Results 101-120 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: What about Cork County Council on which Fine Gael has a majority?
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: Deputy Coveney would know a great deal about it.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to support the Government amendment. The amendment clarifies that the Government is acutely aware of the effect of the world-wide banking crisis on the economic activity of this country as well as globally. The Government moved swiftly to ensure that the Irish banks did not go the same way as those in the United States, Britain and other...
- Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: It is still going.
- Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: I wish to share time with Deputy O'Rourke.
- Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: Since 1987, no Minister for Finance has faced such a daunting task as the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, faced when he framed his first Finance Bill. The economic and fiscal challenges we currently face have not presented for decades. Moreover, they have not been witnessed globally in modern history. Corrective measures have been attempted in all major economies, such as bank guarantees,...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. In good times it is easy to put together a budget to keep everybody happy. However, in difficult times such as those we face today it is not so easy. Harsh and tough decisions must be taken by the Minister and the Government. The Minister has made fair decisions which will protect those...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: These include free natural or bottled gas, free travel, free ESB, telephone and television licence allowances and now if people want they can switch the telephone allowance to their mobile telephone. When I was first elected in February 1982, unemployment figures were in the region of 18%.Those figures have reduced significantly, and were at zero for a number of years. All Governments which...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: The Minister went on to say: This additional payment will also be applicable where an 18 year old is in receipt of disability allowance in his or her own right. Compensatory payments will be paid to the person who was receiving the child benefit for the 18 year old in question. In addition, the back to school clothing and footwear allowance will be increased by â¬215 to â¬520 per annum...
- Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: Instead, they recommended that parents should receive the domiciliary care allowance on behalf of the child until he or she reaches 18 years of age. The decision of the Minister to change the original announcement was taken following representations from Deputies on all sides of the House and as a result of further recommendations from the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies. The...
- Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)
Michael Ahern: Scaremonger.
- Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)
Michael Ahern: The Deputy is talking rubbish.
- Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)
Michael Ahern: We always stood up to our responsibilities.
- Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)
Michael Ahern: It is hard to believe the banks of the world, which have hundreds of years of experience and which are subjected to so much regulation, are collectively on the brink of failure. There are so many guidelines, rules, regulations, laws and oversight procedures that it is almost impossible to fully convey their pervasiveness and extent in modern banking. What has happened in recent weeks is a...
- Irish Economy: Motion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2008)
Michael Ahern: Hear, hear.
- Irish Economy: Motion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2008)
Michael Ahern: The Deputy's view differs depending on where he is.
- Irish Economy: Motion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2008)
Michael Ahern: I am delighted to have the opportunity to say a few words in this debate. The greatest challenge facing us and the Government is to manage the economy through the international downturn we are experiencing, which is likely to continue for a considerable period. There has been a rapid slowdown in the global economy arising from turbulence in the global financial markets, the credit squeeze,...
- Irish Economy: Motion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2008)
Michael Ahern: Deputy Bruton has consistently argued for restraint in public expenditure, but at his side and at his back, and in councils throughout the country, his colleagues have been shouting loudly for more and more expenditure in all areas. Which is the real Fine Gael policy? Is it Deputy Bruton's or is it that of the rest of the pack? The challenge facing the Government is not an easy one to...
- Irish Economy: Motion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2008)
Michael Ahern: Exactly. I agree with the Deputy. What also happened back in the 1970s and early 1980s was that there was a pull-back of funding for apprenticeships. When we came out of that downturn, there was a lack of skilled craftspeople. That must not be allowed to happen now. Inflation has also been mentioned. I have heard some Opposition speakers claim we have a very high rate of inflation...
- Hazardous Waste: Statements (2 Jul 2008)
Michael Ahern: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me a few minutes. First, as the Deputy who has been 27 years representing the Cobh area and who lives nearest to the westerly wind side of the island, I also have a particular concern about my own area just outside the bridge. The Minister answered a number of my queries, one of which related to meeting with Cobh town council whose members are the...