Results 5,461-5,480 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: On a point of order, we have one item of business to conduct today. It would not be unreasonable to allow a few minutes so that the remaining six Members can contribute.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I request that the Leader extend the Order of Business by a few minutes in order that the remaining Senators can contribute.

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Feb 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: The IMF dates back to the end of the Second World War when it was established along with the World Bank. Certain procedures and requirements were stipulated for each institution; everything was more or less carved up in that the senior person in the IMF was to be a European, while his or her counterpart in the World Bank was to be an American. This stood the test of time until Mr. Strauss...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: I wish to raise again the issue of bank repossession of property, which issue arose last night on "Ear to the Ground". I saw most but not all of that programme and I was disappointed that the information provided was not complete. The position is that a bank can repossess property, mainly machinery, following the completion of the legal process if one third of the payments have been made to...

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 Feb 2012)

Michael D'Arcy: Has any thought been given to the demographic considerations? There is a significant disparity between some county councils. I use the example of County Leitrim with a population of approximately 30,000 which has 22 county councillors and County Wexford with a population of 145,000 with 21 members. In the case of Dáil representation, there can be a discrepancy of 20,000 to 30,000...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (8 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I move: That Seanad Éireann calls on the European Commission to clear the application by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for on shore wind REFIT 2 with immediate effect.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: Expenses are very sweet.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I will not take up my ten-minute allocation in case I cut other speakers short. Senator Darragh O'Brien raised several matters about costs and I wish to provide him with some more information on them. The Taoiseach's office now costs 47% less than his predecessor's with a much small cadre of people advising the current Taoiseach than was the case with other taoisigh. While I agree there...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I will touch on one small issue, namely, the tone that is sometimes set in debate. Last night the tone in the debate on the budget was set correctly, in my view. I would use only one word in regard to the change to disability payments - result. We are in a results game. Every Member who participated last night got the tone correct and underlined there was only one message, namely, we...

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: It is easy to increase benefits and decrease taxes. It is not so easy to reverse them. We know that for certain. When one looks at the headline figures, a current expenditure reduction of €1.45 billion, a €750 million reduction in the capital programme, €1.6 billion in tax increases - €600 million agreed on last year and an additional €1 billion this year - one must look at the...

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: The reduction in cost will be in the region of €45 million out of a budget of €2.2 billion.

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: It is €2.2 billion that comes out of the general pot. That is a considerable amount of money that must be brought in in taxation to give it back out. I welcome the fact that there was no impact on primary social welfare rates. I agree with Senator O'Brien that it is a mistake to go after the disability payments, in particular, for those between the ages of 18 and 24. I am quite prepared...

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: That the threshold for the universal social charge has been increased from €4,000 to €10,000 is welcome. I wish I had another eight minutes.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Amendment) Scheme 2011: Motion (1 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: In this debate I hope we will stop trying to rewrite history.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Amendment) Scheme 2011: Motion (1 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: We will try not to rewrite history. Fine Gael supported the previous Government because it believed it was the right choice to make. In my opinion and that of many others, the previous Government introduced this scheme because the then Minister, the Department and the then Government had been given incorrect information. I am being fair and honest. Sinn Féin also supported Fine Gael that...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Amendment) Scheme 2011: Motion (1 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I am being accurate.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Amendment) Scheme 2011: Motion (1 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: I am trying to be fair. The circumstances changed and people did not believe some of the information revealed.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Amendment) Scheme 2011: Motion (1 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: Positions changed. Let us stick with the facts and try not to rewrite history. There is no choice but to support this measure. I would like the €100 billion liability removed from the State, but there comes a time when there is no choice. This is such a time. Some €80 billion of the amount guaranteed is made up by accounts of less than €100,000 held in the retail banks by Joe...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Amendment) Scheme 2011: Motion (1 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: It is all part of the guarantee.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Amendment) Scheme 2011: Motion (1 Dec 2011)

Michael D'Arcy: According to the note, this is the aggregated figure. Anyone who does not support the scheme is not acting in the public interest. We must address these facts. Other deposits are guaranteed-----