Results 1,761-1,780 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Nov 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I have made a note to personally congratulate the Minister of State because I knew he was under severe pressure from various other projects and from the Exchequer viewpoint. I pay a personal compliment to the Minister of State for visiting my home town, Drumshanbo, in the company of my colleague, Councillor Enda McGloin, and also for the provision of €268,000, which amounts to 80% of the...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Nov 2011)

Paschal Mooney: E-commerce.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Nov 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Begrudgery - the national disease.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: The report the Central Bank issued yesterday will make chilling reading for those in the retail sector, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. As Senator O'Sullivan has indicated, more than 30% of all sales take place in December. We are in the run-up to 8 December and the period beyond when there is increased consumer spending. However, the Central Bank report indicates that people are...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I am sure the Minister does not want to listen to a range of Second Stage speeches, having sat through an interesting debate yesterday. I will be as focused as I can. I was interested in Senator Barrett's position on this and that he revealed that he had been on the board of Bord Fáilte in the 1980s. My experience was different to Senator Barrett's. I agree and I am sure the Minister...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: That should be acknowledged. I think it was an extra €15 million, which was ring fenced and was welcomed by the industry. Last year there was an initiative in the UK which delivered the message of Ireland in a different way. They used what are called "flash mobs" operating at railway stations across the United Kingdom. The flash mobs in this instance, organised by Tourism Ireland,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I compliment the Minister, as I would any Minister, who is fighting at the Cabinet table for her departmental Estimates and the public expenditure proposals leading up to and including the budget proposals. I commend her for successfully negotiating a considerable reduction in a cut of almost €1 billion originally being provided for. That is the good news. ...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: The Minister is expecting the House to support the measures, yet her party constituency colleague has decided to oppose the Bill.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: The reality involves cuts to disability allowance for young people, fuel allowance, child benefit, jobseeker's benefit, back-to-school allowance, one-parent family allowance and pension eligibility. In addition, the farm assist scheme has been hit and the redundancy rebate reduced.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: The comment has been made that this is inherently an anti-rural budget, both specifically and generally. I want to focus particularly on community employment schemes. A colleague in County Meath, Councillor Nick Killian, has written to the Minister of State, Deputy Shane McEntee, and Deputy Halligan about a cut from €1,500 to €500 to the employee's allowance for training and...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: What is there to review? It will be either done or it will not.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: It is being "paused". We await what will happen.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Senator Norris's rousing rally reminded me to remind the House that this week commemorates the disastrous tragedy at the battle of Fredericksburg during the American Civil War when Thomas Francis Meagher led the fighting 69th Regiment and many lives were lost. An interesting article in the "Irishman's Diary" section of The Irish Times, which I commend to the House, pointed out that what...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: While it did not happen, he was certainly in that context. I am not sure if Senator Norris has a good singing voice, but I would be happy to help him out with the chorus if he wished.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I am sure the Leader welcomes the initiative going through the US Senate, which if passed will permit 10,000 Irish citizens to avail of work visas in the United States.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: This is the first significant country-specific and certainly pro-Irish legislation in 15 years since the Donnelly and Morrison visas. I commend Senator Schumer, who with the help of Mr. Niall O'Dowd and the Irish immigration lobby in New York have been actively involved in trying to get some meaningful immigration reform. Lest anybody might think that these comments are in some way...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Yes, but it is an issue of great concern for the future of this House that——

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: —— suspending the sitting of the House for a few hours in the middle of the week before Christmas——

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: —— does not convey a very positive message to the people about the value of this House.