines 9 to 19. Amendments No. 5 proposes, "In page 9, to delete lines 9 to 19" and amendment No. 6 proposes "In page 12, to delete line 1". This section envisages removing local authority directors and reducing board membership such that the user representative will also be removed. We were persistent in making these points on earlier Stages....

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: There are 20 Ministers of State.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: If in doubt, leave it out.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I thank all Senators for their contributions. This is a very important amendment and the depth of feeling on the issue has been demonstrated in eloquent terms by Members on all sides. I respect the Minister of State's response. I understand there is a senior Minister and a Minister of State and know there are certain instructions. While I do not expect miracles, I must persist with the...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: Amendments Nos. 7 and 8 are grouped.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: Amendments Nos. 9 to 20, inclusive, are grouped.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: My contribution will be brief, given the amount of time that has been spent on this Bill. I shall just make a few points about the 11th hour Government amendments. I want to put on the record of the House the fact I am not convinced of the necessity to abolish Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners. The ministerial amendments do not remove the power to abolish Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners,...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: The Minister of State is a west Cork man.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I concur with the sentiments expressed by Senator O'Donovan and thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, and his civil servants who attended the House for days. They discussed the merits and demerits of this legislation. I refer to the point made by the Minister of State in response to my point. The ministerial amendments do not remove the power to abolish Bantry Bay Harbour...

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: It is a long point.

Seanad: Health Services (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: It is.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the important issue of the much-needed extension to Clonakilty community college. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Kitt, to the House to discuss this matter with me. I have raised the issue on several occasions with my party's education spokesperson in the Dáil, on the Adjournment in this House and through various other...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (12 Mar 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I have raised this issue several times and the response from the Department rarely deviates from what the Minister of State has just read out. The terminology in terms of band ratings gives little support or optimism to those concerned. This is a critical issue. The broader issue of the schools building programme is one on which the...