Results 5,161-5,180 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I support Senator Power's view that birth certificates would be made available. That would be very helpful for many children throughout the country. I also support the call for a debate on employment. We need to do a full analysis of where people are employed. There is a massive drive to promote employment through foreign direct investment jobs in particular in Cork, Galway, Limerick and...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: On a point of order, I think the Seanad should take some time to consider this matter. I propose, therefore, that the sitting be suspended for 30 minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I am asking that the Leader-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I ask that the Leader move the suspension of proceedings for a period of 30 minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I raise an issue which has received surprisingly little attention, namely, the good performance of the nation's finances in the first five months of the year. By way of comparison, the deficit in the first five months of last year was €5.3 billion, whereas the deficit in the first five months of this year was €3.5 billion. It is clear, therefore, that the nation's finances are...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: Like others I congratulate everybody who made it through in the different areas of election over the weekend. I commiserate with those who lost seats and particularly those who in participating put their life blood into local and national politics. It is a difficult day for those people. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Clune, for her achievement as it is not easy to get elected to the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Eligibility (9 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: In light of what the Minister of State is saying, I presume the notional figure will change again on 1 January 2015. While people will receive certificate of interests, I am of the view that deposit interest retention tax, DIRT, which is charged at a rate of 41%, is going to have to be taken into consideration in the context of the calculation of interest. For a single person, interest is...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Eligibility (9 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: The Minister of State is very welcome. Many of us who do our day-to-day work in constituency offices receive queries concerning medical cards. One area of continuing confusion is the notional rate of interest that is applied to applicants' savings. I am referring to the full medical card. When I tried to discover how the rate is applied, I found the situation was confused. The Department...

Seanad: SME Envoy Networks: Statements (3 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 8 April 2014.

Seanad: SME Envoy Networks: Statements (3 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I welcome the Minister of State. Is he the Irish envoy?

Seanad: SME Envoy Networks: Statements (3 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I do not think that was clarified. We must put where we are currently into context. I think Senator White mentioned that unemployment is at 11.8%. Much progress has been made from where we were two years ago when it was more than 15%. In the first quarter of this year, the deficit has been reduced by €1.4 billion since this time last year, which is an incredible achievement. There...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to be associated with the comments to Senator Kelly following the bereavement in his family. I congratulate everyone concerned with the management buy-out of the Elverys group. Some 654 jobs have been protected. It is important not only to create new jobs but also to protect those that exist. I welcome the management buy-out, given the groups it was competing against, such as Sports...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to raise the issue of the number of people and, in particular, properties affected by the construction of wind farms. I am speaking as an ardent supporter of the renewable energy sector, particularly wind energy. I have knowledge of this issue from people who did not object to the farms' construction. They are honourable, good and decent people. That said, their properties have...

Seanad: Economic Growth and Job Creation: Statements (4 Mar 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: The Minister is welcome back. He always gives us the benefit of his time. I agree with Senator Byrne, in that none of us on this side or the other is here just to blow kisses and backslap. Any time we can make a positive intervention, it can only be of benefit to many people. We have made progress, but many challenges remain. One of the largest has probably taken up more of the Minister's...

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: With the Leas-Chathaoirleach's permission, I will offer one minute to Senator Conway.

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: If one looks at the Minister of State's speech, one will see a reference to St. Senan's Hospital in Wexford. This hospital was closed and we lost all of the beds. I was in the same position as Senator Mullins is in today in respect of this type of thing. That happened a number of years ago. St. Senan's Hospital is now closed and we now have a service in County Wexford that is far superior...

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: If it is inappropriate, I will withdraw it.

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: It is a terrible thing to call someone a gombeen man. A far superior service is available. In respect of whether what is available in Wexford can replicated in the areas in question, I will not get into a debate about whether it should be Roscommon or Ballinasloe. That is unfortunate party politics that we normally do not do in this Chamber. I feel a bit aggrieved and annoyed. I do not...

Seanad: Political Reform: Motion (12 Feb 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: On a point of order, I have waited to speak for two hours. Every speaker went over time. It is disrespectful to those who are further down the list of speakers. Some speakers were worse than others. It is something that should be dealt with.

Seanad: Recent Flooding: Statements (12 Feb 2014)

Michael D'Arcy: I will start where Senator Darragh O'Brien finished, with the insurance companies. They are effectively getting away with it again. Big business and its shareholders come first and, unfortunately, on too many occasions people come second. Aviva Insurance, AXA Insurance and Zurich Insurance are multinational corporations with massive deposits of cash. As they are getting away with it, a...