Results 41-60 of 13,960 for speaker:Marc MacSharry
- Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I join with Senator Paddy Burke in asking that the Minister for Transport be invited to the House to debate the state of the rolling stock throughout the country, particularly on the west coast. I refer to the Mayo line, to which I am sure Senator Paddy Burke was referring, and also the Sligo line.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: In recent years there have been considerable improvements to the Sligo line and the signalling system, but there is no point having a dual carriageway if one does not have a car to drive on it. The state of the rolling stock in the west is a disgrace and harks back to the 1950s. The 90 carriages bought recently by Iarnród Ãireann should not be reserved for Cork and the more profitable rail...
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I am delighted to welcome the Minister. In my short political career it is great to be able to speak on such a positive development. If I had to oppose it, not even the fiction writing abilities of Steven Spielberg could come up with a speech criticising this common sense measure that gives rural Ireland back to the people of rural Irelandââ
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: ââin a structured, positive, proactive, constructive fashion that will not have an undue ribbon effect throughout the country but will meet the needs and wants of every Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and Independent person in rural and regional Ireland.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I welcome the fact that no longer will rural Ireland be preserved as the weekend retreat for urban dwellers or people who misrepresent the great work An Taisce does from time to time.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: The criticism of An Taisce from particular quarters can sometimes be negative and have an ulterior motive. I welcome the fact that there will now be clear planning structures for planners.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: Thank God the Minister, Deputy Cullen, and his officials had the vision to come up with a set of guidelines that will improve this situation no end. People from farming backgrounds with limited means can now look forward with confidence in the knowledge that they will be able to acquire a site on the family land at a reasonable price on which they can develop their homes and live and work in...
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: It represents the kind of objectionism we were giving out about earlier, and Senator Bannon mentioned An Taisce. That objectionism has prevented planning throughout this country, and now we have to listen to it from the Opposition benches.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: The guidelines represent a huge step forward and anybody who has read them will understand that.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I took time to speak to a number of planners about the guidelines. They are being broadly welcomed by people with common sense. I agree with Senator Kitt's point about the need for more planners. There should be more centres where planning qualifications can be obtained.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: That would help speed up the process in terms of interpretation of the guidelines. There should be a broad interpretation of the guidelines, not just one which is coming out of UCD. I thank the Minister once again and wish him luck. I would like to think these guidelines do not represent an end in themselves but rather a beginning through which we can develop rural Ireland proactively and...
- Seanad: Maritime Security Bill 2004: Second Stage. (31 Mar 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State and I am pleased to have an opportunity to make a few points on the Maritime Security Bill. Everyone here knows that terrorism is not just a threat but a reality in Ireland, Europe and across the world. The fact that terrorism is no longer confined to national borders indicates that we can no longer anticipate the methods or groups which may attack civilian or...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I join Senator Ross in calling for a debate on this serious matter. Many people are paying a high cost as a result of the circumstances surrounding non-resident accounts and DIRT, whereas faceless institutions, namely, banks, are paying a marginal penalty. Where were the corporate policy executives who designed the products employees were forced by their superiors to sell to individuals?...
- Seanad: Road Safety: Statements. (29 Apr 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I join with others in welcoming the Minister and I am happy to speak on this issue, particularly with the increase in road tragedies. The aim of the Government has been to reduce road deaths rather than taking the line that mortalities on our public roads are an inevitable feature of increased mobility in the country. The challenge of reducing the number of road deaths, despite an increase in...
- Seanad: Road Safety: Statements. (29 Apr 2004)
Marc MacSharry: Rather than just encouraging and directing local authorities to have another look at the speed limits, we should closely examine the system. The enforcement of penalty points is one of the most important tasks the Garda SÃochána has to perform. In terms of its effects on Irish people and the benefits to society, few Garda activities have as great an impact on Irish life as penalty points...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I concur with Senator Brian Hayes in his call for a debate on the European constitutional treaty. While it may be a two year process, as Senator Hayes pointed out it is important we engage in proactive debate at this stage. As was the case with the Nice treaty, the "No" lobby is always well organised, albeit that it only represents a minority. It is time the majority were in favour of such...
- Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (30 Sep 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, and wish him every success in his new role at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I am glad to have the opportunity to make some points on Seanad reform. I made a submission on the issue and congratulate the sub-committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which presided over the process. It went through a sizeable...
- Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)
Marc MacSharry: That is the position we are changing because everything is centred in Dublin.
- Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I wish to join with other Senators in congratulating and welcoming the new Minister for Education and Science to the House. We look forward to working with her over the coming years. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that this is not a Dublin-Sligo issue. I pay tribute to the Dominican Order and all the staff at St. Catherine's College. I am delighted that some of them are present in the...
- Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)
Marc MacSharry: I will come to the FOI request in due course. If the Senator had the manners to be here earlier in the debate, he would have heard that I will touch on it. This report facilitated the Minister's decision to transfer St. Catherine's to Sligo. It is interesting that the report states a transfer anywhere other than St. Angela's in Sligo would require varying amounts of capital investment. To...