Results 5,001-5,020 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: A serious potato disease, ring rot disease, which has the capability of destroying up to 50% of a potato crop, is raging in Wales. I call on the Leader to make a statement or to get confirmation from the Minister on what measures are in place to prevent an outbreak of that disease here. If adequate measures are not in place whereby imports can be checked and cleared on entry here, I will call...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Will the recommendations of the report be introduced?

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Will the report be defended in its entirety by the Government?

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank the Leader for organising this debate which we have frequently sought in recent times. I welcome that we can finally debate this issue in advance of a vote that will be taken in Brussels at the end of this month. I also thank the Minister for giving us so much of her time this afternoon and in recent times. The rapid advance of biochemistry in...

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I move: That Seanad Éireann, noting that as a consequence of the Estimates for 2004 –Back to Education Allowance is all but abolished at third level –Conditions for the Rent Supplement are to be severely curtailed and restricted –Crèche supplement for childcare will be discontinued –Earnings threshold for Disability and Unemployment Benefit will go up and –Duration for...

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: A 2% increase in the capital gains tax would negate the need for such a cutback. The current weekly earning threshold for the purpose of payment of reduced rates of disability is being increased from €88.88 to €150. The threshold has not been updated since 1993. This represents a serious disincentive to employment.

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: —to places of entertainment such as racetracks, as they are entitled, they are not entitled to squander €15 million of taxpayers' money. Nor are they entitled to breach clear Cabinet guidelines and procedures on how they expend money. It typifies the arrogance and contemptuous attitude of the Government. We are now worse off than we have ever been. We have an arch-conservative Government...

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: It is the truth.

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Publish it.

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Now we are laughing.

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Senator Wilson should be on the stage.

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: It was taken back.

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The currency was punts then.

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: That was because rates and car tax had been abolished.

Seanad: Estimates for 2004: Motion. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Was she the Senator's aunt?

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The Senator did not have to contact RTE.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I wish to raise a matter on the disability Bill. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform commissioned Professor Nolan of the ESRI to draw up a report on the disability Bill. He has poured cold water on the possibility of the Bill adopting a rights-based approach. When will the Bill be published? Will it be rights-based and if not, does the Leader consider it worthwhile introducing...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, for dealing with this matter this morning. The amendments were largely a housekeeping exercise and followed exhaustive debate in the other House during which Government and Opposition amendments were combined to make the Bill more effective and to improve its scope. However, they have not altered the Bill's core provisions.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I would like to speak about a decision taken by the Government this morning. I refer to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform's announcement that he intends to close two prisons, to place the management of two other prisons in a body outside the prisons service and, in effect, to privatise the prisons escort service. I am not convinced that a case can be made for this proposal...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Nov 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I mentioned the Minister for Health and Children's comment that cutting waiting lists by the middle of next year is not an achievable target. I ask the Leader to respond to the issues I have raised.