Results 1,281-1,300 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2009)

Michael McCarthy: It was a knee-jerk reaction to a very grave situation. I went into a shop in Kinsale recently. A notice on a lottery machine stated that every time one purchases lottery tickets, one supports an arts project or a sports programme in one's community. The sports capital programme for 2009 has been abandoned. Every time someone buys a lottery ticket in this country, a portion of it goes to...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. In the words of David Hanley on "Morning Ireland" many years ago, I must ask if the Minister of State is serious about signing in. What have we come to? While this legislation is necessary and we must take a principled stand, it is also important to ask the serious questions and be practical about this matter. For example, are we now going...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2009)

Michael McCarthy: What was discussed? What role does the Oireachtas Commission have concerning this? The Minister for Finance took his PR battle against Members' conditions, allowances or expenses to the front page of The Irish Times at the start of this year. After leaving a meeting with the Oireachtas Commission and making an agreement, he ran off to that newspaper to make a front-page statement. He was...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2009)

Michael McCarthy: -----to create the impression that the Government is reacting proactively to the issue, but it is not. We should not believe otherwise for a second. This is absolutely ridiculous. It is a smokescreen which is masking Government incompetence in dealing with the issues that are affecting ordinary men, women and children.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2009)

Michael McCarthy: Dúirt fear liom.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (23 Sep 2009)

Michael McCarthy: On a point of order, why does the Minister have official responsibility for traces of cryptospiridium in the water at Bantry but no official responsibility for toxic sea lettuce which is destroying the environmental health and tourism in west Cork? Why does he have responsibility for one and not the other?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I am delighted Senator Quinn has told us we will live to be 79. Perhaps in my lifetime, therefore, I will see the interest being paid on NAMA. I subscribe to the calls for a rolling debate on the economy, especially on the fact that the Government is obsessed with trying to get public spending in order. However, there is absolutely no policy on job creation and protection. While we are...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Michael McCarthy: We have all at some level or another been involved with the discussion on reforming the expenses system. It is my understanding that at the start of this year, a sensible proposal was put to the Minister for Finance by those on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. That proposal is still just lying there. In the interests of accountability, transparency and, most importantly, the body...

Seanad: National Marine Mapping Programme: Motion (21 Oct 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. To be honest, I am not an expert on marine mapping and the expert back-up parliamentary research team that conducted all of my research on this consisted of myself as the rest of the team was off. The national marine mapping project is putting together a database of critical knowledge and this knowledge is critical for a number of reasons. On...

Seanad: National Marine Mapping Programme: Motion (21 Oct 2009)

Michael McCarthy: The newspapers have not been kind to us or in charting the Senator's star either. We can surprise them all.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Michael McCarthy: In the 1930s, Tom Johnson told the House that for Senators to vote for the abolition of the Seanad would be to engage in a self-condemnatory act. It is my view and that of many that we have been honoured by county councillors throughout the country to be elected to this House on the vocational panels. I consider it a privilege and I consider it insulting for any sitting Senator to propose...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. I will be supporting tomorrow's national protest at Government decisions. We did not stand up to the banks or the corporate capitalist monsters who brought us to the brink of economic collapse, yet we stand up to the garda, the nurse, the teacher and the worker who is now paying a pension levy, an income levy and a health levy to fund our way...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I was at the ICTU march last Friday and, thankfully, I did not see any fighting or squabbling between public and private sector workers. Instead, I saw a unity of purpose among workers in standing up to the Government's attempts to introduce a fourth pay cut for public sector workers in the forthcoming budget. There are many organisations preparing pre-budget submissions and I want to raise...

Seanad: Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House. The previous speaker referred to aquaculture licences. I intended to raise the same issue on the Adjournment last week, but I withdrew the matter when the debate on the National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009 continued into the early hours of the morning. I decided that the presence in the Chamber of those of us who had to...

Seanad: Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I did not say "political interference". I spoke about a role.

Seanad: Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: It does not work.

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, to the House. I am pleased to participate in this debate which allows us to examine the pros and cons of the bio-fuel issue. However, it must be looked at in a broader context because we can all too often get lost in a type of tunnel vision on this issue and drive on regardless of new insights. Much of the information I will contribute to...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: They are a very accommodating group.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I warmly welcome and congratulate Senator Carroll. I hope he will have a very long and successful career in politics and that he will find his time in this House as fulfilling and enjoyable as the rest of us do. I am sure his membership will go a long way towards ensuring the sanity of the Government Whip who has been trying his best to win votes over recent months. I wish Senator Carroll...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Michael McCarthy: I hope the Leader will accept my proposal in the spirit in which it is intended. I recognise the intervention of the Government and acknowledge the €10 million in relief aid that is being made available. However, it is not enough.