Results 5,281-5,294 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (27 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I wish to share my time with Senator Tuffy.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (27 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I am grateful that the Minister is present for this debate and that he has attended two previous debates in this Chamber. I can understand the demands on his time. I welcome the Bill. The Labour Party has no reservations about it at this juncture. Tourism has been a major part of our economy in recent years and during the economic boom it seemed to take on a life of its own. No matter what...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: That decision was cruel.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I have spent the most recent part of my 26 years listening to quotes from Oscar Wilde. If you, a Chathaoirligh, ever read a book of quotes from Oscar Wilde, you will not be as entertained by those quotes as you would be by the quotes of the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy and the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, throughout the general election campaign which saw them returned to govern...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I beg your pardon – the Minister, Deputy Martin. I thought he was just the bright eyed boy. He is a Minister and also the bright eyed boy. A part of the Fianna Fáil election manifesto of 1997 stated explicitly that "we will improve the first-time home buyer grant to £5,000 where the house is being bought in the joint names of a couple". The rhetoric and hypocrisy that successive Ministers...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: It may be nothing to a patron in the Fianna Fáil hospitality tent at the Galway races, but when one is pushed to the limit to obtain a mortgage to buy or build a house to start one's life, it is a considerable amount of money. The display of arrogance and ill manners by some Members of the House while other Members attempted to make fine and eloquent contributions on the debate is almost as...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I also call for a debate on planning, including the role of An Bord Pleanála. There is also a need to debate the role of An Taisce in this area. It creates huge difficulties for people in rural areas, especially the young who need to build one-off houses.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements. (13 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I appreciate the attendance of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister of State who took time out of their busy schedules to be with us for statements on a very important matter. The tourism industry is important to the economy, especially in those parts of the island which, in many ways, depend on it, not least of which is my constituency of Cork South-West. There is a high...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: While I concur with previous speakers in commending Mr. Justice Flood for a very wide ranging and forensic analysis of the behaviour of a number of people who, unfortunately, could describe themselves in their curricula vitae as public representatives. When one refines the role of the public representative, one discovers the majority of them are councillors. The figure central to the interim...

Seanad: Agriculture and Food: Statements. (6 Nov 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I express my gratitude to the Minister for Agriculture and Food, my constituency colleague and a former Member of this House, for taking time out of his busy schedule to be with us this afternoon. Unfortunately, I do not agree with much of what he said on this matter, or on many matters relating to the threat to this important part of the fabric of rural life. On the beef dispute, we have...

Seanad: European Union (Scrutiny) Bill, 2001 changed from European Union Bill, 2001: Second Stage. (16 Oct 2002)

Michael McCarthy: I wish to share time with Senator Tuffy.

Seanad: European Union (Scrutiny) Bill, 2001 changed from European Union Bill, 2001: Second Stage. (16 Oct 2002)

Michael McCarthy: We have now reached the end of the period given to us to carry the message of the Nice treaty to every household, pub, restaurant and shop in our constituencies. When the House met for the first time three weeks ago, we debated the treaty at length. As we endorse and embrace the European Union (Scrutiny) Bill, we should revisit some of the salient points. We must reiterate the benefits which...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim (Atógáil). Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Sep 2002)

Michael McCarthy: Before I begin my cúpla focal about the Nice treaty I extend my very warm and hearty congratulations to you on being elected Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach. (12 Sep 2002)

Michael McCarthy: On behalf of the Labour Members it gives me pleasure to propose my fellow Corkonian, Senator Ryan. Senator Ryan has a long and distinguished career in the House and I have faith in his ability. By his knowledge of Standing Orders and his contributions in the House he has shown that his presence in the Chair would greatly assist the proceedings of the Seanad.