Results 241-260 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Ann Ormonde: He has withdrawn it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I support the points raised by Senator Henry regarding the new professional health care Bill due to come before the House. Semi-professionals, who call themselves professionals, have attended courses that are not validated. These courses are mushrooming throughout the country and there is a strong case for addressing this anomaly. In many cases, people operate as counsellors and we do not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jun 2004)

Ann Ormonde: Some very fine initiatives have been introduced by the Government over the past few months regarding care of the elderly. However, in the implementation programme there is confusion as to which Department deals with which initiative. I ask that the Minister come to the House and clarify the situation and that we might have statements on those programmes and initiatives. While I compliment the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Ann Ormonde: Is the Senator advising us?

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I congratulate the Taoiseach on his role as President of the EU for the past six months, which is coming to an end this week. It included welcoming the accession countries on 1 May and bringing the draft treaty to a grand finale. I was proud of the role played by the Taoiseach, backup staff, including senior civil servants and the gardaí, during the EU-US summit last weekend. It was a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator is right.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I would welcome a debate, perhaps in the next session, on the whole area of sponsorship which has been prompted here this morning. I also want to compliment the GAA report on the issue. We all know about the dedication and the commitment by the GAA and the negative impact that sponsorship can have on young people's lives. It is bigger than that and we need a debate on the whole area and on...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Jun 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State. I am pleased she is present to hear the debate on this issue as I know she has empathy with the issue given her previous background of educational psychology. I am glad the Title of the Bill has been changed because it represents a holistic approach to education for children with special educational needs and provides us with the freedom to ensure the rights...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, and thank Senator McCarthy for giving me the opportunity to contribute on the Bill. I listened carefully to the comments being made across the floor and agree with much of what was said during the debate. I live close to the area which has been the subject of the long-running saga surrounding the extension of the M50 to the south-eastern...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and I congratulate him on taking time to draw up this legislation. He considered the position that applied four years ago when the Bacon report emerged, when there was an escalation in house prices and when many people were obliged to avail of rented accommodation. He looked at what was available during that period, a time when there was no standardisation and...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: The Minister of State must inform the public of the good work he is doing. The notice to quit provision should be more flexible. I recall one case of a woman with two children having to leave the family home. She moved into private accommodation and placed her children in the local school. However, as the landlord needed the house back for family reasons, the woman was given notice to quit,...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: This is good legislation but the public needs to be informed. A new breed of young landlords see their properties as their pension schemes. Those landlords, as well as tenants, will welcome the various structures and boards provided for in the Bill. The legislation is balanced and very fair to all parties concerned.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I also raised this point on Second Stage. In making an assessment of a child which will form the basis of an education plan, we must bear in mind that a person aged 18 years may have a mental and reading age of six years. I am concerned there will be no continuity. Will a child who reaches 18 years of age in the middle of an educational programme be unable to continue the programme after the...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Motion. (7 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I move: That Seanad Éireann: Commends the members of the Government on the hugely successful EU Presidency and thanks them for all their efforts which have ensured that the reputation of the country has been greatly enhanced world-wide; commends the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, and the team of public servants who ensured that...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Motion. (7 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: Ours was a great Presidency which reflected very well on the country. As the Minister of State said, we are a small nation but we wear the green jersey very well. When the going gets tough, we get going. We have a superb Civil Service, which reflects our educational system, as we saw with the superb brains behind the scenes that delivered on each programme stage by stage. Many contributors...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Motion. (7 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: It did not arise, even at a time when Ireland was on the international stage. We have risen to the challenge and no longer suffer from an inferiority complex or low self-esteem. We have made our role in Europe work. The new constitution has evolved from positive thinking. I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, well and I hope his portfolio will not be changed, although there may be good...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Motion. (7 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: Due to the Minister of State's understanding of European affairs, he should be the key person to push this positive thinking forward. The media is now beginning to come round, but I ask them to adopt a positive role in the next six months because we are in a make or break situation. Citizens want us to work for them and we must make them understand that the EU constitution is for the good of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I share the views expressed by all Senators on the North of Ireland and the traumatic situation in the Middle East. We have discussed the number of road deaths in recent weeks, but I would like to emphasise particularly the age profile of those who have died. We need to ask a fundamental question — why is it happening? The rules, regulations, directives and principles which are laid down...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister and thank him for his broad outline of the policies and objectives of the Bill and also for clarifying some of the problems that have emerged in recent days that have been a cause for concern to many, including me. In his reply, I urge the Minister to reinforce his comments on those issues to counteract the spin-doctoring that may have gone on in recent days. In recent...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Ann Ormonde: The Senators opposite are engaging in political point-scoring. What is the difference between introducing the Bill now and doing so in six months? I ask the Minister to pursue this concept because it is good and to ensure the business plan will be a success. The right business people, who know what they are talking about, should be put in place. If the right people are doing the right jobs,...