Results 1-20 of 834 for at speaker:Liz McManus

Finance Bill 2011: Committee Stage (26 Jan 2011)

Liz McManus: Regarding the health insurance levy, it is very hard for people to understand how the Supreme Court made a landmark decision on risk equalisation in 2008 and yet the Government has stated that legislation to deal with the issue will not be ready until 2013. This levy is an imposition on people who, in many cases, are finding it difficult to manage already. It also raises fundamental issues...

Finance Bill 2011: Committee Stage (26 Jan 2011)

Liz McManus: We are only in the halfpenny place. I do not wish to create any difficulties because this is the last time I shall speak but I must say some words of thanks - to the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Acting Chairmen and those who preceded them. I have been a chairperson and I know it can be a boring job as much as anything else but it requires diligence and fairness and I am...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (19 Jan 2011)

Liz McManus: Question 100: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation his plans to publish legislation to address employee representation at work which was promised by June 2009 under the review of Towards 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2527/11]

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (13 Jan 2011)

Liz McManus: I regret that the Minister has left, although I am sure he had important business. The most important statement I can make is to urge him to have an open mind, because this legislation is flawed and it is important that it is amended. I had hoped he would listen to what the Opposition had to say about amendments we will be tabling, so I regret that he has now left the Chamber. The premise...

Written Answers — Banking Charges: Banking Charges (12 Jan 2011)

Liz McManus: Question 79: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent increases in bank fees for basic current account services at Bank of Ireland, a bank in receipt of significant State support; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, by their nature, this new charging regime will impact most severely on those least able to pay; the steps that have been taken to date to introduce...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Dec 2010)

Liz McManus: Question 331: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the report into broadband carried out by an institute (details supplied) which performed an analysis at the request of the United States Federal Communications Commission; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this study found that Ireland ranked 24th out of 30 for speed, and 21st of 30...

Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Liz McManus: In the current weather conditions, thousands of people on low incomes are desperately worried about whether they will be able to pay their electricity and gas bills. The carbon levy was introduced in the last budget and the Government promised there would be compensatory measures for people on low incomes. That never happened. The EU and IMF agreement will double the carbon levy. Before...

Postal Services (30 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: ...out with a cluster system. I did not agree with it but it was consistent. However, it was challenged by the technology advance and Google Street View now allows one to pinpoint a house on a street at any time one wishes. However, one cannot have a postcode that pinpoints the same house and this does not make sense.

Postal Services (30 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: I again plead with the Minister not to have this amalgam that no one has sought. No matter what the Minister might say, people sought a cluster system or for a unique identifier but no one sought a system that has both. This is what the Minister proposes but it will not serve the people well at a time when we need to work smarter.

Fuel Poverty (30 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: Perhaps I should ask the Minister to reflect on what it is like to be poor and cold. We are in a very cold spell at the moment, and I ask him to consider the thousands of people who have a choice either to be desperately cold or desperately worried as to whether they can meet their bills. Already, about a quarter of the population is in arrears with some type of household bill. I ask the...

Postal Services (30 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: The Minister is great at making promises and then not delivering on them. He promised that we would have postcodes in early 2011, but there is not a chance in hell of that happening now. How do these promises come about? I plead with him to ensure that we have the most efficient postcode system possible. We cannot afford to do anything less and he needs to ensure that we have a unique...

Cabinet Committees (24 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: What is the point in having a Cabinet sub-committee on climate change? It does not meet, nothing is happening, there is no Bill and there are no results. At this stage the Taoiseach might consider abandoning the project of having a Cabinet sub-committee dealing with climate change but never meeting. I ask the Taoiseach to explain what the hell is going on. When we had a debate in this...

Cabinet Committees (24 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: Is the Taoiseach stating then that the Minister, Deputy Gormley, was misleading the public? He made a very clear statement on the web. He stated, in his twitter, that heads of the Bill would be published on Tuesday, 13 November. He did it under pressure and we all understand political pressure, but that does not excuse a clear statement that was issued for the public. Many welcomed it and...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (23 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the continued provision of a 24-hour accident and emergency service at St. Columcille's Hospital, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43743/10]

Fifth Report of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security: Motion (11 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: I move: That Dáil Éireann notes the Fifth Report of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security entitled "Second Report on Climate Change Law", copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 13th October, 2010. I will begin with a quote from Kofi Annan who stated: Climate change is a silent human crisis. Yet it is the greatest emerging humanitarian challenge of our time....

Reform of Structures of Government: Motion (Resumed) (10 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: I welcome Deputy Howlin's reforming motion of substance that we are debating. The motion is so good that taking this Government into account, there is not a chance it will be passed by the House and I regret this because if it were passed, it would be an important signal that this Parliament has the courage to change. As a society we face formidable challenges, economic and political, and we...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Nov 2010)

Liz McManus: Question 59: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the marketing initiatives that have been undertaken by Bord Bia in 2010 and at what cost to improve the food industry's competitiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40652/10]

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Liz McManus: This debate presents a welcome opportunity to consider the economic emergency we face as a society. People are desperately anxious about the burden they face not just in the coming budget, but also for years to come. They are looking for leadership and direction from those charged with running the country. I took the time to read the Taoiseach's speech closely. I was at a committee meeting...

EU Directives (20 Oct 2010)

Liz McManus: I am surprised that the Minister has still not received the report; in fact I find it hard to believe. The Minister made this announcement in April, appointed consultants at the beginning of August and promised that the report would be completed within eight weeks and would be followed by a debate. He has now told us that the report has not even been completed, which is the Minister's...

EU Directives (20 Oct 2010)

Liz McManus: The Minister appointed the consultants and, at the very least, since they are being paid nice money-----