Results 1,641-1,660 of 14,090 for speaker:Marc MacSharry

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I have managed to think of that point all by myself.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: Well said.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank him for visiting Sligo last week. I do not disagree with Senator Mac Conghail because I still hold out the hope that he will cast me in a production in the Abbey Theatre.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I have a much better chance than other Members of getting a part.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: No. Much of this discussion was covered on Second Stage and the Chair has given everybody a great deal of latitude given the nature of the debate. How the Taoiseach has approached certain issues has been a massive disappointment. I am hugely proud of the fact, irrespective of my political leanings, that somebody from the west is Taoiseach. His election was a proud day for all on the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I am sorry but one wonders about the method of his deliberations.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I will. It is the most peculiar coincidence that of 78 amendments, 77 were ruled out of order. We had the shenanigans last week regarding committee membership, which undermine the entire democratic fabric of the country. Regardless of who has been in government since the 1950s, I refer to the tangible direction of the changes from one Government to the next. The Progressive Democrats is...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: That would certainly be difficult. There is not a single Minister who would not celebrate the demise of the Seanad because they hate coming in here - present company excluded, I am sure - and officials hate coming in here. Does anyone think, when the Finance Bill is being dealt with in October and there are 13 officials from the Department of Finance in the ante room, they will feel they...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I am. I will conclude as I know others want to speak. In essence, real leadership is about having the courage to take on the vested interests and ask the real questions. When we are talking about playing the man or playing the ball, or playing both, there is something legitimate about that. However, if we are going to dig up the pitch just because last year's team did not win the league,...

Seanad: An Bille um Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Cúigiú Céim - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (23 Jul 2013)

Marc MacSharry: For me, this question is flawed. There is no fear whatsoever of asking the people a question - indeed, we should do so more often on a wide variety of issues - but it is dishonest not to ask the people whether they would prefer reform or abolition, because one must ask what comes next. As Senator Norris stated, No. 2, which is to be taken without debate, simply states that the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Sep 2013)

Marc MacSharry: But true.

Seanad: Report of Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Statements (18 Sep 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State and am glad of the opportunity to make a few points. The Seanad Public Consultation Committee is one of the good news stories of the Oireachtas during this Administration. It did not exist hitherto and I wish to pay tribute to Senator Cummins, the Leader of the House, who has done his best to introduce a variety of different initiatives to this House. As he...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2013)

Marc MacSharry: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Health to come to the House to deal with the issue of discretionary medical cards? All Members of this and the other House, local authority members and GPs throughout the State are aware of the extent to which the provision of such cards has been cut in recent years. We often hear the Minister boast that more medical cards are being given out than...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2013)

Marc MacSharry: He would leave Houdini in the ha'penny place.

Seanad: EU Directive on Patients Rights in Cross-Border Health Care: Statements (24 Sep 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. Will legislation be required to transpose the directive and, if so, what will be the implications thereof? I apologise in advance if I will not be present for the Minister's reply but I will check the Official Report. Given the co-operation that exists on so many other levels, it stands to reason that we should co-operate on health care. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I am sure the Leader saw in the media that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, flippantly announced at the National Ploughing Championships that there will be no replacement for the rural environmental protection scheme, REPS. Some 13,000 farmers will exit the scheme at the beginning of next year. Some 40% of them are from the north west and west of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I join Senator Wilson in asking for a debate on the performance of the Governor of the Central Bank yesterday. It augurs very badly for democracy in the State that the Governor is essentially admitting to the capitulation of the Central Bank to mainstream banks. I am sure that if any politician had made a similar statement, people would be calling for his resignation today. As Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Marc MacSharry: That is his job.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2013)

Marc MacSharry: I wish to second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Barrett. If Government Ministers are making claims of such a serious nature - that bribes were being offered in return for political support or political favours - it is important for us to have the details. This is a serious issue and not something to be thrown about in a regional or local newspaper...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2013)

Marc MacSharry: The situation regarding the NGOs addressing Members of the House is a serious one and it should be addressed. To whatever extent this House can influence the Committee on Procedure and Privileges of the other House, that needs to be done. One wonders, with the abolition of the Seanad on Friday what is next - the abolition of protests on Kildare Street? I agree with Senator Hayden that...