Results 141-160 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Budget 2016: Statements (13 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State. Those of us who came to the House four and half years ago could not have believed that by now we would have exited the bailout, started to reduce our debts and started moving to a real recovery situation. The priority in this budget is clear: to keep the recovery going while providing better services for the people. This includes cuts in the universal...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: I have no doubt that the Minister for Finance will have some good news for Senator Mary White in the budget and that there will be some adjustments to the inheritance tax regime to take account of some of the issues she has raised. It is welcome that Electric Ireland yesterday announced that it was to reduce its electricity unit rate by 2% from 16 November. This is in advance of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: As we are all aware, this is Road Safety Week. It is an opportunity for all of us, motorists, cyclists and all users of the road network, to focus on road safety. The weather is getting colder and the evenings darker so it is time to concentrate on various aspects of road safety. There is huge concern that a lot of drivers pay scant attention to the issue of tyre safety. A recent survey...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Crisis in South Sudan: International Committee of Red Cross (7 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: I join in welcoming our visitors. They have presented a very harrowing picture this morning and we are certainly deeply concerned about it. With regard to the very tentative peace agreement, are all the key players at the table? What are the implications for breaches of the agreement? Are there any sanctions? Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked about the monitoring. Irish Aid provided...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Crisis in South Sudan: International Committee of Red Cross (7 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: I was wondering about the key players.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Crisis in South Sudan: International Committee of Red Cross (7 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: The witness might say a word or two about the very basic educational system in place. Are there any indications that those in conflict see the bigger picture, such as that multinational companies would be prepared to invest in the country and bring about some prosperity if the conflict was ended for good?

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: I join Senator Ivana Bacik in condemning the appalling bombing of the hospital in Afghanistan over the weekend, with the appalling loss of life, including the deaths of workers with Médecins Sans Frontières, whose only interest in being there was to help people and save lives. It is an appalling war crime that must be independently investigated by an international body and there...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: I call for a debate with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the funding of public service broadcasting. Many of us in this House met the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland yesterday to tease out how television licence funding is dispersed. Figures show clearly that 87% or €140 out of the €160 licence fee goes to RTE and TG4. A further 6.6% is...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: We need a much more level playing field. Our local radio stations deliver high quality content and providing a real service to their communities. They deserve support and when the proposed new funding model is constructed, I want to see our local radio stations getting a share of the funding that will become available for public service broadcasting in this country.

Seanad: European Council Decisions: Motions (1 Oct 2015)

Michael Mullins: I join in the welcome to the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock. I also welcome the all-party support for the motions. It is only right and fitting that Ireland would play its part in shouldering the major responsibility of trying to deal with this horrific crisis which has shocked and horrified every person in the country. We have seen the misery inflicted on our fellow human beings and...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: While I support Senator MacSharry's call for a debate on rural Ireland, I take serious issue with his criticism of the Government, especially considering the unholy mess it inherited, the lack of funding available to it on taking office and the fact that during all of the years of the boom, very little was done to improve life in rural Ireland. I welcome the fact that funding of €30...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to the House. I invite him to address the House.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: We will continue with the debate. Group spokesperson will have eight minutes and all other Senators five minutes. I call Senator Marc MacSharry.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, to the House.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: There are three other speakers.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: We need to have it finished.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: The Senator has five minutes, but if he takes all of that time the remaining speakers will have just two minutes each.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: The Minister of State is due to respond but if we could shorten his response to five minutes, we could give two minutes apiece to Senators Bradford and Heffernan.

Seanad: Minerals Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Joe McHugh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Gaza: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I would like to join in the welcome to Mr. Sourani and Mr. Walsh. What they outlined to us is truly shocking and appalling. The statistics provided to us by Trócaire highlight the appalling situation that exists. I apologise for having to leave the meeting; I missed some of the other contributions. The witnesses referred briefly to the lack of construction activity in Gaza since 2014...