Results 4,641-4,660 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Nov 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I raise the issue of media ownership, particularly newspaper ownership, following on from a recent high profile documentary on RTE. Will the Leader facilitate a debate on that issue to establish the involvement of families, particularly in newspaper ownership which is a very powerful organ of the media? I disagree fundamentally with Senator Norris on the issue of transport. There is a real...

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to the House and congratulate him on his recent appointment as Minister of State. I regret that I did not speak in the earlier part of this debate as I would have had the opportunity to also congratulate the Minister, Deputy Roche, on his appointment as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Yesterday morning on the Order of Business I raised the possibility that interest accruing from special savings investment accounts could affect the entitlement of social welfare recipients. I am glad the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, assured us that he would look at this issue and see if he could arrange a derogation on means assessed for social welfare recipients....

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I have two points, one of which has already been raised. I ask the Leader to organise an immediate debate with the new Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, so he might assure both Houses that those who accepted the minimum share scheme offered by the special savings incentive accounts will not have their social welfare payments negatively affected. It is critical that we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The man concerned is not fit to be a Commissioner.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The reality of suicide in this country is a difficult issue to face not least for the families who are suffering because of it, but for society as a whole and that contributes in no small way to the under-reporting of suicide. Yesterday in Belfast, Youth Suicide Prevention, a joint initiative between the Health Development Agency and Institute of Public Health in Ireland, held a seminar and...

Seanad: Garda Recruitment: Motion. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister to the House. I wish to make a few general observations about the Garda Síochána. There is an issue about how the Garda does its work. We have a fine complement of gardaí. They are unarmed, which is a testament to their ability, professionalism and integrity. Over the years they have commanded great amounts of respect and that is a testament to the way in which they...

Seanad: Garda Recruitment: Motion. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: At least those communities had Garda stations.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, lines 33 and 34, after "payments" to insert "(other than payments discharged under section 2 or payments otherwise not recoverable in law)". This amendment has been changed somewhat since Committee Stage to clarify our intention in tabling it. There could be many instances in which there are arrears of annuity payments which are not recoverable. Such arrears...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, line 35, to delete "not more than" and substitute "on or after the day which is". This is merely a drafting amendment which is designed to remove an ambiguity in the subsection. As drafted, the subsection provides that a certificate of the Minister must be dated not more than four months prior to the date of the instrument. The provision is somewhat...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The Minister's wording is confusing and our amendment was tabled in the second instance in the interest of clarity.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 9: In page 4, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: "(2) The Minister shall, on application by a person entitled to a certificate under subsection (1), issue such a certificate as soon as practicable after such an application.". On Committee Stage, the Minister did not like the phrase "as soon as practicable". The term "as soon as may be" provides more...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister and her officials for attending the House this and last week. The purpose of our amendments was to improve the quality of legislation, an objective to which we all aspire. I wish the Minister well in her new brief.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: More often than not it is in somebody's car boot.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Mindful of the Cathaoirleach's disposition, I will be brief. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on a report of the Committee of Public Accounts, a number of the recommendations of which are frightening. One does not need to be a financial wizard to figure out that some of what has gone on in the Department of Finance would make the hair on the back of one's neck stand up. For example, it...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, line 24, to delete "Department" and substitute "Minister". I wish to reiterate the case I made on Committee Stage regarding these amendments. I have obtained advice from senior counsel on this issue in the interim. The Department of Agriculture and Food is not a legal entity. The Minister is the legal corporate entity and, accordingly, the section should...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: That is similar to the response on Committee Stage. However, the amendments have been tabled in the context of Irish law. The Minister has not addressed the basic point. The Public Service Management Act 1997 provided for Departments to be given legal status and I seek clarity in this regard. Clearly, the Department is not a legal entity. The Labour Party has obtained legal opinion on this...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, subsection (2), line 35, after "effect" to insert "and shall cancel any existing entry to the contrary effect". This amendment deals with the discharge of land purchase annuities. This is a drafting amendment. It is not sufficient for the Registrar of Titles to simply make a new entry in the register on the passing of the Act. The registrar should be...