Results 961-980 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: Half an acre.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: As I said yesterday, I am disappointed that this grant is to disappear. I am happy that exceptional needs payments and other supports will remain in place. I wish to pick up on what Senator Bradford said about the cost of funerals. It should be mandatory for undertakers to make a price list available. I know from my experience that when people are making funeral arrangements, they are at...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: We should also spare a thought for undertakers when we are discussing funeral costs. I have been contacted on a few occasions by undertakers to see if it is possible for the €850 grant to be paid directly to them. I know undertakers who find it very difficult to get paid. I am conscious that many undertakers are carrying significant bad debts because they have not been paid for...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: Before now, many people who were in much more difficult situations because they were not in a position to avail of the bereavement grant had to depend on exceptional needs payments for assistance following bereavements. That worked well. Other supports are provided to spouses who have dependent children. If a reduction was needed in this element of the budget, on balance I think the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: We should ensure the State's scarce resources are targeted at those who really need them. Wealthy people who do not need those resources - those with extensive assets and incomes - should not benefit from supports that were introduced to help less fortunate people who depend on the State for assistance.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: I join colleagues in wishing Tom McGrath a long, happy and healthy retirement. I thank him for his outstanding service to this House over the years. As a Galwegian, I want to join those who have congratulated the new Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh. I know there is great excitement about his election in Connemara, which is where his parents emigrated from in the 1950s. I know the people of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: We would have preferred if some cuts did not have to be made but in the circumstances the Minister has done a fairly good job. I urge her to continue to ensure that the systems in her Department are streamlined and positioned to give a service that is timely, efficient and eliminates any elements of waste and fraud.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd to the House. That was a very strong and passionate contribution from Senator O'Donovan.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: I know it was and he gave some good examples of what is happening on the ground. I would not be happy with the length of time it is taking to process applications and get appeal decisions. However, Senator O'Donovan must remember that it is not that long ago since his party was in government and cut every social welfare payment in a budget. Unfortunately in this difficult economic climate,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: -----out of a budget of €20 billion. There are cuts in the budget but there are some positives in it as well. Some €1.08 billion will be spent on work training and education places and related supports for jobseekers, which is an increase of €85 million over this year's figure, is to be welcomed. The Minister has placed great emphasis on work training and education....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: That quotation was made by someone else recently.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Michael Mullins: I support Senator Mooney's request for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, to come to the House to have a general discussion about the employment situation and in particular the lack of regional balance in recent job announcements. Having said that, we all welcome that figures published in recent days indicate that for the first time since 2009, the jobless...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Michael Mullins: I ask for the Chair's indulgence and the House to join me in extending our deepest sympathy to the family of a bright young hurling star, Niall Donoghue, who won an under-21 all-Ireland medal with Galway last year and starred on the senior team this year and died tragically last night. It goes without saying the hurling community and the community of Kilbeacanty, outside Gort, are devastated...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Michael Mullins: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Michael Mullins: I thank the Minister for the comprehensive response. There are approximately ten minutes remaining and a number of speakers are indicating a wish to speak. Perhaps if they could share time we might be able to get in everybody.

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Michael Mullins: Yes. The Minister will have an extra five minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2013)

Michael Mullins: I support the call for a debate on the proposed alcohol strategy. It is welcome that the Government is considering tackling the issue of below-cost selling. Alcohol Action Ireland is not particularly happy about the fact that the issue of sponsorship is not being dealt with at this time. I understand it will, however, be addressed during the next couple of years when sports organisations...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Michael Mullins: I do and it is totally unrelated. To put things in perspective let us consider the appalling situation in Syria with the plight of children dying of starvation in some of the besieged towns. Will the Acting Leader organise for the Tánaiste to come to the House to update us on the situation? We all read in the newspapers that medicines and aid supplies are being prevented from getting...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Michael Mullins: I support Senator Conway's support for the Minister for Health. It is incumbent on all of us to support him.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Michael Mullins: We all want to see a world-class health service with all our citizens having the best possible health facilities available to them. All Members know well, however, the mess the Minister inherited two and a half years ago. We know the monolith that was the Health Service Executive. We know the budgetary situation he faced. He is a reforming Minister who is doing a good job and we need to...