Results 6,261-6,280 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: One of the greatest threats to world peace comes from drones. There are over 10,000 of them in service, of which 1,000 are armed, and most of these are American. Drones have killed more non-combatant civilians than were killed in the attacks of 11 September 2001. Their success seems to be measured based on body count. Neither the legality nor the ethics of drone attacks stand up to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: The credibility of the US President in challenging lawless social violence in US cities is undermined when he has his own personal kill list, in violation of international law, to wipe out enemies elsewhere. Following the Newtown massacre, Mr. Obama asked, in his plea for gun control, if Americans were prepared to say that such violence visited on their children year after year was somehow...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: Does the Minister agree with the Red Cross statement on drones? I asked about armed drones rather than drones in general, as many of them are used for surveillance, as I read in The Guardian recently. Many international bodies claim the use of armed drones is illegal. Bombing a family in the middle of the night in Pakistan because it is believed a so-called terrorist is in the same...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: 3. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Ireland should be more vocal in its condemnation of the use of drones by the United States, which threatens world peace, and is in breach of international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31018/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (26 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: 39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider ordering inspections of United States military aircraft passing through Shannon Airport in order to ensure that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: 58. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the continuing deterioration of the political situation in Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30756/13]

European Union (Accession of the Republic of Croatia) (Access to the Labour Market) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (25 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: I did not name the Deputy.

European Union (Accession of the Republic of Croatia) (Access to the Labour Market) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (25 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: I also welcome the decision to allow Croatians to work here once Croatia has joined the European Union, which is a positive measure. Too often, we have been more eager to facilitate the movement of goods than the movement of people and in the past, I recall we often were giving refugee status to people here but would not allow them to work, which was nonsensical. I employed many hundreds of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Issues (25 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: 79. To ask the Minister for Health if it is possible for medical card holders to change their general practitioners in certain circumstances where difficulties arise in the professional relationship between a patient and GP (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to any difficulties faced by patients when trying to switch their GPs for this reason; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Diabetes Strategy (25 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: 133. To ask the Minister for Health the reasons for the current pace of development of diabetes health services in County Wexford; the reasons the Health Service Executive has not yet filled sanctioned posts in critical areas of diabetes care in the county (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30384/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: 290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants from the reserve of 475 made available, that have been appointed to positions in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30623/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (20 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: The parents who rang me today found it difficult to listen to the Tánaiste as he played with words this morning because it just did not come across well. We know that SNA support has been very costly and still is. However, it is something that Ireland can be proud of because it sent out a signal that we were a caring society and prioritised those who most needed our help. Are we as...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (20 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: I have been contacted by parents of children attending Scoil Mhuire in Wexford who are shocked and saddened by the decision to cut the school's allocation of special needs assistants by 2.5 full-time positions, which follows a cut of six SNAs a couple of years ago. This is the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the ASD unit in Scoil Mhuire. At that time, the Department agreed to...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: This Bill is important symbolically but, in truth, very few women in Ireland will benefit from the legislation. Very few women will avail of abortion in Ireland because of this Bill. Women who require medical treatment will continue to be exported out of this country under a veil of silence - hidden, stigmatised, and away from the support network of family and friends. The same mentality...

Hundredth Anniversary of 1913 Lock-out: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: I was a member of the Building and Allied Trades' Union, BATU, for many years until there were no more bricks to lay. In 1913, Dublin was a tough place for many people. Taking on the power of the State and big business was never easy, and that fact remains true today. It is interesting to see the role played by the Irish Independent and the Evening Herald back then, both of which were...

Hundredth Anniversary of 1913 Lock-out: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: I paid 100% of them.

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: It would be difficult to argue for the retention of the Seanad as we know it. It is not representative of the people or the workplace. If it was a low-cost second chamber that represented the different sections of society, it could be of some value. If we were to tolerate any reform, the Seanad should consist of people with no links to groupings or parties. Perhaps it could be a check on...

Topical Issue Debate: United Nations Report on Refugees (19 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: The number of people who are suffering and dying on a worldwide basis because of war is beyond comprehension. Ireland needs to be more vociferous in our condemnation of all sides, be that Russia, Iran and Hezbollah supporting Assad in Syria or the Americans, British and French arming the rebels and backing Saudi Arabia's intervention. We recently watched France enter Mali and Libya has been...

Topical Issue Debate: United Nations Report on Refugees (19 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: The UN High Commission for Refugees report was published today. It shows that in 2012, an estimated 7.6 million people were newly displaced because of conflict or persecution, the highest number in 24 years. More than 45 million people have been forcibly displaced throughout the world. These are frightening figures. In the Middle East alone in 2012, Afghanistan saw a displacement of 2.5...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Natura 2000 Issues (19 Jun 2013)

Mick Wallace: 16. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address the delays in the carrying out of appropriate assessments of Natura 2000 sites in order to assess their suitability for Oyster farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29383/13]