Results 881-900 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: People are justifiably outraged by media reports and the information emerging from the Committee of Public Accounts on the salaries and top-ups being paid to the chief executives of various organisations. Complete transparency is required from all organisations in receipt of State aid. I am seriously concerned about the impact these developments are having on charitable organisations which...

Seanad: Critical Utilities (Security of Supply) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, and compliment him on the good work he is doing in promoting job creation. I also compliment Senator Feargal Quinn on bringing forward this legislation for debate. In every utterance he makes in this House he is constructive and promotes the country’s interests. I know he is motivated by the best...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Report on Impact of Emigration on Youth: Discussion with National Youth Council of Ireland (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome our visitors. They have done the State some service by producing this very thought-provoking study. There is much in it that we probably knew already, but it is very useful to see it in print and set out in an easily-read format. Deputy Durkan spoke about some parts of the country suffering from emigration much more than others. I am from Ballinasloe in County Galway, where the...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Can we, please, stick to the section?

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: We do not need to go back to what was said during the election.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Could we stick to the section please?

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Let us not talk about events in 2011.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White, to the House. Amendment No. 1 is out of order as it involves a potential charge on the Exchequer.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I support the call by Senator O'Brien for a debate on the issue of sport and sports development. He spoke about funding for sport and we could also debate sponsorship of sporting organisations by drinks companies. We could have a wider debate on the potential of sport to create employment, which is an issue that merits further examination. I would welcome such a debate in the new year. I...

Seanad: Death of Nelson Mandela: Statements (10 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I thank the Leader for organising this opportunity to say a few words. It is appropriate that, on a day when world leaders gathered in Johannesburg to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, the Seanad should have an opportunity to reflect on the life of an amazing human being, a description that has been said and written in recent days. Nelson Mandela has been described as a giant of history, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I join the expressions of sympathy with the people of South Africa on the passing of Nelson Mandela. Many things have been said about him and no words of mine would be adequate to describe his greatness or his contribution to the world. President Obama described him as the last great liberator of the 20th century. South Africa lost the father of the nation, a man of vision and a great...

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: No. The only person who can speak is the person who tabled the amendment.

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Before proceeding, I welcome Bernie and Sean Shea from New Inn, Ballinasloe, in the Visitors Gallery. I hope you enjoy your visit to Leinster House today. Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 are out of order.

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Amendment No. 8 is an alternative to amendment No. 7, therefore, amendments Nos. 7 and 8 may be discussed together. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: Amendment No. 3 in the names of Senators David Cullinane and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has been ruled out of order.

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I support the call by Senator Barrett for a full debate after Christmas with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on the issue of public transport. The decline in usage to which the Senator referred is quite alarming. We need to debate both whether the taxpayer is getting good value for money and the overall cost to the taxpayer of the system as it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I hope Action Plan for Jobs 2014 will be published soon. I support the call to ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, to come to the House for a debate immediately after Christmas. We need to get working on job creation to accelerate it in areas of the economy that are not performing. The retail sector needs particular attention. The year will end on a very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Review of Foreign Affairs Policy and External Relations: Discussion (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome this review, the significant point of which is the broad-based consultation process the Tánaiste has outlined today. It is also timely, in that the Tánaiste is undertaking it from a position of strength having had a successful Presidency of the European Council, the chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, as well as Ireland's membership of...