Results 641-660 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2014)

Michael Mullins: I want to join with colleagues in congratulating the new Ministers and Ministers of State on their appointments. It is important that we recognise the contributions that the Ministers who will not be serving in the second half of the Government have made to the country. Many of them have contributed over many decades. This morning Senator Tom Sheahan raised an interesting issue when he...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2014)

Michael Mullins: I support the call made yesterday that we invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the House to discuss the worsening situation in the Middle East. The appalling loss of life over the past number of days is a cause of concern to all of us. It is now incumbent on EU Foreign Ministers, in their collective wisdom, to put their heads together and attempt to broker peace talks. One...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2014)

Michael Mullins: I very much applaud the very constructive and innovative offer brokered by our colleague, Senator Michael D'Arcy, where hotels in the south east have offered an inducement of five days in the sunny south east to those local residents who are against the concerts. It just might be the initiative to help to broker peace talks. I refer to the statistical information on social welfare services...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Situation: Ambassador of Iran to Ireland (9 Jul 2014)

Michael Mullins: The major concern is about the level of executions. What are the crimes for which a person in Iran could be executed?

Seanad: Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Second Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister to the House and I compliment him on introducing this significant legislation. In his tenure to date in the Department he has shown himself to be a reforming Minister. In bringing forward this legislation he is implementing a commitment in the programme for Government to reform State agencies and to merge those suitable for merging. This will no doubt result in a...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Michael Mullins: I join colleagues in congratulating the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, on her elevation to the leadership of the Labour Party, and wish her well. She is a fine politician. We saw her operate in this House on many occasions. I would advise Senator Darragh O'Brien not to be particularly concerned about the review of the travel pass scheme which is being undertaken. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: I support my colleague, Senator Martin Conway, in his call for a public consultation on mental health. There is hardly a family in the country that has not been impacted in some way by this issue and which has had need of one or other service. It is time we reviewed A Vision for Change to see whether it needs to be tweaked and made fit for purpose in today's setting. We have all had...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: Can the Tánaiste comment on the difficulties of getting aid to Syria?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Tánaiste and his officials and I will not go back over what has been covered. I welcome the discussions that have taken place on Bosnia and Herzegovina as a renewed effort has been made to assist the country in preparing for possible EU membership. Is the Tánaiste satisfied with progress there on tackling high unemployment and the other issues that might impact on...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: I support the call by Senator Mooney that we would put our weight behind the campaign against the imprisonment of the al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt. These are truly journalists, not involved in any way in illegal activities. They bring news to the world. This issue will be raised with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: I would like to join in the expressions of sympathy that have been extended to the family of the late Gerry Conlon. Along with his late father and the Maguire Seven, Gerry Conlon suffered enormously by being incarcerated for 15 years for a crime he did not commit. It is particularly despicable that people in the republican movement, who knew down through the years that the Guildford Four...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (24 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: What sort of numbers are we talking about with the legacy issue and those who have fallen outside the system?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: Senator Ó Clochartaigh without interruption.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: Senator Ó Clochartaigh without interruption.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: Is any other Senator contributing?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: That is a political charge.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: Could we stick to the subject matter?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: Senator Gilroy did not make a charge. He stated a fact but I would urge him to stick to what we are discussing.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: Are there any other contributions?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2014)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the announcement made yesterday by the Government that it will provide €200,000 to GOAL to provide humanitarian assistance for vulnerable families fleeing the conflict in Iraq. We all share the concern that the security situation has seriously deteriorated and the fact that 500,000 people have been displaced as a result of the intense fighting there. Everybody in this House...