Results 61-80 of 234 for speaker:Michael Mulcahy

Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund: Motion (30 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: I do not think Deputy Fiona O'Malley was advocating nuclear power, she was merely saying there should be a debate on it. It is a no-no for me and the Fianna Fáil Party because we understand how important the environment is.

Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund: Motion (30 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: I am glad that Deputy Eamon Ryan has arrived to listen to my contribution. Unfortunately, the Green Party does not have much credibility on this issue. The party is never in favour of any of the difficult decisions that must be taken to effect positive change. Incineration is an example. When I was a member of Dublin City Council I visited an incinerator in the Swedish city of Malmo, and...

Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund: Motion (30 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: The technology is available, but one has to have the courage to use it. The Green Party does not have the courage to say that it will use technology to effect progress on climate change. The Greens want it every way because they are namby-pambying to a small, weird and wonderful section of the electorate who will not face reality.

Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund: Motion (30 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: This House should forge ahead with a consensus on the issue of climate change. The Minister is correct to purchase these carbon tax credits, although I think he should do more of it. I agree with Deputy O'Malley when she said that is not the only thing we should be doing. We should not be doing it just to get ourselves off the hook. It is a little like the issue of overseas development...

Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund: Motion (30 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Ireland should become a centre of excellence and leadership on this issue. Nor do I agree with the soothsayers and doomsayers who say that Ireland is a polluted country. I have never agreed with that. We have a relatively good record on the environment, but we have a lot more to do. We must be much more ambitious. The Government can use tax incentives to lead the debate on consumer...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Mineral Oils (6 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: I too wish to speak on resolution No. 3, which deals with excise duty on cigarettes. As a non-smoker, I am reluctant to enter the debate, since I hate to tell others what they should or should not do. What we are trying to do, if we are honest with ourselves, is execute an instrument of health policy and, to a certain degree, social engineering. Two valid points have been made in the...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Hear, hear.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Having listened yesterday with great attention to the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on budget 2007. A Minister for Finance framing a budget is like anyone else who must sit down to present something which must be done in a balanced way. One can increase or reduce expenditure, increase taxation or play with any of many variables. It has...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: In 1983 the debt as a percentage of GNP was 95.8%. In 1984 it rose to 103.3%. In 1986 it rose to 106%. In 1986 it rose to 115.1% and in 1987 it reached a record 117.6%.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: That was an appalling level of debt and I am glad that since 1988, principally under Fianna Fáil led Governments, the percentage has been greatly reduced. I see a Member from the Labour Party sniggering. The Labour Party was in power during the period when that debt increased so much. Before I entered this House, most of my political experience was on Dublin City Council. Throughout that...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: It was not prepared to make any decisions on balancing the books, which is why the Labour Party has a long way to travel until it learns the lesson of financial responsibility.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Thank God, it has not been in charge of the nation's finances to a large degree since the period from 1983 to 1988 when with Fine Gael it virtually bankrupted the State.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: I wish to underline the good and responsible work of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, in that regard. I am glad he is storing up future borrowing power to come back and deal with a recession in the future if it should come.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Many other aspects of the budget are worthy of support. While I would not say I was critical of other aspects, there were some I would like to have seen handled differently. For example, as I said last night, I do not believe the 50 cent increase in excise duty on a packet of cigarettes was enough to make a significant market difference in discouraging a large number of young people from...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: The stamp duty regime is too high and inhibits people from moving house as regularly as they might otherwise wish. Obviously, from Revenue's point of view it is a very easy way to garner a significant amount of tax.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: The current rates of stamp duty are too high. I accept what the Minister has said. If he had cut the rates of stamp duty, sellers might have simply pocketed the difference. There is a serious problem. Nevertheless, I propose that the issue of stamp duty should be examined by a committee of the Oireachtas, perhaps over a period of years.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: It is time to reconsider the stamp duty regime. Not many other countries have such a high rate of stamp duty and it is an impediment to people's ability to move house which is not good for society. I applaud what the Minister has done to help young families and those on social welfare. In particular, I praise the Minister for raising the contributory old age pension to €209.30 and the...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Many of my constituents rely on social welfare payments and will welcome the increases to which I refer. In addition, they will also welcome the other social welfare measures announced by the Minister for Finance in the budget. I do not believe the budget is perfect. No budget can be. There are many areas in respect of which I would like to see improvements. For example, medical card...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: I am trying to speak in a non-political way. That should be appreciated by Members on both sides and I should not be harangued or harassed. Much more money should be made available in respect of orthodontic treatment. I am familiar with a number of young people who are trying to obtain and who deserve orthodontic treatment, but who cannot access it within the correct period. I make no...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: I intend to contact the Ministers for Finance, and Health and Children with regard to this matter.