Results 61-80 of 124 for 5 million speaker:Finian McGrath

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2014)

Finian McGrath: ...a few clear answers on the issue of Garda whistleblowers and the Guerin report, but we could not get them. A number of inquiries are due to be held, some of which will cost approximately €2 million. This morning I was contacted by a group of parents from Darndale in my constituency who use an excellent preschool service that looks after 260 children and employs 100 staff. It is a...

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Finian McGrath: ...our best to be accountable. I do not say that everything is squeaky clean and that I am holier than anyone else but some of us try to be accountable. Political parties receive in the region of €13 million in Exchequer funding annually. The money is paid to parties under the Electoral Acts and the party leader's allowance. The five largest parties receive funding of €5...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Finian McGrath: .... Just a few minutes ago I heard on the news about a group of four Irish friends who had got together and started a small company and who already had secured an investment of approximately €20 million. We need to nurture young talented people and ensure the education system helps to develop their electronic and technological skills to the maximum. Let us not forget we have many...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013: Second Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...what the Government is doing. My problem is the Government talks about equality and makes smooth comments about it, but the reality is many cuts have been made in the disability sector. Almost 35,000 children are waiting for speech and language therapy. Those on the disability allowance receive €847 a year less since 2008. Only 5% of adults with an intellectual disability are in...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2013)

Finian McGrath: .... This reduction in income limits is being introduced to reduce expenditure on medical cards for the over-70s or in other words, the code is emerging here. It is forecast that this measure will generate €12 million in savings during the second half of 2013 and €24 million in a full year. That is what this legislation is about. It is not about reform but is about attacking...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...The Government needs to act with sensitivity with regard to these issues. I refer to the single parent tax credit issue which is dealt with in the legislation. The 2011 census shows there are 215,000 separated families in the State and 76,800 claimants of the tax credit. The Minister for Finance in his Second Stage contribution referred to the provisions of section 7:Since the...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Finian McGrath: .... It is also a blitz on the poor and more about vote grabs with gimmicks and stunts for future elections. We saw the recent attempt at a power grab in the Seanad referendum and the waste of €14 million on the Taoiseach's pet project. It was a waste of public money, while millions of euro are taken from services. Disability services in St. Michael's House and Prosper Fingal...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (8 Oct 2013)

Finian McGrath: 522. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding mental health services in Coolock, Dublin 5; if there is a service or a waiting list, for emergency referrals for those who live in the Dublin 13 area; and the amount of the €35 million that has been spent on mental health services on the north side of Dublin [41830/13]

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...country in relation to gas and our natural resources. Generations of Irish schoolchildren have learned that Ireland lacks valuable natural resources. However, Ireland's offshore territory of 652,000 square kilometres is nine times larger than Ireland itself. Recent Government and industry data as well as discoveries by oil companies indicate the potential for vast reserves of oil and...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Jul 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...I received a letter from a constituent on the matter and I will highlight exactly what was written. It states:The Bill to increase the levy on the assets of nursing home residents by an appalling 50%, from 5% to 7.5%, is coming before the Dáil this week and maybe you would seek an explanation please as to why the financial penalty on the people concerned far exceeds that on any other...

European Union (Accession of the Republic of Croatia) (Access to the Labour Market) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (25 Jun 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...respect of such issues, it is important that families be kept together. However, to return to Croatia, Members are aware from their geography and history books that Croatia has a population of 4.5 million, of which 86% are aged between 15 and 64. As I stated previously, the labour force comprises approximately 1.7 million people and its unemployment rate is approximately 18%, which is...

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 May 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...housing, particularly for people with disabilities. The housing adaptation fund within the remit of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is being cut by 40%, from €54 million to €34 million nationally. This fund is allocated to local authorities to provide for adapting private housing to meet the needs of disabled people, ranging from children...

Organ Donation: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2013)

Finian McGrath: ..., the cost of running the health service is a matter which regularly arises in the presence of the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly. The cost of keeping someone on dialysis for ten years is €750,000. If that person underwent a transplant, the position would be different. We should all make an effort to become donors. I have been one for a number of years. However, there is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Proposed EU Directive on Counterfeiting: Motion (1 May 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...that counterfeiting is a major issue and we would all be opposed to it. I have three brief questions for the Minister. He said that organised crime groups have caused a financial loss of up to €500 million since 2002. Does that figure of €500 million cover all of the European Union? Does he have figures or statistics for the loss caused by counterfeiting in Ireland? My...

Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Finian McGrath: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013 and welcome the prospect of closing a loophole worth approximately €55 million per annum. It might surprise Deputy John Paul Phelan to learn that I agree with him on the need to increase revenue by preventing scams or tax avoidance. In the context of our current economic crisis, €55 million...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...figure of $1.6 trillion internationally is a lot of money on which many countries could survive, particularly during the current economic crisis. Moreover, the figure is consistent with the 2% to 5% range previously established by the International Monetary Fund to estimate the scale of money laundering. It is important to consider the scale of the crisis internationally. When one then...

Credit Reporting Bill 2012: Second Stage (28 Mar 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...should be contrasted with the greed that was evident. Most people want to make an effort. With the personal insolvency legislation coming down the track, I urge everybody to support strongly the 95% or 96% of people who want to make an effort but who just need flexibility and support to deal with their debts. We must ensure they receive a proper hearing in regard to holding on to the...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...in more money because of efficiencies. Overall, nearly 43% of the national population has free access to GP services under the General Medical Services scheme. As 1 February 2013, there are 1,855,797 medical cards, equating to over 40% of the national population. There are 130,301 GP visit cards, representing nearly 3% of the population. Expected activity in 2013 for medical cards and...

National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2013)

Finian McGrath: ...for this approach is to help generate funds to build a new national children's hospital. I welcome that part of the proposal. No figure has been adopted although figures in the region of €400 million and €600 million have been mentioned. The primary change in the Bill is to establish an independent national lottery regulator, who will be paid by an annual levy paid by the...

Care Services: Motion [Private Members] (18 Dec 2012)

Finian McGrath: ...Deputies had the brass neck to claim they prevented cuts to education and health. Tell that to those in receipt of services for the disabled, funding for which was cut by 3% last week, or to the 350 profoundly deaf children on the waiting list for life-changing implants. The €11 million cut to post-leaving certificate courses hit the most disadvantaged. Deputies should stop...