Results 5,361-5,380 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (14 Nov 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: It was a speech that primarily focused on the general economy. I am glad that he welcomed the Bill. We could rename it as the checks and balances Bill. It is a pity that these types of checks and balances were not in place back in September 2008 when, as Senator Barrett spoke about, people walked up the back steps into the Department of Finance and laboured a bill of ¤64 billion upon the...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (13 Nov 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (13 Nov 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I have sometimes been very critical of Senator Byrne but I thought his contribution was sharp and on the ball. I do not give positive praise to the Senator very often but on this occasion, it was deserved. I want to start where Senator Byrne finished in regard to household debt. The increase in the ratio of debt to disposable income from 2002 to 2012 has been astonishing. It has gone as...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: It is welcome that somebody who is not involved in the matter will take a cold and objective view of the suitability of the hospital to provide services that may be substandard.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I support the call for the Minister of Health to come to the House in response to the Higgins report. However, I have an open mind on this because I believe there must be a reconfiguration of hospitals in the State for the 21st century. We have now built a motorway system that can move people and traffic around the country very quickly. The people who perhaps are worst placed to take a...

Seanad: Junior Certificate Reform and the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy: Statements (23 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: There has been much talk about radical reform but I am concerned that many children will have been in the system for ten to 12 years and that some of them will have been well and truly abandoned by the time they get to the junior certificate. Senator Barrett spoke about primary education being the core while others spoke about teaching children to read and, once they are able to read,...

Seanad: Mortgage Credit (Loans and Bonds) Bill 2012: Second Stage (17 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: Senator Sean D. Barrett has done something with which I am not overly pleased as a public representative, that is, he has made us think about issues, which makes us dangerous animals. I missed his contribution, but I was most interested in the e-mail I had received from him on the matter. However, I am conflicted about his proposal because, while it is a great idea that has worked in a...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to raise the issue that I raised last week when the Leader was not here, the standard of responses given by Ministers. I take the opportunity to bring this House into line with the Dáil. When a Senator tables a question to a Minister and he or she is dissatisfied with the answer, we should be able to appeal to the Cathaoirleach and have the question immediately asked again. Such a...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: It is clear that Senator Daly does not understand the purpose of the personal insolvency Bill. I would point out to him that-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: -----it is the only legislation which takes account of mortgage arrears worldwide.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to comment on the Adjournment debates of this House. When a Member of the Dáil, I criticised the then Adjournment Debate structure in that House, with Ministers reading scripts handed to them as they walked into the Chamber and having no knowledge or information on the matter raised. The same is happening in this House. This is disrespectful to any Member who tables an Adjournment...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: There is now a mechanism available to Members of the Dáil which enables them to make a complaint to the Ceann Comhairle if they are dissatisfied with a response received in regard to a Topical Issue Matter or parliamentary question. The introduction of such a mechanism in this House would be helpful. I have tabled matters on the Adjournment here, the responses to which have often been...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: There has been much discussion on the agricultural sector and yesterday's very good news story about the Kerry Group. Unfortunately, we have had too many bad news stories in the agricultural sector, mainly because of accidents on farms. We all saw the horrific tragedy which befell the Spence family in Northern Ireland a number of weeks ago. I saw a report on the news of another man who...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I understand why the Office of the Attorney General is included in the list of exemptions but the Office of the Chief State Solicitor comes under the Attorney General. I have experience of dealing with the latter office on behalf of an individual who was looking for a matter to be concluded. The office was supposed to issue an opinion to a Minister but I could not even say that I found my...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I will start with that point. It is good that we are looking at it from a different angle rather than the standard position as we have known it. I appreciate Senator Barrett's passion for what he wants done but I do not know that this is the correct vehicle. My concept for the office of the Ombudsman was that it was for the individual citizen to use against the arm of the State. The arm...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I propose we discuss them all together.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: We will end up going back and forward without-----

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: The Minister has said he will take each amendment individually at the end of the discussion. If further debate is required, I am sure the Chair will allow for it.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: Are the amendments being discussed together? Would it not be preferable to discuss them as a group and dispose of them individually thereafter? I propose that we have a general discussion on the group, as proposed.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I support Senator Ó Clochartaigh's call for a debate, but I propose a debate on a motion of confidence in the Minister. We should have that debate next week. There is significant talk on the issue and such a motion is the right thing to do. I have a lot of confidence in the Minister and believe that if he is given the opportunity, he will turn the health sector around. However, there...