Results 561-580 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I agree with much of what was said by Senator Craughwell about mortgages. We all understand the situation he outlined. Those of us who are a little advanced in years recall the torture we had to go through to secure a loan for a home years ago. We need to ensure we have a balance in the mortgage arena, but we do not want to disincentivise young people from owning their homes. I support...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I join Senators Craughwell and Wilson in calling on the Minister for Education and Skills and the teachers' unions to redouble their efforts to ensure there will not be a strike in the run up to Christmas. The last thing pupils, teachers and parents want is a strike. It is obvious that significant progress has been made by the Minister in recent weeks and I hope a satisfactory conclusion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on Foreign Affairs and Trade Issues: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister and thank him for a very comprehensive report on the many issues being dealt by him and his Department. I wish him much success in his new role as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I wish to follow up on Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's questions about the political legitimacy of President Assad and where Ireland stood on the issue. Does the Minister agree that...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I join in the expressions of sympathy to the family of the late of Brian Farrell. For everybody who had an interest in politics, Brian Farrell brought elections to life. As we all thought of him yesterday, memories flooded back of the great events in Irish politics where crucial seats were lost, Governments changed and taoisigh conceded defeat. Those memories came flooding back as we...

Seanad: Penal Reform: Motion (5 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: When it is proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Penal Reform: Motion (5 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I had not planned on speaking either but having sat in and chaired the early part of this debate, I felt it incumbent on me to say a few words and particularly to compliment the Labour Party in bringing forward this motion today and to pay tribute to Senator Bacik and all the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality for this fine report. What we all want to...

Seanad: Penal Reform: Motion (5 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I now call Senator Susan O'Keeffe, who has six minutes.

Seanad: Penal Reform: Motion (5 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I now call on Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh to move his amendment and he has six minutes.

Seanad: Penal Reform: Motion (5 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I call Senator Martin Conway and he has six minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: Senator Leyden seemed to think there was.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I support what Senator Heffernan said. The register is not fit for purpose. There has been much controversy in recent times about PPS numbers.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: Linking the register of electors and people registering to vote with PPS numbers could possibly be a way to streamline it because there is no doubt with people moving house, flat or apartment quite often, many find themselves on the register in several locations. I have no difficulty enshrining ownership of Irish Water in the Constitution but we need to tease it out and maybe get some legal...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (4 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister and congratulate him on both his appointment and the steady and businesslike start he has made. I also wish to congratulate him on his budget negotiation skills in achieving an increase in Exchequer funding of €300 million and a once-off saving of €460 million. This means the Minister will have an additional €760 million available to him this...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I support the call by my colleague, Senator Naughten, for a special debate on cyber-bullying. Many people are beginning to feel the effects of it and we are hearing many prominent people highlighting the impact cyber-bullying is having on them and on the population generally. It is unthinkable that two families have lost loved ones in recent times and that the company, Ask.fm, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Nigeria: Ambassador of Nigeria to Ireland (4 Nov 2014)

Michael Mullins: I also welcome the ambassador and her colleague. I wish the ambassador well in her challenging assignment in Dublin. I have no doubt her presence here will strengthen the relationship between Ireland and Nigeria, especially in the context of our economic links. I hope we can assist her country in many ways into the future. I welcome the update the ambassador provided on her country's...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Deaths of Irish Citizens Abroad (23 Oct 2014)

Michael Mullins: I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate his comments.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Deaths of Irish Citizens Abroad (23 Oct 2014)

Michael Mullins: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome the fact that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance to the family and facilitate its dealings with the German authorities. I appreciate that the Department cannot interfere in the judicial process of another state. However, given the volume of information and the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Deaths of Irish Citizens Abroad (23 Oct 2014)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, and thank him for coming before the House to deal with this matter, which calls on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to bring pressure on the German authorities to have an inquiry reopened into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Matthew Fitzpatrick from Portumna, County Galway, in Mannheim, Germany, on 11 December 2010....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2014)

Michael Mullins: I agree with Senator Cullinane that anybody with information on child abuse or sexual abuse of any nature should pass it on immediately to the relevant authorities, the Garda in the South or the PSNI in the North. I hope that his party leader and his fellow party members who have information about anyone guilty of this type of crime who may have been run into the South - or run from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Colombia: ICTU (22 Oct 2014)

Michael Mullins: I join colleagues in welcoming the delegation which has painted a pretty grim picture. It is always good, however, to hear from those who have been on the ground and seen what is happening in Colombia. I also acknowledge the contribution of Deputy Eric Byrne who accompanied the delegation. Obviously, there are major problems. In this respect Deputy Seán Crowe referred to the level...