Results 1,341-1,360 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: Will it be prepared when the legislation is passed?

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I move amendment No. 20: In page 15, line 48, to delete "€5,000" and substitute "€8,000".

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I accept what the Minister has said and will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I accept what the Minister has said.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I move amendment No. 28: In page 23, line 20, after "plan" to insert "following a competitive tender process".

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: There has been much talk about interconnectors but who would be the eventual owner of such an interconnector?

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I move amendment No. 43: In page 28, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following: "A9F.—It shall be a function of the commission to establish standards of training of heating and plumbing contractors in relation to the safety of home heating and plumbing installations.".

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I accept the Minister's reassurance and he has certainly gone to great detail to improve standards. He would have been concerned about what happened in the past regarding fatalities in this area. I accept that he has tightened it up considerably, so I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I thank Senator Kenneally for his remarks. Energy has become so vital that the Minister now has a very important brief. This is a very important Bill for the future. The main message in the Bill is the safety factor and it will reassure many people. Therefore, I am pleased that we were able to finish it today.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I hoped the Minister of State's speech would include some changes in nursing home subvention rates, although I understand he will table amendments later in order to revise those rates. I remind the Minister of State that those subvention rates have been in place since 2001, despite the changes that have occurred since then, including the increased cost of private nursing home care. In the...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: The scheme has been operated and advertised for long enough. People should be compensated but I have met people who have encountered bureaucracy.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: It is not nonsense. How many compensation claims have been paid out? The figure is small and I can guarantee there will be a rush to pay the others before next May. I know how the Government behaves and the tactics it adopts in these kinds of circumstances. It should not play with the elderly.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: We should have it next week in case anyone has to sell a house. Committee Stage ordered for Wednesday, 31 January 2007.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: What a contrasting world we live in. This morning I looked at the newspaper and saw a lovely smiling photograph of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, cutting a tape at the official opening of the Data Protection Commissioner's office in Portarlington. Only one staff member...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: Given the closure of Castlemahon Foods and more than 300 workers now unemployed, of which the Cathaoirleach will be aware, I would like the Leader to raise this issue with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin. What are known as customised training programmes are available and people may be interested in specific training programmes. However, there is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: We want to hear what the Senator has to say.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: It did not collapse.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: My point is that the limitation for such courses should not be at a maximum of €650.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I support Senator O' Meara's call for a debate on this matter. It is regrettable that we discussed the Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill last week. If we were to discuss it this week we would have the opportunity to assess the impact of this latest measure announced on Monday. One of the main provisions in that Bill was that 5% of the value of a property was to be taken into account...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: The focus has shifted to estate agents because of the recent "Prime Time Investigates" programme. Local authorities are defining county development plans but also the rezoning of towns in the county. I urge the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to issue a directive to county councils to the effect that a councillor should not be involved in rezoning the area he...