Results 13,341-13,360 of 14,090 for speaker:Marc MacSharry

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2011)

Marc MacSharry: My question to the Leader is simply that we must assert ourselves if we are to be in any way useful as an institution of the State. If we cannot get answers to questions, there is surely a major problem. It is not possible for us to invite the chief executive of the NRA to the Chamber and ask a legitimate question on behalf of the people of the north west region who, in recent years, have...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I call for a debate on the nation's roads and if the Minister finds he does not have the competence to participate in the debate, perhaps he will send in the CEO of the NRA, for this is the person who seems to be responsible for all of these issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Marc MacSharry: Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health to report immediately on the existence of Labour Relations Commission agreements between unions representing ambulance staff and the HSE National Ambulance Service wherein it has been agreed that sick leave must be offered to staff as overtime, and whether he will make an immediate statement on the matter? If what has been alleged to me in private...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Marc MacSharry: Rest assured that Fianna Fáil will re-present the Family Home Bill and bring forward proposals that represent help for desperate and hopeless families, not present a legislative programme that was announced to a great fanfare-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Marc MacSharry: -----but which, unfortunately, is empty of the real solutions families need.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Sep 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I agree with Senator Leyden in calling for an urgent debate on health. There are many issues that continue to afflict the health service, not least the budgetary restraints all over the country, the moratorium on staff recruitment, the relegation of the people of the north-west region to second class citizens in the context of the provision of services. A silent vigil will take place this...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Sep 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I have. Thank you for the latitude you have afforded me. The Bill enjoyed the support of many independent Senators because it had real proposals, which The New Beginning group called "the only show in town" for providing real options to people. They were denied because "they were not necessary", according to the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, on the night of the debate. However,...

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: Regardless of whether it is in order to do so, I welcome Mr. Lee and I apologise to the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I thank all Senators for their contributions. There is much in the Bill that everyone would welcome. As the Minister of State indicated, the Government has four main issues with this legislation. The first of these is that the Bill is simply not necessary. However, almost everyone...

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I take this opportunity to welcome to the Visitors' Gallery Mr. John Lee of the Daily Mail, the only person in the media who had the courtesy and manners to acknowledge the existence of this House and to come here to listen to this important debate.

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Order for Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce this Bill. Senator Thomas Byrne and I worked on it and it was informed by a body of work that continued for two years or more. It involved the Prevention of Family Homes Repossessions Group in Sligo and listening to wider commentary and debate. The Bill enjoys the support of New...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I join my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, in welcoming the reduction in the interest rate payable by Ireland on its bailout deal and the doubling of the repayment term to 14 years. European leaders, in the main, have been behind the curve on the debt crisis, but this brings them somewhat up to speed. Team Ireland must be commended on its work in this regard, including the Taoiseach, the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: It is highly regrettable that "Oireachtas Report" will not be broadcast this week. This underlines, once again, the disdain and contempt in which the mainstream media hold the actions of this House. In advance of any referendum, they seem to have decided the Seanad will be abolished and have the gall to claim that proceedings in the House are simply not newsworthy. It is the news editors...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I take the opportunity to wish the Taoiseach well on behalf of all of us in the important summit taking place in Europe today. I hope he will be in a position to secure the best possible deal for Ireland in the context of any deal being done for the Greeks or otherwise. I realise next week will be a busy week as it is the end of term and that there will be legislation to be concluded but I...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I join other speakers in calling for a debate on health. The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, should come to the House to discuss a wide variety of issues which have arisen. Notwithstanding that the Ministers of State, Deputies Shortall and Lynch, have come to the House to discuss specific issues, the senior Minister must make himself available to Senators. Media reports at the weekend...

Seanad: A Vision for Change: Statements (14 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and this opportunity to make a few brief points on this important issue. I look forward to hearing from the professionals in the House who have experience of this issue. A Vision for Change was embraced by the previous Government as policy and we all want to see it followed. I pay tribute to the former Minister of State, Mr. John Maloney, who in...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: First, I draw Members' attention to the fact that as they were going to bed last night, a very important competition in New York was drawing to a conclusion, namely, the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2011. Each year, Microsoft invites students from all over the world to come up with ideas under a range of headings, including software design, to solve the world's problems. I am delighted to announce...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: In a week in which Members also celebrated the prowess of Trinity College in being among the top 100 universities in the world, is it not fantastic that an Irish institute of technology and its students competed with 350,000 other student entries from 183 countries and not only qualified for the finals but won that event? I am sure the Leader will permit me to take this opportunity to send...

Seanad: Unfinished Housing Developments: Statements (13 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for taking the time to give us so much of the afternoon. I am sorry I missed some of the other contributions and I am conscious that Senator Hayden has significant expertise in this area. I have been involved in the auctioneering business in recent years, a profession which, along with the developers, has contributed to the problems...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2011)

Marc MacSharry: Today we published the Family Home Bill 2011 which will be taken in the Seanad during Private Members' time on 27 July. It includes some radical proposals to protect families and prevent them from losing their homes. It has been brought forward in the context of the crisis Ireland is facing and informed by two years' work, debate in the Houses, the work of the Prevention of Family Home...