Results 5,261-5,280 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I would also like to raise a matter relating to property taxes. On 1 July, the Revenue Commissioners will take over the collection of the non-principal private residence tax and arrears relating to it. The previous Government introduced this tax a number of years ago. Initially it was €100 and it was then doubled to €200 annually. If people have not taken the opportunity to...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (23 May 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I agree with Senator Cullinane - that does not happen often - on taxation. The form of taxation is irrelevant. If tax is owed, it should be paid. This includes the household charge, which I put directly to the Senator. The role of the Revenue Commissioners is to collect taxes. They have incredibly strong powers. If there is fault, it lies with the Legislature for allowing taxation...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: There is an undercurrent in this conversation, not so much in this House but in the media, that the Garda is somewhat corrupt. We should be very clear. The Garda is one of the very few police forces worldwide that is unarmed and it should have our support and not be bad-mouthed. I raise the issue of US Senator Carl Levin's intervention with his Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to raise the matter of the designation of DEIS status for primary schools. Such schools were designated in the early part of the previous decade in the period 2003 to 2004 with implementation in 2005. The phrase, "That was then and this is now" is used with reference to other sectors. However, for many who are the new disadvantaged, the designation is wrong. There are far too many...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Motion (8 May 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: It is important for the Garda to deal with this in a more streetwise way, which means that if abuse occurs in the home a file should be prepared just as would happen if the incident happened on the street. Just to wrap up-----

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Motion (8 May 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: Some time ago I did some research into fathers' rights. While I was trying to put in place a structure to strengthen the rights of fathers I kept finding myself stuck in the same position. Unfortunately, if there was a history of abuse, strengthening and codifying the father's rights effectively meant ensuring there was an abuser in the life of a victim. It got to the stage that I was not...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to refer to the issue of enslavement. It was very difficult not to be moved by the television images which emanated from Cleveland yesterday. It must be remembered that some members of the Traveller community were sentenced to many years in jail yesterday in respect of the enslavement of men. I raise this issue in the context of the enslavement of women, however. Certain sources...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I support the call for a debate on housing. My interest was tweaked when, at the weekend, I read on a full page spread in one of the Sunday publications the news that the former Clancy Barracks development of 420 units was being sold by an international auctioneering firm, which I assume is operating under the instruction of receivers, themselves operating under the instruction of NAMA....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. Yesterday I spoke to the former Minister for Justice and Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: He is a neighbour. He said that when he brought this matter up with Dr. Ian Paisley at the Farmleigh meeting Dr. Paisley said, with tears in his eyes, that he supported this bridge.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: It is very important and that is the reason I ask this of the Leader. It is also very important that the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, confirms to this House and to the nation that the timeframe for this bridge is on schedule and that it will come about.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: Following on from Senator Mooney, what amazed me about the figures for RTE is how some among the top ten earners in RTE work every day for the same money as others who have only one show a week, amounting to less than 30 shows. I am perplexed at how those numbers are arrived at, and I would welcome a debate with the Minister who could provide a more in-depth analysis. I wish to raise the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I take the opportunity to thank the Minister. He spends a large amount of time in this Chamber, rather than sending a Minister of State, unlike other Ministers.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I am not sure if the term is "sandwich" in that respect but while it is legal, it is only barely legal. We should clearly point out to the taxation firms which advise the corporations that if they want to play this game we will have to look at things differently. That message should be sent out strongly from here because we cannot keep asking the citizens of the country, Joe citizen and...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I am on the record of the House as saying that the ¤4 billion collected in corporation tax is ¤4 billion out of ¤44 billion of the total tax take for 2013. The firms which I assume the Department of Finance are hiring are the same firms that the corporations are hiring to tell them how not to pay the tax. The Department is hiring them to tell it how to get them to pay the tax. It is...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: I disagree with the Senator. It is good that higher rates of tax will apply to higher volumes of alcohol. The same applies to smoking. There is the argument that we should ensure, if does more damage, that it will cost more. It is a prohibitive way of trying to prevent people from doing damage to themselves, even though they choose to do it. I do not agree with the Senator, but it is a...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: From this Chamber to the wealthiest and the poorest, people drink and smoke. It is welcome that one will pay a higher rate of tax on alcohol products.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: We pay for Senators as well.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: Without the benefit of this, someone who had the property or business to transfer would have to pay large duties and debts. Instead of investing in the future and expanding the business, he would have to pay money to the State. That would lead to a downward spiral rather than the tax break for the younger farmer. That is the primary reason this has been in place for a long time and why the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Michael D'Arcy: Senator MacSharry has just chosen to ignore everything the Minister said. It is unfair. We come in here and have fairly good debates. The Senator has chosen to ignore the specific line that this is available to any airport. He has managed to assume the position that the west is getting done over. It is not, because it is available to the west if it chooses to take it up.