Results 1,401-1,420 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: It has been a tough budget but there have been some positives. Senator Healy Eames referred to the fact it is very much a pro-jobs budget. Seanad Éireann has been listened to. Some of the issues we have raised here continuously in regard to small business and to job creation measures have been taken into account. I welcome the 10,000 new places on employment programmes, including 2,500...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: Like other speakers, I am glad it is budget day because there is a good deal of fear, much of which is stoked up by the media and politicians. I hope the budget will be fair and that those who can afford to pay more will be asked to do so. There is a huge gap between income and expenditure, not including the bank debt. I wish the solutions were as simple as those put forward by Senator...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Colleges of Education (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012: Second Stage (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to the House for the debate on this important item of legislation, which relates to a movement that is near and dear to the hearts of many people throughout the country. Credit unions are an example of the very best of the co-operative movement. Every small town in the country has a credit union which has served the needs of the local...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: I do have a question. As yesterday was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House to advise us as to when the 1871 Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act will be repealed and when we will see new legislation. People with intellectual disabilities, mental health problems and older people with dementia are termed "lunatics" under Irish...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: I take issue with the comments made by Senator MacSharry. It is very difficult to take the Senator seriously, particularly in light of the appalling situation the Government inherited from the Administration which preceded it. The current Government has introduced more reforms in the past 18 months than were introduced in the previous 15 years. I agree with much of what Senator Norris...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: The Government is working hard to obtain a deal on our bank debt. I have no doubt that as matters are dealt with during 2013 and when the German-----

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: -----elections have been held, we will obtain a favourable outcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Mullins: In response to Senator MacSharry, it is important to point out that the Minister for Health has implemented a good deal of change within a very short period, taking into account the considerable demands on the medical service. For example, the number of medical cards has increased from 1.145 million to 1.85 million. During Deputy Reilly's reign as Minister, the number of outpatient...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: The figures we have seen in the newspapers this morning are far less than the thousands that were referred to by some of our opponents on the other side.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: I join Senator Brennan in urging the Government to bring forward Senator Quinn's Construction Contracts Bill. We all know of many small sub-contractors who have been put out of business by unscrupulous developers and whose livelihoods have been destroyed. There is total support for the Bill and agreement on it. It is incumbent on the Government to ensure that it is put through the...

Seanad: Sexual Violence in Conflict: Motion (27 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to debate a matter which he is deeply committed to improving. I strongly support the motion before the House and it is very appropriate that the motion would have unanimous support because sexual violence in conflict situations has reached epidemic proportions. In many conflict and post-conflict situations, women submit to sexual violence to...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: That is an outrageous comment. There is absolutely no evidence-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: I join Senator Darragh O'Brien in saying that the leaking of a significant report like this is certainly not in the public interest. It shows grave disrespect to the Members of the Oireachtas that a significant report like this which I hope will be debated in a calm and reasoned manner in this House would be leaked. Whoever is responsible for leaking the report should be made to pay and...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: I join my colleagues in complimenting the Minister of State on successfully bringing the Bill through the Houses, streamlining the process and bringing the Civil Defence organisation within the remit of the most appropriate Department. I pay tribute to the members of the board who have served the organisation well during the years and thank them for their service. With other Members, I...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: That is certainly the case. During the flooding in east Galway, the biggest crisis we have seen in the area, the lead agency was the local authority which worked very closely with Civil Defence. It was appropriate that, in the incidents in Ballinasloe, the Army was also involved. The Department of Defence is to be the parent body of Civil Defence. We saw on the ground the three agencies...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: I support my two colleagues. It is important that Civil Defence continues to be adequately and properly resourced and I very welcome the fact that the Minister of State said that, despite the dissolution of the board, there will be no change to the status of the organisation. I pay tribute to the invaluable work its members do in the community throughout the year. They come into their own...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: In recent times the House has frequently discussed the need for job creation and protection. I ask the Minister for Finance to recognise, when framing the budget, that the motor industry in Ireland employs in the region of 40,000 people. I ask him to ensure the budget will not reduce this number in the coming year. I appeal to him to consider, in particular, the introduction of a mid-year...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: Well done.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Michael Mullins: I join with my colleagues in complimenting Senator White for bringing forward this legislation. She has done the Seanad a great service by doing so and has stimulated an interesting debate on the subject. I was encouraged by the Minister's response to the legislation. While he will not accept it in its current format, he gave the indication that he is open to looking favourably on it in...