Results 5,161-5,180 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I congratulate Senator Leyden on being appointed deputy Attorney General for the Upper House.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I do. Senator Finucane raised a serious issue regarding road safety. It is, to say the least, disappointing that the Garda Commission has confirmed in writingâ
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: Will the Leader of the House arrange for the Minister for Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, to come to the House to explain how much he intends to squander on a Government jet to fly him and his cohorts around the world at the expense of the taxpayer? The way the Government squanders money is a disgrace.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: We are working on the alternative Leader of the House.
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: Blame the Taoiseach.
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I am surprised my colleagues on the Government side would waste two good hours on a subject that does not reflect the text of their motion. I support the Fine Gael amendment. Anyone connected to reality knows that our health system must be the worst in all western civilised democracies.
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: It is two-tiered and characterised by mismanagement and the abject failure of the Government to recognise that in 2003 people on trolleys line the corridors of hospitals.
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: The Minister knows this because Cork University Hospital in his constituency and my county is no different from any other.
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: The Government made a promise before the general election that it would extend the medical card scheme to an extra 200,000 people. That was an out and out lie. It has not done this and had no intention of doing so. It is frightening that in this day and age people who are ill will be treated in our hospitals, if they are lucky enough, based on the amount of money they have in their wallets,...
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: However, it is like burying the money in the back yard because we have not being getting value for money.
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: Last week we debated the BreastCheck service. The failure of the Government to extend that scheme is inexcusable and indefensible. We hear excuses as to the reason it is not in place from Senators on the other side of the House but it is just not good enough. It is a disgrace that a scheme which can detect such a serious illness has not been extended nationwide. Last Monday night in Bantry in...
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: Reality.
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: Pathetic.
- Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (26 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I said trolleys, not beds.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: Senator Finucane should know that we already have an honours system. The Leader is a recipient of the award in question, which is known as the "Taoiseach's 11".
- Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I wish to raise a serious issue concerning providers of services to people with disabilities. CoAction is one such provider in west Cork. It is run voluntarily and provides essential services to people with intellectual difficulties and children with special needs. In 1997, the then Department of Health promised the organisation funding through the health boards. I understand some of the...
- Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 6: In page 15, paragraph (a), line 4, after section to insert "3B or". The proposed new section 3B allows the Minister to amend the First Schedule to the Act in certain circumstances. The approval of the Oireachtas should be required where such a wide power is conferred, rather than, as proposed in the Bill, simply informing it of that conferral.
- Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I will not press the amendment but I will pursue this again. It is advisable that where such a far-ranging power is conferred, the Oireachtas should have a greater involvement. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment No. 7 not moved. Section 8 agreed to. Section 9 agreed to. SECTION 10.
- Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 17: In page 34, lines 42 and 43, to delete "shall have an absolute discretion to" and substitute "may". I am against the concept of absolute discretion. I believe it creates bad law and results in absolutist decision-making. It is relevant to recall Lord Acton's letter to Bishop Creighton in which he said that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely....
- Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)
Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 18: In page 35, line 9, after "decision" to insert "and of the reasons for the decision". When the EPA refuses to hold an oral hearing, it should give its reasons in the interest of proper administration, among other considerations. For example, if an applicant is refused planning permission for a dwelling, a fairly detailed letter of explanation is issued by the planning...