Results 5,881-5,900 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Mar 2015)

Michael McNamara: The phrase "war on drugs" was coined by Richard Nixon 44 years ago in 1971. He said that drug abuse was public enemy number one. He told Congress that drug addiction had "assumed the dimensions of a national emergency," and asked Capitol Hill for an €84 million for emergency measures. The so-called war on drugs now costs the US Government more than €50 billion a year. ...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2015: First Stage (5 Mar 2015)

Michael McNamara: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to define human life protected during pregnancy and to permit termination of pregnancy in situations where a foetus has a fatal abnormality such that it has no prospect of life after birth.

Protection of Life During Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2015: First Stage (5 Mar 2015)

Michael McNamara: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to seek leave to introduce this Bill. It is important to point out that it is difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile the views expressed by members of the Government on Second Stage of the Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2013, which was introduced by Deputy Clare Daly, with the arguments...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2015: First Stage (5 Mar 2015)

Michael McNamara: These claims grow legs, the Bills become unconstitutional and suddenly they are killed off for reasons of political expediency in the name of unconstitutionality. That is a danger that we need-----

Protection of Life During Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2015: First Stage (5 Mar 2015)

Michael McNamara: I am concerned about this matter. The second issue is the failure to publish the Attorney General's advice upon which members of the Government relied to buttress their views. This was done because of Article 28.4.3o, an amendment that was introduced by the people at the behest of a Fianna Fáil Government to ensure that discussions at Cabinet were confidential. There is a...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2015: First Stage (5 Mar 2015)

Michael McNamara: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time." In deference to the work of the health committee, which will consider the issue of fatal foetal abnormalities in the near future, the Bill should only be taken after it has carried out its hearings, which I am assured will be done in advance of this summer.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (5 Mar 2015)

Michael McNamara: 131. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments under the 2014 single payment scheme due in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9808/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (3 Mar 2015)

Michael McNamara: 599. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to the Lough Derg stimulus fund in 2014, 2015 and 2016; the funds allocated to local authorities in counties Clare, Galway and Tipperary in 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8890/15]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation Office (26 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: 83. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the average length of time taken by the Valuation Office to issue a valuation certificate; if that time period has increased during the 31st Dáil; if this represents a satisfactory level of public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8508/15]

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: I might take more time to speak tomorrow but I will move the adjournment of the debate in two minutes. I commend the Minister on bringing the legislation before the House, not before time I suppose. Critics of the legislation are very worried about the effect it will have on the family or what they envisage a family to be. It is quite clear at this stage that what they envisage a family to...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (24 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: The Minister mentioned GLAS plus for people in hen harrier areas. Will people in designated areas be subject to the same maximum number of hectares on which they can claim as those who are not in designated areas? The Minister also said he had investigated putting it over €7,000 but had not received permission to do so. Could he clarify from whom, or from which institution? I...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (24 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: Only if it is passed on to the farmers.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Safety (24 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: 616. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider relaxing the regime with regard to L-plate drivers, to allow them to travel unaccompanied, within a 20 km radius of their residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7678/15]

Order of Business (19 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: I welcome the Minister's commitment on the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012. It is considerably more than I managed to obtain earlier this month from the Department of Justice and Equality. To help persons with intellectual disabilities is a key plank of the Government's policy and the Assisted Decision-making (Capacity) Bill 2013 passed Second Stage and then disappeared into...

Topical Issue Debate: Coastal Protection (17 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: I thank the Minister of State for his congratulations, but he will excuse me if I press him for further details because my fiance's family is from west Clare and she may seek specifics on the issue.

Topical Issue Debate: Coastal Protection (17 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: Unfortunately, this whole idea of coastal erosion is not new. While the damage caused to many parts of Ireland - Clare was not unique but, I suppose, it suffered the worst of it - was unprecedented but not entirely unpredictable. A report, Coastal Management - A Case for Action, was published by EOLAS on behalf of the county and city managers in the 1990s. A whole raft of areas requiring...

Topical Issue Debate: Coastal Protection (17 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: I thank the Acting Chairman. I do not know where to begin after that.

Topical Issue Debate: Coastal Protection (17 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: It has been a little over a year now since west Clare and many parts of the west were very damaged by unprecedented storms. It seems like a lot longer but time flies when one is having fun and the reverse is also true. For the people who live there, the intervening period has not been entirely satisfactory. They have seen considerable delays in repairing a lot of the damage that was done...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) Aer Lingus and Stobart Air (17 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: What additional facility in Shannon is Mr. Kavanagh talking about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) Aer Lingus and Stobart Air (17 Feb 2015)

Michael McNamara: I thank the delegations for their presentations. In a way, the presentations were much clearer than that made by Mr. Willie Walsh last week. It is clear that both Aer Lingus and IAG intend to develop a hub in Ireland. It is equally clear the hub will be based in Dublin Airport. We have two State-owned airport groups, Shannon Airport and the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA. Is it possible...