Results 361-380 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: That is interesting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: Yes, the Deputy probably did. We agreed a work schedule and to allocate certain dates in July to discuss the electoral commission. We also agreed to hear from different sets of witnesses. We are working through this because there is an urgency in getting a report on a commission as the Minister is anxious to get legislation published on it soon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: Yes. We also have had select committee meetings on legislation both this and last week.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: It will not be for the whole month. That is the way the work programme has been agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: It is done now. That is the way the work programme will be carried out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: If we bring in too many witnesses there will not be enough time, because there is also an issue with booking rooms. We will not get open-ended contributions from witnesses. What if there were ten witnesses and 12 members wanted to speak? It would get unwieldy. However, I thank the Deputy for her concern.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: We circulated the work programme on several occasions and asked for comments and opinions on it before it was agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: Would Mr. Lambert like to comment on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: I thank Mr. Lambert. That concludes the first part of the meeting. I thank Dr. Weeks, Mr. McMeel and Mr. Lambert. They are free to go.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: I remind members to turn off their mobile telephones because they interfere with the ability to web stream events. This meeting has been convened to consider matters relating to the consultation paper on the establishment of an electoral commission. It has been agreed by the committee that this session should, if not previously concluded, conclude at 4.45 p.m. I welcome the following...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: The two elections Mr. O'Keeffe referred to were 1973 and 1977, where they took the Béara peninsula, Castletownbere, and put it into Kerry. For religious purposes, it is in the diocese of Kerry, but there were people on Bere Island voting to elect Deputies up as far as between Killarney and Tralee. It made no sense. I accept the independence of the boundary commission and it does its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: Yes. It was divided in two. The people of Leitrim had a very good petition and campaign. They e-mailed all Members of the Oireachtas to change that. It was a very serious breach of a county for a county the size of Leitrim to be thrown in with two different counties, Roscommon and Sligo. It was very unfair on them. I said to myself that maybe the commission would now do due diligence...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: If people are using a town for schools, markets, church services or whatever the case may be, that should be reflected in how the commission looks at particular submissions. My issue is a very minor grievance in comparison to a breach of a county boundary. That should be avoided at all costs. On the electoral register, before I call Deputy Coonan-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: Before Deputy Coonan comes in, there is a view emanating from here for the last few weeks that the commission should be established. It mirrors what he is saying - get it up and running, give it a realistic timeframe, terms of reference, resources and so on and then over time develop how it feels its way around the actual issues. On that electoral register, what does Deputy Coonan think...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: That is a good point. I posed a question two weeks ago on what we should aspire to, and Dr. Theresa Reidy's response, whose research expertise is around electoral commissions, was the Canadian model on the New Zealand scale. That is worthy of thought. I thank the witnesses for taking time from their busy schedules to come before the committee and help us with the electoral process. I...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Eligibility (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: 208. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to including sufferers of epilepsy, a long-term condition, in the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26344/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pensions Levy (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: 232. To ask the Minister for Finance the current policy in relation to ending the pension levy on private pensions, in view of the impact the levy is having on pensioners with low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25850/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Administration (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: 303. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to extending the period for the completion of work under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme farm safety scheme, given that approval has not yet been confirmed for all applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25751/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: 523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 746 of 16 June 2015, if a full explanation will be provided as to the reason there has been a reduction of special needs assistant hours in respect of the child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25911/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environment Fund (30 Jun 2015)

Michael McCarthy: 643. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 597 of 23 June 2015, if he will provide a breakdown of the dispersal of the environment fund for the years 2012 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26351/15]