Results 541-560 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Cost of Insurance Working Group: Minister of State at the Department of Finance (13 Jun 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: That is the environment in which I am working.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Cost of Insurance Working Group: Minister of State at the Department of Finance (13 Jun 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I reiterate my thanks to the Chairman, the members of the committee and the Members of both Houses, who have been very helpful to me and the section of the Department that is responsible for insurance. I would love to move much faster than we are but these are the confines in which I work. It does not mean we will lessen our intensity or drive to improve the sector.

Seanad: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I am pleased to appear before the House to take Second Stage of the Bill. The Bill is an important plank of the medium and long-term policies of the Government, putting our national finances on a sound and sustainable footing and building our resilience to external shocks. The national surplus reserve fund for exceptional contingencies, or rainy day fund, will be an economic buffer...

Seanad: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank Senators Horkan, Boyhan, Kieran O'Donnell, Conway-Walsh and Lawlor for raising these issues. I will deal with the questions raised. Senator O'Donnell asked about the liquidity of the fund. I am proposing a highly liquid fund which will be held as a near cash fund so that it can be accessed very quickly if required. Senator Lawlor asked the same question. This would distinguish it...

Seanad: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: Perhaps I mistook what she said. I understood she said we are not spending enough on health or on housing but we are. We will spend €18 billion on health in 2019. We have never spent more on health. In terms of housing, we are spending €2.4 billion. Again, we have never spent more on housing. The issue is whether we keep spending more money on those sectors but perhaps not...

Seanad: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: Senator Conway-Walsh has pulled me up previously stating that I mistook what she said to me and I do not want to do that now. What I am trying to do is to give an explanation. This fund could potentially be a Brexit stability fund and perhaps the Senator will vote in favour of the Bill. This fund could potentially be used for a banking crisis. It is open enough and we are not prescribing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Insurance Costs (29 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I will not be commenting on the case that Deputy Mattie McGrath mentioned. I have never spoken about an individual case. I have been doing this job for two years and I do not intend to speak about an individual case before it gets to court, when it is in court or afterwards. I love how Deputy Mattie McGrath is almost always entirely wrong. He said there is an unwillingness to deal with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Insurance Costs (29 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: To clarify, I did not say that the Deputy is always wrong but, rather, that he is almost always wrong. I welcome the fact that he has committed to supporting the Bill. He is a member of the Business Committee, along with the Chief Whip, and I welcome the fact that he has committed to getting the Judicial Council Bill through as quickly as possible. The insurance companies are no white...

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: When we were trying to rebuild the economy and put people back on their feet and back into employment, where they are now, so that they would have the dignity of work-----

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: -----there were parties and individuals who were trying to trip us up every step of the way and vote against everything, including Deputy Mattie McGrath. I refer to the blinding negativity that they express on all occasions, every time they get to their feet. It is the same ignorant speech that shows they do not understand what is happening.

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I never said that we know it all.

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I never said that we get it all right-----

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: -----but we do not always get it all wrong. Every economy is attached to employment figures and when one gets employment right, the economy flows and it has flowed to a point where we have grown and grown. I cannot recall the number of quarters of consecutive growth we have had. That is what we have done for the people of Ireland who are back to work and who have the dignity of work. The...

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I did not read my script.

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I apologise.

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I consider Deputy Harty a very fair-minded person. Not everybody in Opposition is as fair-minded as Deputy Harty.

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: No. I said that Deputy Harty is more fair-minded than most.

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: The Deputies can take offence if they wish but it is a compliment to Deputy Harty rather than an insult to the rest of them. I have put the Government's performance on the record previously and wish people would accept it. In 2009, action 1 was the introduction of the statutory CCMA. As action 2, in 2012, the mortgage-to-rent scheme was introduced. As action 3, in 2012, the Personal...

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: This Bill is an important tool in terms of the counter-cyclical methodology that is required to deal with where we are today. Fiscally, we have strong, robust taxes coming in, which is important. Deputy Michael McGrath mentioned the corporate tax rate. I always mention that the income tax take has doubled in the past seven years. It is crucial that we take the opportunity when taxes...

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Order for Report Stage (28 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."