Results 721-740 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator should explain.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Leyden received it last year.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: It was Deputy Bruton.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I congratulate Senator Brian Hayes on being named Senator of the year, in succession to Senator Leyden, who was very modest about it but made very good use of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: He referred to it in his newsletters and I am sure Senator Brian Hayes will do the same.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I have received a note to the effect that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Seamus Brennan, will come to the House today to take Committee Stage of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007. All of us would want the relevant Minister to come to the House to take a Bill but there are moments when that cannot happen. Everybody is entitled to a little area of privacy in their...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Life should not be a treadmill every minute of every day and people must keep certain areas for themselves.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: He will attend today, however. The Senator also mentioned the Taoiseach's speech on Saturday. Sometimes, so as not to provoke controversy, we avoid gut politics in this House. However, we think he made a fine speech and are entitled to say so. He gave great credibility to the political system and it is outrageous that when we make definite promises, they are characterised as auction...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: We should talk about our own Chamber. Wherever Miss Prudence is, she will not be at the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator O'Toole called for a debate on the regions, on which I agree with him. He mentioned the Border, midlands and western region, and we are very pleased the road to Athlone will soon be completed. We are within budget and ahead of time.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I do not intend to be a pussycat.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Two studies, one by Senator Leyden and the other by Senator McHugh, will make interesting reading and I look forward to reading them. Senator O'Toole raised a point with which I have great sympathy, namely, the cases piling up against the Department of Education and Science. If what we read is correct, the Department seems determined to fight each one. It has always been a tenet of...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator talked about the creeping privatisation of public services and the collocation of public and private hospitals. He also called for a debate on the housing market and I agree that all aspects of that market are due for a debate in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Cox said 112 people were ill in Galway overnight and called it a national emergency. It is difficult not to agree with her and we must find a solution. We will try to locate the Minister to provide an answer. Senator Coghlan referred to the joint committee's report on the BMW region. He also asked about the Electoral Act and the litir um thoghchán. I am of the belief that nobody...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: For parties which run two or three candidates, such as Fine Gael, it could be construed as discriminatory so I will inquire about it. Senator Leyden referred to his and Senator McHugh's report. He also asked about An Post and said that 72% of letters posted today will reach their destination the next day but the remainder not until the following day. He called for a debate on An Post and I...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: From there it will proceed to Athlone so it is full steam ahead. Senator Mansergh also raised two aspects of privatisation with which he had a quibble. One was the sale of Irish Steel for one shilling——

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: ——one pound, by the then Minister, Deputy Bruton, to an Indian man who disappeared after three years. He also referred to the sale of the mobile telephone licences, about which more will be heard soon.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Henry suggested flood waters may affect the water supply. She also spoke about the lack of educational psychological services in schools. She said the school principal regarded the young woman who was recently murdered as a disruptive child who needed special help, which she did not receive. We will have to have a debate on that matter. I understand not enough educational...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Mary O'Rourke: I apologise. I referred to Senator McHugh earlier but it was actually Deputy McHugh. Senator McHugh is so full of initiative that I assumed it was him. I am surprised it was not.