Results 221-240 of 4,563 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish to share time with Senators Daly and Wilson. My time starts now.

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for his kind words. I was a councillor for 18 years so I know exactly how councillors feel today. My bugbear is the fact that town councils were abolished in 2014. In 2014 we had 1,627 councillors. We now have 949 councillors, with the loss of 678 councillors. That is an absolute disaster. From funding from local authorities, extra workloads, and even with the...

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Am I finished? I have so much more to say to the Minister, but I have to share.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I congratulate the Senators behind this Bill. There are some flaws in it, which I will go through them. However, the Bill is a start and the Minister needs to address it. While there are elements of the Bill with which we agree in principle, the Bill is flawed. It is also poorly drafted and we believe it could be in breach of Standing Order 178. It is clear that it would have the effect...

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with parts of it.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Bill is slightly flawed.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As previous speakers have said it is a good Bill but there are flaws in it.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We will.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am not speaking rubbish. Withdraw that. I spoke a lot of-----

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Some of the Senator's amendments were flawed.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (9 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The issue I raise is the building project at Knockbeg College, a boys' secondary school located approximately three miles from Carlow town and Graiguecullen. Its origins can be traced back to 1793. The school has 30 staff and approximately 420 pupils. In 1991 it was announced that a new school would be built, but 25 years later the project has not started. While I am aware that funding...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (9 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is great to see that Knockbeg is getting a new school but the building it is in now is simply unfit. It is a health and safety issue at this stage. The school is simply asking for some prefabs to ensure that nothing happens to any of the students. I believe they sometimes have to go home because there is no heating, which is unacceptable. In those circumstances, I ask the Minister of...

Seanad: Action Plan for Rural Development: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the plan but I have a number of concerns, for example there are 270 action plans in the plan. In my view that is a plan on a plan, which does not make a plan. There is a proposal that by 2020, approximately 135,000 new jobs will be created but where will the jobs be created? I represent rural County Carlow and was a councillor for years. What proposals in the plan will benefit...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Medical Card Eligibility (14 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: My motion relates to medical cards, for cancer patients in particular. I will offer one of many examples from people in my constituency who have come to me. In November 2016 I heard from a woman who applied for an emergency medical card. We went to the primary care unit in Carlow. The forms were completed and presented along with a letter from the doctor outlining the diagnosis and the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Medical Card Eligibility (14 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I acknowledge that considerable work has been done in the area of medical cards but there are still concerns. I outlined to the Minister of State, the details being sought by the HSE prior to it making a decision on the awarding of an emergency medical card. Therefore, what he said in that respect is misinformation. It is tough enough for people who are suffering with cancer or who have...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I offer my support to Sergeant Maurice McCabe and his family. We need to have that public tribunal of inquiry in order to get to the truth and the sooner the better for everybody's sake. I agree with the Tesco workers, as that issue needs to get sorted. We are all aware of the boundary changes, including a proposed change in my area, which I believe will not happen and which is very...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I want to highlight the issue of the Saplings school for children with autism and complex needs in Carlow. As was seen in this week's edition of The Nationalist, parents have had to come out to fight for their children's school. This school was started in 2007 by parents with autistic children. In 2010, the Department took over the school but its accommodation is too small with problems...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: These are issues involving disabilities, however.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I understand that but it is serious. I have raised the issues of Tír na nÓg and Holy Angels respite and day care services three times but got no answer from the Minister. I now have brought up Saplings but will get no answer. Will the Minister come into the House to address these issues? I am getting no answers. The Tír na nÓg service is still closed, which is a disgrace.