Results 201-220 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse the call for a debate on sentencing. I also endorse what Senator Henry said about the statement by the Minister for Health and Children on the Medical Defence Union and how it intends to operate insurance for consultants in future. This is becoming a very serious issue and I would welcome a debate. Illegal trafficking is becoming a major issue throughout the country and needs to be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, to come to the House for a debate on Saturday's horrific accident. There should be a co-ordinated plan for traffic management incorporating South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council and including input from the Minister. This is a serious matter which has...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister. I will be making many of the same points raised by Senator O'Toole. Of course, I must congratulate the Government on bringing this Bill forward. It is planning for the future regarding pension reforms for the public service; one could not deny that. There can be no smirking or otherwise in that regard. However, the first of the two points we must address is raising the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I support the call for a debate on higher education, particularly regarding the OECD report. I include in that the post-leaving certificate courses, the rationalisation of courses and how access can be encouraged through the PLC system. That would be very worthy of debate.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I am joining this debate without having done much reading on this issue. Senator Browne stated that he does not know of anybody who entered training college and qualified with a B.Ed. who did not go into teaching. The area is wide open. Many people make different choices. At 18 years of age a person may enter training college but at 21 the person may have a different philosophy regarding the...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: Is that the message? My understanding of what the Senator said is that those who leave training college automatically go into teaching. Is that what the Senator said?

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I accept that two thirds of the graduates would enter the teaching profession after graduation. However, it is possible for many——

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: May I finish? I listened——

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: It is not. How dare the Senator presume——

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: My point is that it is possible for people who have completed a course, whatever course it is, be it teacher training or whatever, to decide to enter other professions after they qualify. I do not see anything stupid in that statement. If the Senator does, I might revert his comment to him, but I will not do that.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I reiterate the point that when a student enters a training college, there is no contract guaranteeing a job on graduation. Students sometimes undertake a Higher Diploma in Education simply to do a module in an area that interests them. While a majority of students that undertake the higher diploma in education may teach when they graduate, the principle is that a BA or B.Ed. provides a...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I spoke at length on this issue on Second Stage. I agree with many of the points being made regarding those who will enter politics. As I said some nights ago, politicians will be affected unless they have plenty of money or a business to which they can return. If they enter politics at the age of 25 and find themselves no longer in politics at 35 — perhaps they never had a career before...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister and acknowledge the work he is doing to improve society. I will not go into the nitty gritty of the legislation because that will be teased out on Committee Stage but the Bill, which is long overdue, is welcome. It will attempt to improve the management structures, functions and objectives of the Garda. The ombudsman's commission will be set up and that will provide a...

Seanad: Address by Mr. John Hume, MEP. (3 Mar 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I will pay a brief tribute to John Hume. Long before I entered politics, I knew about him. I came from a background where Northern Ireland was the subject of constant discussion and John Hume's name kept coming up at the dinner table. I understood his vision from an early age and I am delighted, having listened to his contribution, that his vision still exists. This was empathy and a desire...

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion. (3 Mar 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, and I congratulate the Progressive Democrats on tabling this timely motion on education. The Lisbon Agenda sets out to improve competitiveness in Europe and good quality jobs are a priority, as the Taoiseach said at the spring Council meeting. In order to achieve this, we need to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I support Senator O'Toole's call for the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, to address the House on the new designer-type card and perhaps to indicate what information should be put on it. I would like the Leader to invite the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Roche, to update the House on EU Presidency activities and as regards the spring summit that will...

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I am delighted the Minister is here to listen to this debate. Is it any wonder the public and those in the Visitors Gallery are confused by the previous speaker? Nobody could understand a word he said during the debate.

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I appreciate that. I am pleased the Minister has come to the House and listened to what we have to put up with day in and day out. Whenever we have good news to present, this is the kind of reaction we get from the other side of the House. This is great news. The Minister is bringing life and vibrancy back to rural Ireland. It is good news for those who live and work in rural Ireland and who...

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Ann Ormonde: We brought it back. The bottom line is that if we had not made an effort to do that, we would not have a rural Ireland in ten years' time.

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I am a member of South Dublin County Council and have been a member of the General Council of County Councils for the past ten years. Like the Senator, I attended many conferences where debate took place. I remember being in Ennis 12 months ago when a member of Fine Gael sat beside me and a Labour Party member on my other side. They came out strongly and attacked An Taisce and I was delighted...