Results 5,121-5,140 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (25 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: This neglect is indefensible. The Government must realise that dead horses cannot be flogged. Carers are providing an invaluable service for society.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (25 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: While I acknowledge that the Minister is constrained by funding restrictions and the problem of changing schemes and introducing new measures which might impact on the administrative structure of the Department, I urge her to examine these requests and abolish the means test for carers. There was a commitment to poverty-proofing in the revised national anti-poverty strategy. This meant that...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (25 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The difference is that we told the truth.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Semi-neutral? You are either neutral or not.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I regret that the situation in Iraq has reached its current level. Like many other reasonable people in this country, I am a pacifist and opposed to war by any means. However, when one looks at the circumstances surrounding the blatant murder being perpetrated by the USA and the UK in Iraq, one would have to take cognisance of the issues which have led to this illegal war. The war will,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: That is understandable.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I want to raise an issue regarding the State's only Integrated Coastal Zone Management Initiative, that is, Bantry Bay Charter, which has been in operation in west Cork since 1997. It was set up under EU guidelines in conjunction with UCC, CIT and Cork County Council and brought together a number of competing interests regarding the use of the coastal zone in that area. Cork County Council...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I am indeed. The Minister and his Department were unable to comment yesterday on the fact that this initiative has now been wound up. I wonder if the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources was in Cheltenham with his colleagues from other Departments.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: Why did he not comment on this? Perhaps his mind was in Cheltenham. It is important that the Leader of the House should arrange for the Minister or one of his delegates, because he might have gone to Cheltenham, to come in to debate this serious issue.

Seanad: Motor Insurance: Motion. (12 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I approach this debate from a rather different angle from that of other speakers. I have been directly affected by this issue since I started driving some seven years ago. The discriminatory practices rampant in the insurance industry over several years are no surprise to anybody at the receiving end. Ms Dorothea Dowling, the author of that splendid report from the Motor Insurance Advisory...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: He made it well.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I also thank the staff of the House who covered the debate last night, which continued until almost 3 a.m. Concerns have been expressed by some in the primary schools sector that text messaging shorthand is contributing to deteriorating standards in spelling and grammar. This is illustrated by a case in the United Kingdom this week where a 13 year old schoolgirl submitted an essay written in...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I acknowledge the Minister's presence in the House. It would a better House for all of us if all legislation was as non-contentious as this and had such a speedy exit from the House.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The Adjournment Matters still had to come after that. I thank the Minister for his input and for his thoughtful contributions.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: It would be a big mouse.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is wide-ranging legislation and there have been many fine contributions. There has been much debate about this matter in recent days and weeks. Two years ago, there was massive opposition when the then Minister, Deputy Dempsey, attempted to introduce this legislation, especially from three Independent Deputies – one in particular – and that drove...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The Minister should recognise this. The electorate for the Upper House largely consists of members of local authorities. Those who went through the rigours of meeting councillors around the country prior to the election picked up on a lot of issues. There was a sense that those contesting the Seanad election might be in a position to improve local government. A particular issue was severance...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: When it is considered that the senior counsel was of a particular political persuasion, it gives room for thought.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: It should be looked at in greater detail by the parliamentary counsel. I was elected to Cork County Council three years ago at the age of 22. One soon cuts one's back teeth sitting on a council; one learns the hard way as one is dropped in at the deep end and it is a case of sink or swim. Council chambers could be seen as dodgy waters full of sharks. The many areas in which local authorities...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Michael McCarthy: The Senator can do so if he passes through the "Níl" lobby with us.