Results 2,001-2,020 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is the final Order of Business of this Seanad. During its lifetime-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: No Order of Business is planned for tomorrow, unless there is a sitting next week.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: This has been an extraordinary period in political life and the lives of the people. It has been marked by dramatic unemployment, banking, economic and financial crises. We were told that there was a liquidity crisis in the banks, that the actions being taken would not be expensive for the country and that matters would be corrected quickly. As we have seen, that was not the truth. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: While the points about the Government's management abilities are addressed collectively, I pay tribute to Members on all sides for the hard work they have put in and the commitment they have shown in responding to the political challenges with which this Seanad had to deal. I also thank all those who support the work of the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Senator could have taken on the industry in terms of generic drugs.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Why did the Senator's party not bring it in?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Report and Final Stages (29 Jan 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: We are hearing more behind the scenes stories about legislation now, but everyone in the House welcomed the civil partnership legislation. I support the recommendation. It is important that we move as quickly as possible towards the consequences that arise in financial terms and they should be dealt with under a finance Bill. The key question is whether this recommendation will move that...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Report and Final Stages (29 Jan 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I think the Minister will agree that the information about bank bonuses has come out in a drip feed manner in recent years. The public continue to be horrified at the information that has been emerging. As a majority shareholder in many institutions, does the Minister have access to all the information in respect of bank bonuses?

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (22 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Office of the Minister for Drugs remains in the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, pending a final decision by Government on its relocation.

Written Answers — Family Mediation Service: Family Mediation Service (22 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand from the Family Support Agency that the family mediation service for the Waterford area has been temporarily transferred to the Wexford office, which is located at 32 Key West, Custom House Quay, Wexford. I am advised that this situation has arisen because of the temporary absence of one of the two members of staff based at the Waterford office and that every effort is being made...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (22 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has agreed revised arrangements in relation to constituency offices for Ministers and Ministers of State. It is intended that arrangements in respect of my own constituency office, and the constituency office of the Minister of State at my Department, Donnchadh Mac Fhionnlaoich Uasal, T.D., will be made shortly in line with these revised arrangements.

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (22 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Taoiseach announced in Dáil Éireann on 9 March 2011 his intention to establish a Department of Children and I was subsequently appointed the Minister for Children and assigned to the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs as an interim measure. I have been advised that primary legislation is required to establish the new Department of...

Written Answers — Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta: Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (22 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Mar is eol don Teachta, chuir Pobal, a dhéanann bainistiú ar an gClár Forbartha Áitiúla agus Pobail thar ceann mo Roinne, tús in Éanáir 2010 le hiniúchadh ar an gcomhlacht atá luaite aige. Tá an obair sin fós ar siúl agus, go dtí go mbeidh bailchríoch curtha uirthi, níl ar mo chumas aon rud a rá faoin gceist.

Written Answers — Policy on Volunteering: Policy on Volunteering (22 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department funds a network of twenty two Volunteer Centres nationally. It also funds Volunteer Centres Ireland (VCI) and Volunteering Ireland (VI), the umbrella bodies responsible for developing best practice within the network. VCI and its member centres encourage all community and voluntary organisations that work with volunteers to have in place a suitable volunteer policy. The...

Seanad: EU Regulation on Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters: Motion (24 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his congratulations, which I appreciate. This amends an existing proposal that sets out jurisdiction rules that apply in international cases involving mainly EU citizens. On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, I thank Senators for agreeing to deal with this matter at short notice and within a very tight timeframe. Their co-operation in...

Seanad: EU Regulation on Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters: Motion (24 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all of the Senators who contributed to the debate on the motion. The point has been made that it will have very practical consequences and lead to greater efficiency which will be to the benefit of all citizens. The timely exercise of our right to opt in to discussions at this time will maximise our ability to influence the shape of the outcome of the negotiations and confirm our...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (29 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector, under which the organisation referred to by the Deputy has been funded, commenced in 2008 with the aim of providing multi-annual funding to national organisations which provide coalface services to disadvantaged target groups. The three-year contracts were concluded at the end of 2010. On 16 December 2010,...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (30 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Pobal (formerly ADM Ltd) was established by Government in 1992, in agreement with the European Commission, to access funding for the purpose of fostering local development, promoting social inclusion, reconciliation and equality, and countering disadvantage through local and social economic development. While originally tasked to distribute EU funding, the size, scale and range of programmes...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (30 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Dormant Accounts Acts provide for an annual transfer by credit institutions and insurance undertakings of monies in accounts determined to be dormant into the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF). Since its establishment in April 2003 to the end of February 2011, the transfers to the DAF have totalled some €589m, which includes interest earned of some €35m. Funds reclaimed in that period by...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (31 Mar 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together. In January 2011, the company in question, which is a client company of Údarás na Gaeltachta, announced its decision to cease the frozen production element of its operations in the district referred to by the Deputy, due, according to the company, to increases in the cost of raw materials, a decline in sales and increased competition. I...