Results 81-100 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2007)

Michael Finucane: When speaking about crime it is easy to blame the Judiciary, which is why I support Senator O'Toole. Politicians do not have a role after the Judiciary has made decisions. In this context, I remind the House of a time when most politicians were troubled by people with road fines and other such issues. They approached politicians to write to the Minister of the day to request him or her to...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2007)

Michael Finucane: He has been in Castlepollard.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2007)

Michael Finucane: The Senator should look at the website.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Michael Finucane: We will welcome new voters.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (31 Jan 2007)

Michael Finucane: I am indebted to Cathal Goan of RTE who sent me a briefing document on this matter. I was unfamiliar with a great deal of the terminology used and it gave me a opportunity to familiarise myself with it. Fine Gael welcomes the Bill, for what it is, and welcomes the opportunity to discuss broadcasting in Ireland generally. The Minister stated a new framework will be established to allow for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Michael Finucane: As we face a general election it is interesting to note we will be back to using the old pencils again. The Taoiseach said we wanted to get rid of those old pencils. I was surprised to read in the Official Journal of the European Union an advertisement for extra polling booths for the country.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Michael Finucane: Having seen polling booths in operation and the structures involved, I would have thought local authorities and returning officers could examine the logic of the requirement for extra polling booths to cope with the extra population without resorting to putting an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Union. This is ridiculous.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Michael Finucane: It is a rehash.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I am grateful for the Minister's response which outlined the up-to-date position. The water is up to ISO standard. Is it not the policy of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that anyone extracting water should conform to European guidelines? I wish to nail down the veracity of the story propagated in the media to the effect that people who are currently using...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: It would be an understatement to say that the Pallaskenry-Kildimo water supply scheme, which involves an extension of the Shannon Estuary water supply scheme, has dragged on for a considerable time. The water in this location was previously sourced from Bleach Lough and there have been local objections to replacing this with the Shannon Estuary scheme extension, which would use water from...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: Last night, the pattern of gangland killing continued. We hear typical responses following such events. People will say the killing was barbaric and savage and we will hear the usual response that the gardaí have all the resources they need. The successes of Operations Oak and Anvil are often cited as statistics on the matter. This morning, I listened to the Minister for Justice, Equality...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I support Senator O' Meara's call for a debate on this matter. It is regrettable that we discussed the Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill last week. If we were to discuss it this week we would have the opportunity to assess the impact of this latest measure announced on Monday. One of the main provisions in that Bill was that 5% of the value of a property was to be taken into account...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: The focus has shifted to estate agents because of the recent "Prime Time Investigates" programme. Local authorities are defining county development plans but also the rezoning of towns in the county. I urge the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to issue a directive to county councils to the effect that a councillor should not be involved in rezoning the area he...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: We want to hear what the Senator has to say.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: It did not collapse.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: My point is that the limitation for such courses should not be at a maximum of €650.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: What a contrasting world we live in. This morning I looked at the newspaper and saw a lovely smiling photograph of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, cutting a tape at the official opening of the Data Protection Commissioner's office in Portarlington. Only one staff member...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: Given the closure of Castlemahon Foods and more than 300 workers now unemployed, of which the Cathaoirleach will be aware, I would like the Leader to raise this issue with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin. What are known as customised training programmes are available and people may be interested in specific training programmes. However, there is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: It is like the three card trick in Listowel: now you see it, now you don't.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Finucane: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, subsection (1), line 25, after "Energy" to insert "Regulation".