Results 4,981-5,000 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment was involved too.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Will we have to tell the Standards in Public Office Commission?

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I wish to raise the issue of golden Thursday, prior to the general election, when 1,700 jobs were announced by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and candidates in constituencies where the Government was under pressure to win or hold seats. The Tánaiste conceded yesterday to Deputy Howlin in the Dáil that less than 10% of those jobs has been delivered. Will the Leader ask the Taoiseach and the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: By two of Senator Callanan's colleagues, and there are no jobs.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister for his attendance in the House. A number of years ago in his previous capacity as a Minister of State, he attended a meeting of the western roads committee of Cork County Council in the courthouse in Skibbereen. For some time we had been trying to obtain funding for a road in the Gaeltacht area of Ballingeary. It was not forthcoming and the issue was a hot potato in the...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The Minister would do it in 30 minutes now.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I do not agree with his statement that the Government has a proud record on housing. In the ten years the parties in Government have been in office, the position regarding housing has gone out of control. The number of people, particularly young people, who cannot afford to buy a house at today's prices and whose financial position does not enable...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: It does.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: A consequence of this measure will be that some people will be living on the streets. If a person renting a unit at a fairly high rent, given that everything seems to cost a high price today, loses his or her job and disposable income, which would have allowed that person to remain in that unit, and on applying for rent supplement is not granted it, he or she will have to leave that unit....

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The full extent of the impact of that decision will be known in due course. When one notes the record set by the Government, one would not expect anything different.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: We are dealing with arch conservatism and one would not expect anything less. Some 12 months later the Government cut back on the rent allowance scheme. That defies belief.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: If the Members on the Government side were on this side of the Chamber and we were on their side and guilty of the same heinous crime, we would have to nearly wear ear muffs because the roars from them would be so loud. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I am sure Deputy Ormonde will get an opportunity to convey her point. Some 16,000 home buyers were awaiting payment of that grant prior to its abolition. I understand additional inspectors are being appointed. That matter should be proactively followed up to ensure there is an appropriate conclusion for those who were lucky in the interim period.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: There is still hope for those concerned and I hope the payment of their grants will be made speedily.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Absolutely, even if they are in that particular category. I am not being ageist, but in terms of the age profile of such applicants, they are significantly higher than the normal applicant. There were such a high number of male applicants that the local authority designated a scheme of ten houses to people in that category, and also to single females. That was universally welcomed in the...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I take the point made by the Minister of State. In some cases I would have taken a different view from the one I take now. I do not know if this matter is something that could be pursued in terms of a national or departmental policy. I would welcome a fairer system or one that strives to be fair.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McCarthy: In recent times we have seen that the consumer very often has to pick up the tab. The increased charges are a retrograde step. This major increase will stretch budgets that are already tight and will result in some people being unable to buy their own houses. One could fill the House with housing reports, but there is a pattern in them which shows that building material costs and construction...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I support the fact the Leader has organised a debate on stem cell research. I also support the calls for the Tánaiste to come into the House to engage with Members in questions and answers at the conclusion of the debate. The Tánaiste will make a major decision on 26 or 27 November in Brussels. That decision will allow European Union taxpayers' money to be spent on embryonic stem cell...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: That agreement needs to be honoured.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: It is beyond me how the Leader of the main Opposition party in this House can complain about trade unions and benchmarking in this manner.