Results 161-180 of 234 for speaker:Michael Mulcahy

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.

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...

Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund: Motion (30 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: We are discussing the purchase of carbon credit by the Government and I have not heard anyone argue that the Government should not do so. The Minister and the Government are to be commended on participating fully and rationally within the guidelines of the Kyoto Protocol. The world in general has been very slow to react to the crisis that is climate change. Many of us may only become aware...

Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund: Motion (30 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Let us tackle that for once and for all. There should be serious incentives for the former beet growers to grow their produce for the purposes of alternative fuel. Let us introduce serious tax incentives. We seem to have developed a problem with the concept of tax incentives in recent years. People have said that such incentives are bad and only benefit the rich. That is balderdash....

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...

Noise Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Noise is a serious problem in modern, urban society. I have been involved with this issue for a number of years, particularly in my role as a city councillor and Lord Mayor. I commend the Green Party on the introduction of this sensible, imaginative legislation, which while not perfect, is badly needed. I read with interest the contribution of the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, in...

Noise Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: The Bill should also make other actions mandatory. I strongly support a proactive role for local authorities on noise control enforcement day and night. When I was Lord Mayor of Dublin in 2001-02, I visited London with an official from Dublin City Council to examine how Westminster City Council operates in this area. The Westminster council has noise patrols that operate 24 hours a day and...

Noise Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: Much of the Bill is welcome, but it needs amendment on Committee Stage. I am not satisfied that night-time noise pollution is fully covered or that the earlier legislation is properly incorporated in the Bill. On many occasions in the past I have raised the matter of legislation on noise pollution with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and perhaps he will...

Noise Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Nov 2006)

Michael Mulcahy: I wish to share my time with Deputies Martin Brady, Nolan, Wilkinson and O'Connor.