Results 241-260 of 8,013 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business of Joint Committee
The Creative Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Apr 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank witnesses for their informative contributions. In Mr. Stokes's written submission, he referred to the success of the music industry and the State assisting artists in this regard. He referred to the fact that there were few State supports. What is Mr Stokes's view on the artists' tax exemption? It has had a positive impact on those starting out in their music careers, although it...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs: Motion (29 Apr 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I move: That Seanad Éireann: noting that: - 330,000 jobs were lost in this country during the tenure of the last Government; - unemployment peaked at 15.1% prior to the effects of the present Government’s job strategy being felt; - unemployment is on a steady downward curve; and - jobs are being created in all sections of the economy and across every skill-set; further...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs: Motion (29 Apr 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs: Motion (29 Apr 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today. What is clear is the success story he has within his Department and what the Government has done since we came into office in 2011. It is important we remind people of the difficulties that citizens had to go through since 2011. The only way we will eradicate poverty and achieve the services in areas such as health, education and housing...

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the distinguished former Senators and congratulate them and other members of the working group on completing this report so speedily. Most political commentators have praised the report. The decision in the referendum on abolishing the Seanad illustrates the desire of the people to retain this institution. However, during the campaign and in the aftermath it became clear that...

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: -----when at this time, as no changes have yet taken place, the majority of the citizens of Ireland residing here do not have a say in who is elected to the Seanad. The proposal in that respect is positive. I have one question for the former Senators regarding a recommendation of the implementation group that will have to report to the Taoiseach. Considering their experience in this House,...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 May 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I met representatives of the volunteer centre in Galway this morning as part of a briefing on National Volunteering Week 2015. They outlined the progress they have made. Ireland ranks very highly with regard to volunteerism. Approximately 20% of people in this country do not volunteer because they do not know where to access volunteering opportunities or how to get involved in the process....

Seanad: Early Child Care: Statements (13 May 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister to the house for this important debate on early child care. A recent newspaper report indicated a third of women in this country could not avail of work if they wished to due to the cost of child care. Several reports highlight the issues of the quality and cost of child care. The 2012 starting well index, published by The Economistintelligence unit, attempts to rate...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: International Agreements (14 May 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister to the House. The European Convention on Human Rights, which was drafted in 1950 and has been in force since 1953, has had a very positive effect on the lives of Europeans. I will not trouble the House with a list of all the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the positive effect they have had on this country and beyond. An effect that can be seen is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: International Agreements (14 May 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister for his assurances. One of the defining moments in our recent history was the constitutional settlement of Northern Ireland, on which people North and South of the Border voted. I do not think it should be undermined for any short-term political expediency in Westminster. As the Minister rightly said, human rights formed an integral part of that treaty not only as a...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I also welcome the positive outcome of the marriage equality referendum and rather than thanking members of my own party and others who campaigned so positively for it, I wholeheartedly commend the members of civil society groups who convinced the citizens to come out in a such a resounding fashion. I would like to raise the issue of startups. Last Thursday, in Galway, I attended a meeting...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I raise the issue of elderly patients being accommodated on trolleys in many accident and emergency departments across the country. A man aged almost 80 years was on a trolley in University Hospital Galway, UHG, for three days over the weekend before eventually being given a bed in the medical assessment unit. That is unacceptable. Everyone can appreciate that doctors and nurses do...

Seanad: Yeats 2015: Statements (9 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I also welcome the Minister to the House. Coming from the west of Ireland, I feel a particular connection to Yeats and am delighted to have the opportunity to speak tonight. He was, of course, our national poet and regarded as one of the foremost figures of English literature in the 20th century. He was also the first Irish recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature. Later Irish laureates...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Strategic Plan: Bord na Móna (9 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the witnesses. Bord na Móna is an important State asset. Mr. Quinn outlined that last year, its profits were €33 million. This is quite a turnaround when one looks back at Bord na Móna in 1998 when significant State intervention was needed. I know when the previous Government was listing State companies that were to examine their strategy and appropriate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Strategic Plan: Bord na Móna (9 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: With regard to the ownership model, the unique nature of what Bord na Móna is doing and this diversification, I would have my doubts about flotation or other methods. Has Mr. Quinn explored that as part of this plan?

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I also raise the issue of lead pipe contamination. Thousands of cases are coming to light, including 84 such cases in Galway. As Irish Water's work continues I am sure more will be discovered. I am pleased the Government has committed to assist those in financial need to carry out remedial work.I also call on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yesterday was world elder abuse awareness day, which was commemorated in a number of ways across the country. There was a public lecture at NUI Galway by the school of nursing and midwifery. The objective of the day was to raise awareness of elder abuse and how prevalent it unfortunately is. It is not confined to residential settings but can be carried out by a friend, neighbour, family...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I raise a matter which was raised in the House last week regarding the carrying out by Irish Water of refurbishment works in the Oranmore area. There was a great deal of concern in the business community in Oranmore at the fact that the works were taking place during the peak summer season. Last Friday, Oireachtas Members representing the Galway area met with Irish Water and representatives...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (17 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the legislation and the establishment of the Low Pay Commission. This is critical legislation. It is important that we have reasoned analysis on an annual basis of the costs of employment in the State. I thank the Minister of State for his excellent work in this area.

Seanad: Tackling Obesity in Ireland: Statements (17 Jun 2015)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the Minister. There are two points I wish to make in this debate. The first is that education is key to preventing childhood obesity and the second is that tackling obesity requires support for those who are affected. We have increasing rates of type two diabetes, especially in younger people. We also have increasing rates of cancer. According to Professor Donal O'Shea, the...