Results 1-20 of 349 for speaker:Tom Morrissey

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim. Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (12 Sep 2002)

Tom Morrissey: I am delighted to be a Member of this House and feel privileged to be able to take part in this debate. I come before this House today to urge the Irish people to vote "Yes" to Nice. This referendum has been referred to by the Taoiseach as being a crossroads, and he is right, but it is much more than that. Nice is the gateway to a new Europe, to a new peace and a new, undiscovered future, a...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Tom Morrissey: I thank this House for giving us an opportunity to discuss the Flood report.

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Tom Morrissey: I might be delighted if they did.

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Tom Morrissey: I am dealing with it in the context of how Dublin County Council ran its affairs and was taking advice from its officials – the same officials who would have served the council prior to my time – on matters which are ongoing in the Flood tribunal. At the time there was a culture of council officials saying that certain lands were not to be zoned. Some councillors took that view because it...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Tom Morrissey: Large portions of the Flood tribunal interim report are given over to the question of co-operation with the tribunal. In 1995, before any tribunal was established, I made the then Taoiseach aware of a highly inappropriate approach made to me. Since then I have not been asked to make a statement on that matter and I am not aware of other council members being asked to do so. I hope this matter...

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister to the House to hear the views of Senators, including the excellent views which have been presented already. I commend the Minister on the excellent start he has made in dealing with his new portfolio. He has brought energy and enthusiasm and has shown a willingness to tackle major issues. He has introduced the penalty points system, he is dealing with the policy of...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Tom Morrissey: I am delighted to welcome the Minister. While I know thousands of people have benefited from this scheme, I received the first-time buyer's grant, but I was not a beneficiary. After I paid my booking deposit, the house price increased by the corresponding amount. This has been the practice since 1981. I purchased my first house on the weekend the first-time buyer's grant was increased by...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Flood Relief. (20 Nov 2002)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, to the House to give his views on the stress caused to many local residents and businesses in the Clonee, Dunboyne and Mulhuddart areas last weekend, together with its impact on the residents of Drumcondra. The Minister of State will be aware that Dunboyne-Clonee is a fast growing area. Some 7,000 houses will be granted planning permission in...

Seanad: Book of Estimates, 2003: Statements. (21 Nov 2002)

Tom Morrissey: Having listened to the previous contributions we can now see how difficult it is to manage the problems we are facing. I suppose one could say the problems we are trying to solve have been created by ourselves. One could possibly argue the last Government was beginning to lose its grip by spending money in areas where it should not have done. For example, we were going to have a £1 billion...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Tom Morrissey: I second this motion and I welcome the Minister of State to the House on the occasion of the first budget of this Government's second term in office. This prudent budget manages the Government finances, while assisting the less well-off in terms of increases in the old age pension, child benefit and other social welfare provisions. When today's increases are added to the increases of the last...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Tom Morrissey: We can see today that the grant was not all that it was purported to be, as it benefited only 10,000 people. Today's measures to assist first-time buyers, however, will be of benefit to everybody.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Tom Morrissey: The first-time buyer's grant cost the Exchequer about €37 million, but the new measures to help first-time buyers will cost more than double that amount – approximately €78 million over a certain period. The Minister's new provisions provide the answer to the difficulties faced by first-time buyers, each of whom will benefit.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Tom Morrissey: Under the previous regime, only 10,000 of the 46,000 first-time buyers benefited each year.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Tom Morrissey: Today's budget is a sound budget and I welcome it. It has secured the tax reductions of recent years. There have been no increases in taxation today.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Tom Morrissey: Employees' entry point to the income tax system has been increased to a level which is 90% of the minimum wage, representing a huge improvement on the figure some years ago. In 1997, a person entered the tax net at €98 but that figure is €209 now, which is an increase of over 100%. We have looked after personal tax rates, very important business tax rates, first-time buyers, social...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Mental Health Services. (10 Dec 2002)

Tom Morrissey: The reason I have tabled this matter for discussion on the Adjournment is that I have received representations about a particular case in a psychiatric unit in James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown. While everybody will acknowledge that a great deal of money has been spent on hospital services over the last five years, little has been spent on providing security for front line...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jan 2003)

Tom Morrissey: As an employer who has employed permit holders, I would be delighted to see this provision included in the Bill. I am only too well aware of employers who have exploited this system and agents who seek permits under false pretences. Those permits are then sold on, thereby duping innocent people – if they can be called that – entering this country. There is a huge trade in permits. I...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jan 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I am shocked by this amendment. The State is being more than accommodating in dealing with this problem. If somebody is seeking asylum, it is in their interest, and those of the State and taxpayers, that we have an efficient system for doing so. The Minister has described travel and overnight accommodation arrangements. What more can any Department or country do to expedite this matter? The...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jan 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I oppose this amendment. If it was approved, it would effectively enable people to play cat and mouse with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and lead to a never – ending circle. The Minister outlined the exorbitant number of applications withdrawn, that go missing or fail to materialise on even a second occasion. If we oblige the Minister to find addresses – people...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jan 2003)

Tom Morrissey: If one is to bring this to its logical conclusion the taxpayer is going to pay out €90 million instead of €45 million. There will be twice as many non-shows as the Minister has already indicated. I am delighted this Minister is here today and that we do not have the Minister we had in 1996 framing this legislation. Amendment to amendment, by leave, withdrawn.