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

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: Deputy McGrath's contribution was very interesting. I would not agree with much of it but we are allowed to disagree in the Technical Group.

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: We are looking forward to that. I have many vices but thankfully smoking is not one of them. I have never smoked and thank goodness for that. I have a daughter of 18, who is doing the leaving certificate this year, and a son of 17. This morning I asked my daughter the percentage of her class who smoked. Given that 29% of the population are believed to be smokers, it is horrific to note...

Residential Institutions Redress (Amendment) Bill, 2011: Second Stage (14 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: The Government's decision to look for 50% from the church was a good idea as the notion of not paying half is outrageous. If September 2011 is imposed as an end date, some people will not achieve redress. Two newspapers in England, two in Ireland and a website publicise this. Not everyone buys newspapers - I would not blame them - and not everyone has access to a website. The confidence...

Foreign Conflicts (13 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 10: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be supporting the recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September; if he will putting his maximum efforts into supporting the end of Israeli occupation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20373/11]

Foreign Conflicts (13 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: Over the years, I have always heard the Minister speak in a very fair manner about the Middle East. I hope this does not stop. The argument for giving Palestine a more fair deal than it is receiving a present is pretty obvious. I was reading this morning that Israel holds the world record for violating UN Security Council resolutions. It has violated 30, which is incredible. The...

Foreign Conflicts (13 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: I just wish to make the point that the most-----

Foreign Conflicts (13 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: The most optimistic time we have seen was when Rabin was in power and we had the Oslo agreement. The United States was bypassed because like the situation now they were not in a position to support it. Rather than relying and depending on the United States initiative, is it possible to make the European voice stronger and lobby more from Europe? Europe's voice needs to be more independent...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (12 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 57: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will examine and reverse the decision to withdraw the visiting teacher service for Travellers' posts; if she will acknowledge the disproportionate nature of cutbacks to Traveller education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19168/11]

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2001 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: Perhaps Deputy Boyd Barrett was drinking.

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: When the Government came into office, its members went to great pains to say they would not mind being judged on how they would look after the most vulnerable in society. If this is their way of doing that I find it difficult to understand. Resource teachers for Travellers have been cut. This hits every child in the primary schools that are affected but it hits most Traveller children and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 25: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce an independent appeals process which would allow parents of special needs children to make appeals directly to the National Council for Special Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19169/11]

School IT Systems (7 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: It so happens that in two of the schools I visited in Wexford that were complaining about cuts to their education budget - concerning resource teachers for Travellers - they said they would like to have had an extra teacher rather than the IT facilities they received. I cannot be sure if it is the same all over the country, but when the IT materials was being given out in the good times,...

Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: I would not claim to know much about medicine or how the health system works, but I am very interested in it. Given that I have so much to learn about it, I would have liked to have got the Bill earlier than yesterday. The HSE seems to be a monster that is out of control, much like the NRA in the transport area. Too much decision making has left this Parliament and gone into the hands of...

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 23: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on the amount of funding to be allocated to Wexford over the next three years for the improvement of the national secondary roads network following the findings of the National Secondary Roads Needs Study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19295/11]

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: I can understand why there will be less money to spend on roads in the next couple of years. I would be the first to admit that people from less well-off sectors of society are probably more in need of the money available. I wrote to the Department two months ago to ask for an explanation of the relationship between the Minister and the NRA, with specific reference to the division of...

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: Some of the those who have analysed the matter have said we would need a population of approximately 10 million to justify some of the traffic volume projections made. Perhaps the Minister would not agree, but that is the feeling. I would like some serious research to be conducted into what has gone on in the last ten years. We need to examine the developers who were getting the work on...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: There are some positive elements in the Bill, even though the legislation is insubstantial. I am still not convinced how much the coalition Government wants to make serious changes or how much of it will be cosmetic. Much of the change that is needed would require the Government of the day to be more accountable. Therefore, asking the incumbent Government to effect serious change is a bit...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Mick Wallace: -----which they would be reluctant to do. The six-month by-election rule is definitely a good idea. What happened under the last Government was a complete sham, but it also occurred before that. It is definitely a good idea to introduce that provision. I was shocked to hear Deputy Pearse Doherty say last night that the Supreme Court appeal to the High Court decision to force the Donegal...

Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Mick Wallace: I have asked a few times about promised legislation on the strategic investment bank but I am finding it hard to get a clear answer.

Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Mick Wallace: Does the Government intend to introduce this? The main banks are unlikely to lend to business this year and the strategic investment bank has been promised. When will the legislation be introduced?