Results 281-300 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Second Stage (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: While I believe I have ten minutes, in deference to some of my colleagues who are present I will not use them all. However, I wish to reserve my right to so do. Like all Members, I strongly welcome the publication of this Bill. As Senators Boyle, Regan and others have noted, it has been subjected to rigorous and thoughtful debate in the other House. The Minister has been prepared in some...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I welcome the amendment agreed by Fine Gael colleagues in respect of the motion put down by the Fianna Fáil Members, which is the right way to proceed. On a point I have raised before in Private Members' debates, there is a limit to the extent to which we should politicise such issues. There is no doubt that when Government Members seek to congratulate the Government, irrespective of the...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I found myself unusually but happily in complete agreement with what Senator O'Malley had to say. I do not understand the rush to attack the UNFPA to which Senator Mullen seems to have succumbed. I understand and respect the views he holds, and he has articulated them very well in this House, but the notion that the UNFPA or other UN organisations cannot be trusted because they engage in...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: The kind of work for which the UNFPA is using its budget, and which appears to concern Senator Mullen, has to do with, for example, being part of ensuring a significant decline in maternal mortality in countries such as China, Cuba, Egypt, Jamaica, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Tunisia as more women have gained access to family planning and skilled attendance at birth, with backup...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I cannot understand how anybody could for a moment have a difficulty with such an organisation. The UNFPA is engaged in vital work to ensure we reverse the situation in our great, rich world whereby the risk of a woman dying as a result of pregnancy or childbirth during her lifetime is approximately one in seven in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone compared with approximately one in 30,000 in...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Senator Mullen did not mention contraception during his contribution. He used the phrase "coerced" at least 15 times but the notion that availing of family planning or legal, safe abortion is in all circumstances a coercive act or that a woman must be coerced in circumstances where she chooses to have an abortion is bogus. It is not in all circumstances——

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I recall a conversation with Senator Mullen before we both entered the House when he said the debates he looked forward to having with me and others would be calm, reflective and discursive but I cannot get through a sentence without being interrupted.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: It is because Senator Mullen does not agree with what I am saying.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: An estimated 200 million women in the world, despite what the Catholic Church and others say, wish to delay or avoid pregnancies without availing of family planning. I cannot understand why a policy would be in place anywhere to deny women access to family planning. I ask all Members and not only Senator Mullen why we would deny family planning to women. It is correct that the UNFPA and...

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Last week we debated what the Constitution means in the context of abortion and Senator Mullen probably disagrees with the Supreme Court in that regard.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: How many minutes were taken by my friend?

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Every year 90% of abortion related deaths and disabilities could be avoided if women had access to effective contraception. I have no concerns about the Government's position. I congratulate the Government on what it has done. It is vital it continues to make the contribution at international level that it has. Ireland should have no concerns, such as those expressed by earlier speakers,...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Will the Leader arrange a debate on a decision made by the Minister for Education and Science earlier this week and communicated to the NCCA on changes she proposes to make in the Leader certificate reform programme which she is currently promoting? I am speaking in particular about the decision to delay the introduction of technology, technological methods and the teaching of leaving...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Alex White: That is entirely different.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I take this opportunity to congratulate Cardinal Seán Brady on raising a very interesting and timely debate which ought to be held in this House and more widely about the balance that should be struck between what he described as individual wealth and adequate public provision of public services. He also pointed to the question of the primacy of the market and the fact that the market...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Whose fault was that?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Alex White: The Senator's colleague, Mr. Haughey.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Alex White: He also caused it.