Results 6,541-6,560 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illegal Tobacco Trade (28 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: 141. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that the illegal importation of tobacco is treated as a relatively minor offence; if a serious crackdown on criminals involved will be undertaken in view of the legislative penalties currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25529/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance Issues (28 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: 343. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly in the implementation of USC/PRSI whereby when an employee moves, for example, from €352 gross weekly pay to €365.64, less than a 4% increase, the net result is that the employee receives €1.54 less and the additional cost to the employer is €37.9; if he will remedy same;...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (28 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: 719. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a licence will be granted for an hourly bus service proposed from Dublin Airport to Ennis in advance of the upcoming peak summer season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25518/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Card Reviews (22 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive reply, which comes as a relief to me and, more importantly, to my constituents. As I said, I am a Teachta Dála, and I am bringing the message to the Dáil that this issue has arisen in my constituency. It may well be a localised failure due to a systems failure. I am satisfied with the Minister of State's reply and, if the...

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Card Reviews (22 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, for taking this Topical Issue. It is always good when someone with direct responsibility for an issue comes into the House to face the music. When the centralisation of medical card applications was announced, the HSE and the Government promised that it would result in a more streamlined, efficient and, ultimately, compassionate system,...

Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: Yesterday, Neil Pakey was appointed as the new CEO of Shannon Airport. Given his very successful track record at John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, it is undoubtedly very good news for Shannon. When will new legislation establishing the new company at Shannon be published and brought forward in the House?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Groceries Sector: Discussion (Resumed) with National Milk Agency (21 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: With regard to the margin producers receive, statistics show that the percentage of the end product price producers receive has dropped considerably. What profit margins have milk producers been operating under for the past month? I do not expect Mr. Murphy to look into a crystal ball but even if normal weather conditions return for the remainder of the year, what profit margins can farmers...

Good Friday Agreement: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (15 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: It is right that Dáil Éireann should mark the 15th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. There are certain momentous events one lives through in one's life. I will never forget where I was on 31 August 1994 when the news of the IRA ceasefire came through - on a campsite in Munich with a good friend from Castlederg. Now, as then, I commend the IRA on having the courage to...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Safety Standards Regulation (15 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: I thank the Minister for his very positive and constructive reply. Undoubtedly, good food, good hygiene and honest labelling are essential to consumer confidence and must be maintained. However, the complexity of the legislation and reporting which is required from very small businesses must be examined. I know of a person quite close to my home who was making home-made brown bread but the...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Safety Standards Regulation (15 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: This is a matter of labelling and clearly stating that something is home-produced, like eggs, for example. I remember, as a child, when too many eggs were produced on the farm in the summer, they were brought to the local co-op to be sold. Obviously, we were not subjected to the same degree of regulation or maybe we were but acted unlawfully in selling off those extra eggs. If we did, I do...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Safety Standards Regulation (15 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: Small food businesses have assumed a new importance at a time when the creation and maintenance of one or two jobs might be the difference between a family staying in this country or emigrating. That was recognised by the Government in that one of its first initiatives was to reduce VAT paid by people in small food businesses to enable them to become more competitive. It was a relatively...

Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: This morning there has been much discussion about the possible sale of State assets and reviews of State assets. Will the Taoiseach ask someone in the Department to go through all of the land banks in State ownership to see which can be handed over to the IFA to be harvested this week to help alleviate the crisis? I am sure the Opposition, after having spent so much money on it, would be...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (15 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: 163. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23087/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sale of Coillte's Harvesting Rights: Discussion (Resumed) with IMPACT (14 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: Thank you very much.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sale of Coillte's Harvesting Rights: Discussion (Resumed) with IMPACT (14 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: I thank IMPACT for its presentation. I also commend Coillte on the report it commissioned at the end of last year. At the end of the presentation, IMPACT said it was an opportunity for parliamentarians to state that our forests should not be sold but should be developed and enhanced. I have no problem saying that our forests should not be sold but should be developed and enhanced....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Supply (14 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: 660. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reconsider his decision on the drug pirfenidone a new drug for the treatment of lung fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22657/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Planning Issues (14 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: 748. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he believes that the refusal of the National Roads Authority to engage in preplanning consultations with prospective applicants for planning permission on lands abutting national roads represents an efficient use of the resources of the NRA and local and national planning authorities in circumstances where the NRA frequently appeals...

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: Like previous speakers, I commend the Minister for his reaction to the fodder crisis and, in particular, the introduction of the fodder transport subsidy scheme, an innovative, important and necessary measure. I also thank him for extending the scheme to 10 May and his clarification that fodder purchased in advance of that date will be covered by the scheme. That, too, is an important...

Europe Week: Statements (8 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: Austerity, not solidarity.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sale of Coillte's Harvesting Rights: Discussion with Society of Irish Foresters (7 May 2013)

Michael McNamara: He is still around and there are a couple of other stake producers. Operating a combined heat and power plant would require much more timber than a stake producer would need.