Results 7,381-7,400 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Social Inclusion (14 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: I agree that tackling poverty is a major issue and a difficult one to address. I ask the Minister to appeal to the Minister for Education and Skills to reconsider reversing the cuts in the numbers of resource and learning support teachers which will impact greatly on the less well-off in our society.

Suicide Prevention: Statements (Resumed) (14 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: The more one considers suicide and the various opinions on how we should better deal with it, it becomes pretty obvious there is considerable divergence of opinion on how we should do so. There are no easy answers. One gets the impression that the psychologists and philosophers have divergent views right across the board. Three of my young under-16 players in Wexford, whom I knew well,...

Education and Training: Motion (Resumed) (13 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: It is very worrying that the new Government does not seem interested in reversing the cuts introduced by the previous Government. God knows that the young people who will suffer the most from this are the least culpable for the financial crisis in which we find ourselves. If we do away with resource teachers for travellers and hit learning support and language support teachers over the next...

European Council: Statements (13 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: I could not agree more with the Minister that co-operation between all members of the EU will be vital. Will he agree that of late the decisions being made are more in the interests of Germany than of the periphery countries? For example, the recent increase in interest rates suits Germany and not the periphery countries like Ireland. It will be difficult for periphery countries to recover...

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: Will legislation be considered-----

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: -----in regard to debt relief for mortgage holders given that we have just had the first interest rate increase and that there are probably more coming down the tracks? There are huge problems coming down the tracks for many people, especially for those who bought property between 2004 and 2008 who will not have a hope of paying their mortgages. Will the Government consider-----

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: -----relief for mortgage holders?

Bank Bailout and EU-IMF Arrangement: Motion (Resumed) (6 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: Deputy Regina Doherty argued that Fine Gael had not done a U-turn on the five-point plan. There should be credit where it is due and part of the plan relates how Fine Gael was the first party to argue that it was unfair for the Irish people to shoulder all the losses of our banks, and that it was right that investors who lent recklessly to the banks should share the pain. Perhaps I do not...

Bank Reorganisation: Statements (6 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: I am sharing time with Deputies Clare Daly, Shane Ross and Mattie McGrath. I find it amazing how little difference there is in what the new coalition is up to in terms of dealing with the banking crisis and what the Fianna Fáil Party did prior to it taking office. Fine Gael Party and Labour Party Members should have the courtesy of bowing to Deputy Lenihan when they meet him in the corridor...

Bank Reorganisation: Statements (6 Apr 2011)

Mick Wallace: I have noted a few of the nice quotes made during the election campaign. Fine Gael's banking strategy, Credit Where Credit is Due, which is part of its five point plan, states: "Fine Gael was the first party to argue that it was unfair for the Irish people to shoulder all of the losses of our banks, and that it was right that investors who had lent recklessly to the banks should also share...

Banks Recapitalisation and Restructuring: Statements (31 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: There is little more to say. This country is in a bad place. I have been dealing with four banks since September 2007 and it has not been easy. One common characteristic over that three and a half years was that they told lies. At one stage, the director of one of our banks announced he would prefer to die than accept recapitalisation. Every time they were given money, we were told they...

Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport his plans to publish the national sports facilities strategy document. [6348/11]

Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister on their appointments. Since 2009 there has been a freeze on sports capital grants. I am sure the Minister is as aware as I am of the importance of sport to young people. Research indicates that every euro we spend on our children saves the State €7 by the time they become adults. However, the difficulty of measuring the social...

Sports Capital Programme (31 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: Would the Minister be in favour of the money being distributed based on fairness rather than ministerial influence, as we have seen too much in the past? It should go to areas of need rather than where the influence is.

Universal Service Charge: Motion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: Most speakers have more or less agreed that the USC is very unfair. I have not heard many people say it is a fair system. It is good that the Government has decided to review it, but I hope "review" means "reverse". I note that on page 2 of the programme for Government it is stated: "[B]oth our parties are committed to protecting the vulnerable and to burden-sharing on an equitable basis."...

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (29 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: Mr. Justice Moriarty is a High Court judge who was appointed to chair the Tribunal of Inquiry into Payments to Politicians and Related Matters. To find out what a judge is supposed to stand for I referred to the Constitution, which requires him or her to state the following: I...do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my knowledge and...

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (29 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: If they are serious about making this Parliament work in the manner it should or organising our society properly, can they show a bit more interest? Can they be here? We have a huge responsibility. The people put us here. They expect us to run this country in an honest fashion, to make honest decisions and to care. We have to forgive them for thinking we do not care. This is an...

Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: I also congratulate Deputy Quinn on his new role. Having observed politics for 35 years, I have noticed that when a person gets the Minister for Education and Skills post, he was often looking for a better job. I believe, however, it is the most vital post in the Government. I am optimistic Deputy Quinn will recognise that and treat the job the way it should be treated. I was asked to...

Situation in Libya: Statements (24 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: I wish to share time with Deputies Maureen O'Sullivan and Richard Boyd Barrett. I find it ridiculous, as a new Member, that so few Deputies are present but they must have a funny notion about how the Parliament should work. I am sure none of the 166 Members would stand up for Gadaffi. He has not behaved in a good fashion over a number of years, like many leaders in the region. Sadly, the...

Response to the Aftermath of the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan: Statements (23 Mar 2011)

Mick Wallace: It is heart-rending to watch what is happening in Japan. I had the good fortune to visit the country twice. I went there for the World Cup in 2002 and I liked the country so much I returned a couple of years later. The Japanese are the most incredible people on the planet. I have been reading about the 200 guys who are working in the plant at present to try to save everybody in the...