Order of Business
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Senator Mark Daly: I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Walsh. It is curious that we extended an official invitation to the head of the Church of England and yet we do not seem to extend an invitation to the Pontiff. We invited Queen Elizabeth, who is the head of the Church of England, and extended her all the courtesy.
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Filed under Foreign Affairs, the Irish Overseas and Diaspora
7TH February 2012
Senator Mark Daly: I am interested in the answer to Senator Crown’s question. It was in the news, and the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton said it herself, that we had no position paper going into negotiations. There is no support for the common consolidated tax base on our corporation tax. We lost the vote on it as recently as last October. Just nine European countries supported us. Mrs. Merkel and Mr. Sarkozy want to have this wrapped up by the end of the year. We are going to lose control over corporation tax. The corporation tax rate might stay the same, but the fact that France—–
Acting Chairman (Senator Paschal Mooney): Does the Senator have a question?
Senator Mark Daly: I want to know why we did not have a position paper on corporation tax. On the question of debt write-down—–
Deputy Lucinda Creighton: We circulated many such papers.
Senator John Gilroy: Senator Daly is scaremongering.
Senator Mark Daly: We did not go into the negotiations with a position on the consolidated corporation tax base.
Acting Chairman (Senator Paschal Mooney): If the Senator wants to get a reply, he will have to conclude.
Senator Mark Daly: The answer is here.
Acting Chairman (Senator Paschal Mooney): I thank the Senator.
Senator Mark Daly: It has nothing to do with it.
Acting Chairman (Senator Paschal Mooney): I call the Minister of State.
Senator Mark Daly: The Government is not entirely tuned in. By the end of the year, France and Germany will have taken away whatever competitive advantage we have.
Acting Chairman (Senator Paschal Mooney): I cannot allow a discussion across the floor of the House.
Senator Mark Daly: I am wondering why the Government is—–
Acting Chairman (Senator Paschal Mooney): I ask the Senator to resume his seat.
Senator Mark Daly: I want to know why we did not go in with a position paper.
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Filed under Foreign Affairs, the Irish Overseas and Diaspora
Order of Business
7th February 2012
Senator Mark Daly: I support the amendment to the Order of Business. I commend the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and former Congressman, Mr. Bruce Morrison. I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the Irish overseas. There has been a push for many decades on the issue and I spent some time on Capitol Hill with former Congressman Morrison and Mr. Kieran Staunton. People are seeking a new visa Bill for the Irish, and Senator Schumer from New York has put forward legislation on the matter. Previously, there was a provision for the undocumented, whereby they would have been able to seek waivers; unfortunately, that will not remain in the Bill.
I know the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is coming to the House this afternoon and we will put the issue to him then. A general debate on the undocumented in Ireland would also be welcome, as families are suffering as a result of the inability of people and their loved ones to return from the United States for family events and bereavements. There will be no waiver provision in the Bill. There is an opportunity. The Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore, is going to the United States next week and he will be there again in March. I assume that the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and the White House would provide a government to government waiver, as they did for Mexico. That is nothing unusual. They allowed 48,000 Mexicans to receive a waiver. That would solve our undocumented problem literally overnight. I ask the Leader to organise a debate, not just today on foreign affairs as he has done, which I welcome, but also on the undocumented Irish in the United States and the provision of a waiver programme. The White House, and the Clintons who are great friends of this country, have simply not been asked. One could ask why that is the case.
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Filed under United States of America
Campaigners pushing for a new hospital in Kenmare have scoffed at comments made by Deputy Jackie Healy Rae who claimed it was his efforts that helped progress the project to its current phase.
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Filed under Active Citizenship
Senator Mark Daly leading a debate in the Seanad on the Corporate Manslaughter Bill which he introduced and saw the passing of the Bill to Committee Stage.
Stop cuts to the ambulance services
Official opening of the new Kenmare Hospital in May 2014 with then Minister for Health James Reilly and Hospital Matron Margaret O’ Sullivan.
