Results 3,261-3,280 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: A Kerry footballer might also have trouble with his fingers.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I am grateful to the Minister for the clarification and indicating there is a €2.5 million saving. Is there any indication of a potential fault in this area? Is the system so well defined — the Minister described an independent medical examiner — that there could be no fault? I am thinking of people who return to full-time employment. We are all aware of bad back syndrome and one...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: That is not what I was inferring. I only asked the question.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Despite all the difficulties facing the Government and the Department of Social Protection, I would be failing in my duty were I not to express the opinion of my party that the severe cutbacks proposed in the Social Welfare Bill and the consequences thereof will hit the most vulnerable in society, namely, the elderly, the poor, children and young disabled...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: It is appalling.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Paschal Mooney: The reference to Fredericksburg was to encourage Members to say a silent prayer for the fallen Irish at the flag at the bottom of the steps to the Chamber.

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.

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

Paschal Mooney: I thank the Senator.

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.