Results 1-20 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: As a new Senator I have been impressed by how we have got our business off the ground. People want to see the Seanad discuss important topics of the day and make a significant contribution to economic recovery. The people are crying out for hope, and tourism can be the vehicle for significant economic recovery. Never before have we had such a head start with the wonderful marketing...

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: Will the Minister of State examine imaginative ways of getting people on the live register to assist local authorities in improving the appearance of the countryside. If it were not for the voluntary work done by our Tidy Towns committees, we would be ashamed to bring people into some of our villages and towns.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: Will the Leader seek support from the Ministers for Justice and Equality and Foreign Affairs and Trade for the family of a young man from Portumna in County Galway, Mr. Matthew Fitzpatrick, who died in tragic circumstances in Mannheim, Germany, in December 2010? The young man in question died-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: It is in the public domain.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: Fine. The police in Mannheim put the young man's death down to suicide, yet his family have serious concerns about the verdict. When his body was repatriated to Dublin, the deputy State pathologist carried out an autopsy and identified a significant number of injuries on his body. The jury at the Coroner's Court in Dublin returned an open verdict on his death. I ask every Senator to...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: -----that the case be reopened by the German police. Will the Leader seek the support of the Minister on the family's behalf?

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: I join others in welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, and thank the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government,Deputy Phil Hogan, for coming into the House to clarify the Government's position on water charges. Contrary to what has been reported in the media, we have seen that there is unanimity among the Government parties on the way to proceed on this...

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: They have forgotten who was in government for the past 14 years. The motion is ill-timed because if we were to be honest with each other, we would agree that water charges need to be put in place because of the financial position in which the country finds itself. I would like to be able to support Sinn Féin's line-----

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: -----but we do not live in an ideal world. We are faced with a situation where the country is broke and we have to do something about it.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: There was much talk about fairness, but nobody has referred to the fact that thousands of families in households throughout the country are already paying water charges through group schemes, including in the farming and business communities. It was a major bone of contention and topic of debate at local authority meetings the length and breadth of the country when farmers were charged for...

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: Saving the environment.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: I join in the welcome to the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon. I compliment him on the great work he is doing. As my constituency colleague I hope he might be able to help me out regarding a little difficulty I will mention in a moment. I acknowledge the progress made in recent years in the area of investment in education and special needs. Unfortunately, the previous Government did not...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: I ask the Leader for a debate on the HSE annual report for 2010 which has been published today. Given that the HSE budget for 2010 was €14.2 billion and it is proposed to spend €13.4 billion in 2011 in the delivery of health services, it would be appropriate to ask the Minister to come to the House in order that Members, as public representatives, can have some dialogue and discussion...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: It would be appropriate on this the 100th day since the formation of the new Government to congratulate and applaud them for the efforts that they have made. This Government, in 100 days, has done an enormous job of work in trying to repair-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: -----the image of this country, both at home and, particularly, abroad. The people of Ireland recognise this. Recent opinion polls show that support for the Government has increased in recent months because people approve of the actions that had to be taken.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: Everybody knows the mess that this country was left in by the outgoing Government. I was amused this morning by Senator Leyden, a man who I have known for a long time.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: I felt he was almost making a pitch for the next Seanad election.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: I support my colleague, Senator Healy Eames, in her call for the Leader to ask the Minister for Finance to ensure that the banks begin to free up credit for business. The company in Galway to which she referred is capable of creating eight jobs in the short term - certainly a significant number in a small community - and the banks are not playing ball. Given the amount of money that has...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: I join other speakers in asking for the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to attend the House for a frank and open exchange with Members on the operation of the HSE. Those of us who have seen the Minister for Health in action are impressed with his openness and frankness. He is the first Minister who will take on the HSE and challenge many of the vested interests. I would like a...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Michael Mullins: The system is slow and cumbersome. I ask the Leader to give us the opportunity to make helpful suggestions to the Minister on how matters can be improved and money saved in the HSE.