Results 161-180 of 2,118 for speaker:Michael Mullins

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I very much welcome the capital plan for the next five and a half years, which was announced today with a significant investment of €27 billion. Obviously, this will restore, I hope, all of the jobs lost during the recession and address many of the infrastructural deficits we have. To pick up on the arguments made by Senators Diarmuid Wilson and Cáit Keane, the only way we will...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I support Senator White's call for a discussion with the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, on the joint Oireachtas report that was published recently. I know she has put a lot of work and effort into it. I would like to see our discussion with the Minister encompassing the Action Plan for Jobs 2015 to see how we can accelerate the 1,300 jobs per week that are being created. We need to...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I join my colleagues in extending good wishes to Senator Jimmy Harte. I have known him for a long number of years and had the pleasure of serving with him on the HSE west forum for a number of years. Both there and here I saw at first hand his commitment to public service and his concern for the people he represented. I hope his recovery will continue and that he makes a full return to...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I am sharing my time with Senator James Heffernan. Like many others in Ireland, I am extremely disappointed that there is such political instability in Northern Ireland 17 years after the signing of the historic Good Friday Agreement. In April 1998, after 30 years of conflict in which 3,500 people were killed, there was much rejoicing over an agreement being put in place to address the many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee and Migrant Crisis: Discussion (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: I join in welcoming our visitors this morning. They paint a grim picture, which we have become accustomed to seeing on our televisions over an extended period. The significant decision made at European level yesterday is to be welcomed. While it is regrettable that not all countries bought into the process and will participate, the onus is on every country in the European Union to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trial of Ibrahim Halawa: Motion (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Mullins: Sending a delegation will send out a strong message that this committee has been deeply concerned about the young man and supports him. If a delegation were to visit, is there any indication that it would be allowed to attend the trial? It would be significant to know that in advance. What is the possibility of a further postponement? Is it possible to obtain, through our embassy,...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: We all echo Senator Gerard P. Craughwell’s sentiments and every Member is working hard to ensure the Minister will take the issue on board and address some of the Senator's points. I join in the condemnation of the appalling act of terrorism that took place yesterday on the Turkish-Syrian border. The young people killed were doing nothing more than working for their community in...

Seanad: Children First Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Children First Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: I join my colleagues in complimenting the Minister on successfully steering this legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is a difficult topic. The Bill is designed in the best interests of children. It is unfortunate that we must resort to detaining children but that is a reality. Thankfully, we will have it at one location. I can see the challenges and difficulties...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: I do not see anything particularly wrong with the legislation in regard to databases. Complaints have been made in this House that the databases in Departments do not communicate with each other, with the result that the taxpayer loses money. What do Senators Gerard P. Craughwell and David Cullinane have against the people of rural Ireland?

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: The people of rural Ireland who have been paying for water for the past 40 years or who have sunk their own wells are entitled to receive the €100 grant.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: I find it strange that Senator David Cullinane is complaining about people getting €100 for nothing when every week he advocates that people should receive services for nothing.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: The Senator is advising people not to pay their water charges. He wants to give everything to everybody for nothing. It is outrageous that Members of this House have said they will not pay their water charges.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: They are being paid from the public purse and asked to make a small contribution from their income towards the cost of a vital service. I want to see attachment of earnings orders made immediately in respect of Members of the Oireachtas who are not prepared their water charges.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: As we come close to the general election-----

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: As we approach the general election, advocating non-payment for services is populist and makes good copy, but the very same Members come into the House to call for investment in their communities, jobs in their regions and water they can drink. They think that will happen by magic. There is nothing for nothing anymore. We have to be responsible and that responsibility should start in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: I want to join with colleagues in complimenting the wonderful sportspeople of all codes who gave so much enjoyment to all of us as citizens over the weekend. In particular, I wish every success to our two great Irish golfers this afternoon. I have no doubt that people throughout the country will be glued to the television screens to watch their progress. It is amazing and wonderful that a...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: I extend deepest sympathy to the Fitzgerald family on the death of Alexis Fitzgerald, who served in this House and was Lord Mayor of Dublin in the 1980s. He and his wife, Mary Flaherty, both served as Members of Dáil Éireann at the same time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family today. I extend my sympathy to Deputy Joe O'Reilly on the recent sad passing of his mother. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jul 2015)

Michael Mullins: I support Senator Jim D'Arcy in his call for a debate with Minister, Deputy O'Sullivan, in the upcoming session. I welcome the progress that has been made in the reform of the junior cycle and that agreement was reached with all unions. The much overdue junior cycle reform can now proceed as a matter of urgency. The air ambulance service is being put on a permanent basis which a very...