Results 5,421-5,440 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: The Senator has not allowed me to finish. He should hear me out.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: Sinn Féin is the new Fianna Fáil on the basis that it puts the party ahead of the nation. That is not good for any political party. I do not say this lightly, as I respect Sinn Féin's three representatives in the Chamber. They are people of ability, but anyone with ability could see that passing the referendum was the right and intelligent choice on behalf of the people. There is a...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I welcome him to the Chamber. It is good to see that he is wearing clothes. Three of the five countries that have required funding to date did not experience deficit-led difficulties but banking difficulties. The banking institutions within Europe managed to ensure the sovereigns took on the debts and were locked out of the market. It is clear that we will contribute €1.27 billion of the...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I referred to Sinn Féin's emperor.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: Senator Mooney has had a long and distinguished career in broadcasting. If it ever finishes, he could take up a career in comedy. He certainly made Senator Wilson laugh with his comments earlier.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: For some time I have raised the matter of schools that qualified for DEIS status but were not awarded it. Last night, I raised it again on the Adjournment and requested the schools to be identified. The response from the Minister last night stated they would not be identified.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: Let me finish, a Chathaoirligh. Will the schools be identified so that we can see the scope of the problem and the extent of how much money may be required to ensure the most vulnerable pupils are catered for? I will be putting down an all-party motion on this matter and hope all parties will support it.

Seanad: Disadvantaged Status (13 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: An important issue I have raised for some time concerns several schools that met the DEIS qualifying criteria in 2005 but were not awarded DEIS status by the Department of Education and Skills. I am eager for it to be realised these schools cannot take the same cuts as normal schools. Courtown, County Wexford, is in the second fastest growing area in the country with a population of 5,000....

Seanad: Disadvantaged Status (13 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: The Minister has stated he will not identify the schools in question but that "a key priority for the Department is to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage." He has clearly decided to abandon those schools which should have DEIS status and have met the criteria for it. That is wrong. I will be moving an all-party motion on...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I support the pardon announced by the Minister for Defence yesterday. The people from this country who went to fight against Nazi Germany could only be considered as heroes and nothing else.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: That is not the matter I wish to raise, however. I wish to refer to an instance of pointed unfairness in regard to social welfare. Perhaps the Leader will pass my message on to the Minister for Social Protection. If somebody has an investment property and is now not working, the value of that property is used in means tests by the Department. However, if the loan on that property is not...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to raise again a matter I raised a couple of weeks ago, as I was not satisfied by the complete lack of response to it. I refer those schools which should have DEIS status but which do not, that is, those schools which did not meet the criteria in 2005 but that certainly would meet all the criteria now. These schools are experiencing the same cuts as any other school, which is...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: Senator Norris is getting that, with his salary and pension.

Seanad: NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: At the outset I take the opportunity to withdraw some of my perhaps excessively harsh criticism of Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell on the last occasion we had a debate. I was disappointed with her contribution and considered it to be all style over substance. I was harsh because I consider Senator O'Donnell to be somebody of substance. I reviewed the speech I gave in the other Chamber during...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after '"Seanad Éireann"' and substitute the following: "welcomes the decision of the Government to hold a competition for the next licence to operate the National Lottery for the period 2013-2033 in compliance with EU legal requirements; recognises the major achievements to date of the National Lottery and the widespread support of the Irish public...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I did. Why are we here? We are here as a result of a motion. The Minister has been clear. A tender process must be adhered to and it is a matter of law that the process is adhered to. We are also here as a result of choice. We have had this discussion in the Chamber previously. The choice is about whether we are required to move State assets that we can move today, if necessary. We...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: Slush fund ability. Senator O'Brien knows what I mean.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: It has not been available since 2008. Today, the funds or moneys go mainly to the HSE and the Department of Health. We have a choice to try to build the children's hospital. This is one funding aspect. Can we do it? When the tenders come back we will see within a matter of months how much money is to be returned under the tender and licensing arrangements. We are not shutting down the...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: We must make choices. We have come to the Chamber on many occasions and agreed and disagreed. If this is how the children's hospital gets built, it is a choice I am prepared to make. I do not care which licence we put up for tender or who disagrees with it. The use of the phrase "a great con" was ridiculous and over the top. We must advance this project as quickly as possible. The...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: That is not my criticism.