Results 13,301-13,320 of 14,090 for speaker:Marc MacSharry

Seanad: Report by Interdepartmental Working Group on Mortgage Arrears: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I know. The demands of ministerial office are such that the Minister of State does not get to write his own scripts. If he did, there would not be such inconsistencies. I agree with other Senators that the banks must share the burden. Could the Seanad discuss the Bill accepted in the other House in Private Members' time without a vote? It is now parked in the Dáil and will be prevented...

Seanad: School Staffing (19 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I am disappointed with the Minister of State's response, although I appreciate it is one of those set-piece documents the Department doles out on this issue. The reality is that one size does not fit all when it comes to gaelscoileanna. I appreciate that we must get by with fewer resources, but I remind the Minister of State that we are about to pay back very large amounts of money to...

Seanad: School Staffing (19 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State and I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the matter of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Ballydoogan, Sligo. I should be able to debate the matter in Irish but I cannot and that may be part of the reason this motion should be listened to and acted upon by the Government. It relates to a decision taken by the Department of Education and Skills whereby this school...

Seanad: Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: The issue of mortgage arreas, which we discussed this morning, comes to mind and there is a code of conduct on mortgage arrears. While the codes of conduct are statutory under the Act that the Minister mentioned, I do not believe they are not open to interpretation. If the Central Bank deems that one follows the code of conduct, I do not believe a court can take issue with an aspect within...

Seanad: Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I thank the Minister for taking time from his busy schedule to come here rather than dispatch one of the Ministers of State. It is considerate and shows great respect for the House, and we appreciate it. Naturally, we on this side of the House supported the Bill. Almost word-for-word, notwithstanding the amendments to do with the credit union, Fianna Fáil had put it forward in February....

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: Can we have an immediate debate on the issue of Aviva? For more than two months now, my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, has flagged this potential issue. I myself called for a task force to engage with all companies supported by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA throughout the country in order to anticipate any issues or difficulties they might have and to put forward help and suggestions...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: He will not mind.

Seanad: Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (18 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: This is exhilarating legislation. I thank the Minister of State for attending the House and giving such a detailed presentation. We will support it. It was first moved on 28 February, when former Senator Donie Cassidy sat where Senator D'Arcy is now sitting. It ceased to exist following the dissolution of the House in April and was reintroduced by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan....

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I agree wholeheartedly with the Leader. Indeed, I have been guilty in the past of being obliged to leave early but I have always excused myself to the Leader. It is good practice either to do that or to be present in the Chamber to hear the response. We will not oppose the Order of Business, but I wish to raise some pressing issues and perhaps the Leader will be able to work them into the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I agree with Senator O'Keeffe that the delay in payments to farmers under various schemes is unacceptable. This money is vital for the families concerned as well as for the real economy with people facing into pre-Christmas expenditure. State payments should be among the first to be made. If it was in the commercial world, people would be seeking legal advice to secure payment more...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: According to media reports this morning, the Cabinet discussed the Declan Keane report on mortgage debt, personal debt and insolvency. I am calling for an early debate on these matters. Despite what we have seen in the programme for Government and the recommendations of the first expert group, there is now a second expert group. Declan Keane was a member of the first one also. The points...

Seanad: Statements on Finance (6 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister to the House. While there is much I would like to speak about, I will, because there are many Members wishing to ask questions, confine myself to questions to the Minister. With the recapitalisation of European banks likely at this stage, can the Minister guarantee that the template used for Irish banks, if adjusted by the troika, will be retrospectively visited if a...

Seanad: Statements on Finance (6 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: On this point-----

Seanad: Statements on Finance (6 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I appreciate that but I want to make a very important point. The troika prescribed the level of capital that would be required for recapitalisation far in advance so the markets cleaned the shareholder. This will probably not be the process used this time, to the advantage of the European banks and their shareholders and the people in Europe. On this point we should look for something and...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I agree with Senator Higgins. It would be welcome if the Minister were to attend the House on a date earlier than 27 October.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: We were all here to see him on the Adjournment. Recently, we had a good debate on the arts, their contribution to employment and how we can expand on that. The debate had been sought by Senator Mac Conghail and I seek a similar debate on sports tourism. I am mindful of the great contribution of our rugby stars in New Zealand. It is reminiscent of the Euro 1988 and 1990 campaigns and is...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I will be as brief as I can. The Minister touched on the issue of fracking but I cannot overestimate the level of public concern about it. The Minister will be aware of it from his parliamentary colleagues living in the area. The Minister has been a good communicator in all aspects of his political life heretofore-----

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: For the people of the north west a public information and consultation process needs to be announced immediately and engaged with. The people in the relevant counties want to realise the benefits of the bounty of the earth if it can be accessed safely. I am afraid that despite the polish of the corporate machine which, as the Minister said, some people may be stirring, there is a lot of...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I support the proposed amendment to the Order of Business. Senator Mac Conghail asked the Leader to indicate who the next important person to attend the House might be. It would be an achievement if we could manage to get the Minister for Health to the Chamber. This issue arose under previous Administrations too, where the contempt shown to this House is not the sole preserve of the media...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2011)

Marc MacSharry: Can we have a debate on media standards and on the manipulation of the media? The contempt in which the Cabinet holds this House, indicated by their lack of attendance, must end. I know the Leader agrees with me and will use his good office to try to have it rectified.