Results 281-300 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I echo the sentiments expressed by Senator Brian Hayes regarding the issue of the Northern Ireland talks and the ongoing difficulties that appear to be encountered by the parties in resolving the current set of issues. I underline the need for a debate and statements on this issue. I accept that this is a delicate issue, but it is important that we should discuss it as a matter of urgency. As...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Bill was initiated in the Seanad, as you pointed out, a Chathaoirligh, and clearly the Minister has been listening to a number of points raised by the Opposition in the Dáil and, indeed, by ourselves. He obviously did not listen to all of them since they are not all reflected in the amendments, but I welcome the level of flexibility shown by the Minister and thank him for it.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: There will be a review every three years and any designations made in the intervening periods will be covered by the following review. It is now clear to me. I thank the Minister of State for this clarification.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for the work which has gone into this legislation. It is clearly a reflection of a changed world, not only in the European context of communications and broadcasting with which we largely deal but also, particularly in the era of digital and satellite broadcasting, probably in a global context. Until a short while ago, this kind of legislation...

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements. (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: That concerned many women.

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements. (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Forty-eight hours after the national march.

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements. (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: They were pushed into it. That is why they did it.

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements (Resumed). (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Leader, in her absence, for arranging this debate. I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House for the debate. As one of those Senators who requested this debate, I acknowledge the early response to that call. This is an issue on which all of us have strong feelings, both as public representatives and individual citizens, with regard to the pervasive frequency of...

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements (Resumed). (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Absolutely not. As one who has campaigned for extension of the BreastCheck programme, I have been told on more than one occasion, for example, that there cannot be a centre of excellence at Nenagh General Hospital. That was never requested; what is being called for is an adequate level of service. People expect, as is their right, to have the best level of service which Ireland, as a wealthy...

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements (Resumed). (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Indeed, it does not. However, one does not believe that when one is 17, 18 or 21 years of age. When one starts to see wrinkles at the age of 32 years, one might start to think about it. The most powerful message to a smoker is received when someone he or she knows dies. Young people should be brought to places like St. James's Hospital to see people with emphysema dying from cigarette smoking...

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements (Resumed). (16 Apr 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: No one would need a sunbed on a day like today.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I agree that we need an urgent debate on what is no less than a crisis in the health service. That crisis is growing by the day. At the heart of the debate must be the question of who is accountable and answerable to the public for the growing crisis. To pick up the point Senator Finucane made regarding the national treatment fund, will all those who cannot undergo procedures due to bed...

Seanad: Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Motion. (7 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the motion. I note with interest the Government amendment to our motion because it appears there is little difference between them. I hope that before the end of the two hour debate, we may be able to come to some agreement. I am glad to note that we are, in effect, singing from the same hymn sheet. That is important because, as legislators, we have a major role to play not only in...

Seanad: Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Motion. (7 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Thank you. I know that the Minister and the Leader of the House are trying to resolve the issues regarding this motion. Wards containing new-born infants could often be filled with cigarette smoke – obviously ETS – following public visiting hours. I should have declared earlier that I am a former smoker, and one of the presents I received as a newly delivered mother was 200 cigarettes....

Seanad: Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Motion. (7 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Rubbish.

Seanad: Health Service: Statements. (13 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Into the ground.

Seanad: Health Service: Statements. (13 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Since this Seanad convened less than a year ago there have been a considerable number of debates on health, which is indicative of people's major concerns about the issue. One must commend the Minister on coming before the House on every occasion he has been asked to do so. Each time he has defended his position and set out what he is doing. That is commendable in terms of accountability,...

Seanad: Health Service: Statements. (13 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Perhaps. He also seems to be saying "If I keep saying it is working, it must be working and if I keep saying it is getting better, it must be getting better."

Seanad: Health Service: Statements. (13 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: If one is talking about the closure of local hospitals, as indicated by the headline in the Sunday Independent of 11 May—

Seanad: Health Service: Statements. (13 May 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: —which states that smaller hospitals should be closed. It would again appear that this headline came about as a result of a leak or that it was based on some sort of deduction about what will be contained in the Hanly report. If one is to believe the headline, it will mean that a hospital such as Nenagh General Hospital would lose either its acute hospital status or its accident and...