Results 1,201-1,220 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (26 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: A good deal has been written about the skills shortages in recent times. Multinationals are flagging that the biggest challenge facing them is finding a sufficient number of skilled employees in the country. Does the Minister consider that the new structures being put place are adequate to address those shortages? The figures announced today are welcome and the fact that 58,000 more people...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: I join with colleagues in calling for a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, on ghost estates and homelessness. It would be great if there were some joined-up thinking to see if we can marry the real need for the provision of housing for homeless people and the surplus housing dotted across the country. Now that the banks are beginning to lend a little, people...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Fixed Penalty Notice) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: I call Senator Conway, he has six minutes.

Seanad: Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Fixed Penalty Notice) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: I thank the Senator and I call the Minister to respond to the debate.

Seanad: Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Fixed Penalty Notice) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Fixed Penalty Notice) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Property Taxation Administration (27 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: I think Senator Moloney will be happy enough with that reply. Is the Minister of State taking the second Adjournment matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: We debate regularly the costs and the difficulties in the health service. As we need to have a debate I ask the Leader to arrange for it at an opportune time. We need a debate on the promotion of preventive medicine and the need for lifestyle change. I say this against the backdrop of an article in today's edition of The Connacht Tribune which gives the results of a recent survey conducted...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I call for a debate in the House on the non-sanctioned payments to senior managers in section 38 agencies. Much has been written in the media in recent weeks and the level of payments made to some people is outrageous. The public are rightly outraged but I am more concerned at the impact this is having on legitimate charities, 95% of which have not been making top-up payments to any of...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I have no doubt the Minister, Deputy Coveney, will deliver on this in the coming weeks. I look forward to a very positive exchange with the Minister in regard to Pillar 2.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Is the amendment being pressed?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: What amount of time does the Minister need?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Next Thursday.

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I join the call this morning for a full and frank debate on the Smithwick report. I very much welcome its publication and compliment the judge on his painstaking work over a protracted period. I want to express our sympathies to the families of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan. Our thoughts are very much with them today. It is regrettable that some damage...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and compliment her on her work within the Department of Health. I thank my Labour colleagues for tabling this motion and giving us an opportunity to debate this important issue. We all support the Minister of State in her efforts to secure more investment for mental health services, given the significant increase in mental health problems...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Councils: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Tánaiste and I thank him for his comprehensive report. My apologies for having to leave because of a vote in the Seanad. We are all reading on a daily basis about the appalling situation in Syria that the civilian population, children in particular, as Senator Norris said, are going through. Most concerning is a report published yesterday by the United Nations Commission...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Review of Foreign Affairs Policy and External Relations: Discussion (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome this review, the significant point of which is the broad-based consultation process the Tánaiste has outlined today. It is also timely, in that the Tánaiste is undertaking it from a position of strength having had a successful Presidency of the European Council, the chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, as well as Ireland's membership of...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I support the call by Senator Barrett for a full debate after Christmas with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on the issue of public transport. The decline in usage to which the Senator referred is quite alarming. We need to debate both whether the taxpayer is getting good value for money and the overall cost to the taxpayer of the system as it is...