Results 101-120 of 234 for speaker:Michael Mulcahy

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: I agree with the proposal in amendment No. 21 tabled by Deputy Richard Bruton. There is no provision in the Bill that individual agreements should be laid before the House. I accept that there might be problems with confidentiality but, subject to that consideration, I believe individual agreements should be laid before the House. The proposal in amendment No. 24 is completely covered by...

Public Private Partnerships: Motion (Resumed). (9 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: I commend the Labour Party for having tabled this motion.

Public Private Partnerships: Motion (Resumed). (9 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: Housing is one of the most important things that any Government or local authority can provide. On this occasion, it is appropriate to focus on the housing issue. I was privileged to be a member of Dublin City Council for 17 years, from 1985 to 2002. For all of that period I was on the council's housing committee. I have a deep commitment to all types of social and affordable housing. I...

Public Private Partnerships: Motion (Resumed). (9 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: We must examine the causes of that. From 2002 to 2007 in particular, Dublin City Council failed for whatever reasons, although I will exclude one reason presently. The council has not managed to build the requisite number of social houses needed for its jurisdictional area.

Public Private Partnerships: Motion (Resumed). (9 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: As I understand it, there has not been any significant, or indeed any, limit on funding for housing projects from national Government to local authorities in the 2002-07 period. I received a document only yesterday from the management of Dublin City Council, the figures of which were given to the council's SPC. The document contains charts which clearly show a target, a revised target and...

Public Private Partnerships: Motion (Resumed). (9 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: We have a new Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Finneran, and I spoke to him about what is going on in Dublin city. I believe that the city needs a housing action plan, driven by a clear indication of need. The last analysis carried out by Dublin City Council for which we have figures dates back to 2005. I am aware that the council is preparing another analysis that...

Public Private Partnerships: Motion (Resumed). (9 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: The developer would say that half way through these schemes, the goal posts were moved and higher specifications were put in which would make the projects unviable.

Public Private Partnerships: Motion (Resumed). (9 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: I am sorry to see that the Labour Party is still stuck in the 1960s. Developers are not in the charity business and we cannot attract private capital if the developer is not able to make a profit on projects. The whole idea behind public private partnerships is that a developer comes in, is able to sell a certain number of units at a profit and thereby assist the council's housing programme.

Public Private Partnerships: Motion (Resumed). (9 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: The whole point is that the deal is kept. I welcome the motion because there is a serious issue regarding housing in Dublin. The primary fault for this lies with the city councils. I call for a three-year action plan. I want the Minister of State to bring in the four city managers, perhaps in conjunction with all the relevant TDs for Dublin, produce a plan and execute it. I demand action now.

Written Answers — Military Escorts: Military Escorts (2 Jul 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: Question 92: To ask the Minister for Defence the amount paid by the banks for the Army cash-in-transit service in each of the years 2004 to 2007 inclusive; the number of Army cash escort duties performed in 2007 and to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25540/08]

Lisbon Treaty: Statements. (18 Jun 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: I want to share time with Deputy Cyprian Brady, if the House agrees. Last Thursday, 12 June 2008, the Irish people rejected the Lisbon reform treaty by a margin of 53.4% to 46.6%. Nobody can say that there was not a full debate, or query the level of turnout — 53.13% as opposed to 34.9% in the first Nice treaty referendum and 49.47% in the second Nice treaty referendum. Many different...

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: I am delighted to be able to contribute to this debate and speak in favour of the Lisbon treaty, the reform treaty. It is worth remembering how we got to this stage. With the accession of the eastern European states and others, the European Union became much larger and now consists of 27 member states. We had the famous convention, which was composed of members of national parliaments,...

Cluster Munitions Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: I join my colleagues in genuinely congratulating Deputy Timmins and the Fine Gael Party on introducing this Bill. I do not believe there is one person in the House who disagrees with the spirit of the intention behind it. During the previous Dáil, I had the honour to be a member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. One of my principal interests was the subject of nuclear...

Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (28 Feb 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: A large number of meetings took place with public representatives in various constituencies at which pharmacists vented their feelings. Was the Minister impressed by some of the people who made representations? Many Members are in politics long enough to know when people are genuine, and there is a genuine fear on the part of some small pharmacies that they will go out of business with the...

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: I propose to share time with Deputy Flynn.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: I am pleased to have this opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the Finance Bill 2008 which brings into law the main provisions of the Minister's Budget Statement of last December. No Finance Bill operates in a vacuum but rather within the economy as it pertains. There has been much commentary to the effect that the economy of 2008 will be very different from the economy of 2007...

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Mulcahy: My constituents will also have the chance to hold me accountable. There is no doubt that one of the main issues in regard to this economy is competitiveness. I join forces with those on both sides of the House who have urged the Government to address this issue with even more vigour than it has done heretofore. I refer to some areas in which this needs to be done. The cost of services is...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (12 Dec 2007)

Michael Mulcahy: Question 70: To ask the Minister for Defence if he plans to conduct further reviews of the implementation in the Defence Forces of the 2002 The Challenge of a Workplace report chaired by Dr. Eileen Doyle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34146/07]

Written Answers — National Memorials: National Memorials (12 Dec 2007)

Michael Mulcahy: Question 78: To ask the Minister for Defence when the national memorial to commemorate deceased members of the Defence Forces who have died in service will be unveiled; the concept behind the design, the estimated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34145/07]

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Michael Mulcahy: I support the proposal for a 30 cent increase in the price of a packet of cigarettes. It is very difficult to decide on the amount by which one should increase excise on cigarettes. In last year's budget, there was a larger increase. I am aware of the issue of contraband. If the increase is too high, there will be more smuggling and more cigarettes will be sold on the black market. There...