Results 761-780 of 1,979 for speaker:Nicky McFadden

Seanad: Vocational Education Committees (25 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Agreed.

Seanad: Vocational Education Committees (25 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Why was there no consultation with staff, the Irish Vocational Education Association or the chief executives? I accept what the Minister is saying about budgets - it is all about economic indicators and so on - but the ability to function well is also important. I do not believe the merger of County Westmeath VEC with the VECS in counties Laois and Offaly will function correctly.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: I have serious concerns about ComReg. This has nothing to do with the regulator but our experience of regulators in this country has been shabby. The Minister should be ultimately responsible and should have control. He should be able to see where things are going wrong and put a stop to it. Quangos such as the HSE and the NRA are very bad in this country. I refer to the recycle 16...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: I thank the Minister for his insightful speech. I am a little breathless because I ran in all the way from the gate. I appreciate that the Minister's intentions are worthwhile and Fine Gael does not oppose Second Stage of the Bill. However, I have serious concerns, as my colleagues have stated, in regard to jobs, sounding the death knell for rural post offices and what this might mean for...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Senator MacSharry has been a good contributor.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Yesterday the expert group on mortgage arrears published its report. Sadly, it has given little succour to the 20,000 young families who are in mortgage arrears. Some of them are at the end of the 12-month moratorium and their houses will be repossessed. It was a missed opportunity. I was waiting and expecting that it would be a positive report, and God knows we need some positivity....

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (17 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: I extend my sympathy to Kieran's family, to Mary and to his mother, Delia. I really enjoyed Kieran's company. As everybody has said, he had the most wonderful smile and a brilliant laugh. My biggest memory of him is when I was newly elected to this House and we were both asked to address the LAMA conference in Portlaoise. He was very encouraging and supportive of me and I will never...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Yesterday I spoke about telling the truth and honesty. I have the greatest of respect for Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú. He referred this morning to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, speaking with sincerity. The Minister's heart is in the right place and he is a very good communicator. However, there have been so many mistakes and so many things that have gone wrong that it...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: We are.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Give the Minister a call.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: I agree with what Senator Boyle has said about levelling with the people and being honest with them about our very serious financial situation. I join Senator Fitzgerald in asking the Leader to arrange a debate as soon as the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, comes back from Brussels. In the past 48 hours Minister after Minister has denied that any talks were ongoing. I fail to...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: That is absolute rubbish.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: I want to raise the forthcoming postal services Bill that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is proposing to bring before this House. A number of us have received representations from postal workers because some 10,000 jobs are at stake in this sector. An Post provides an excellent and efficient service with a next-day delivery rate of nearly...

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey: Motion (10 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. I echo what my colleagues have said, namely, that the Minister of State is an interested and dedicated Minister for housing. I thank him for the interest he has shown in my area of Athlone. I appreciate it. I commend this motion and I commend the Labour Party on tabling it because there are many uncompleted houses on unoccupied estates,...

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey: Motion (10 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: I wonder why more landlords are not participating in the excellent rental accommodation scheme and ask the Minister of State to answer that question for me. Is it the case that we are not highlighting it sufficiently? It is an excellent scheme, under which the landlord has little to do. He or she does not have to pay the €200 second home levy; the council looks after the property and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: I join others in calling for a debate on the economy, especially how it is affecting our citizens, in particular those who are trying to keep their homes. I completely agree with Senators Fitzgerald, Buttimer and MacSharry about people who are desperately trying to hold on to their homes. More than 100,000 people in Ireland are struggling to pay their mortgages, equivalent to one in eight....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Nicky McFadden: It is a pity the Senator did not think of that when they were all in the Galway tent.