Results 3,161-3,180 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: All right, I will forget about him.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator asked about the critical infrastructure Bill which is currently being prepared in the Department and also about the Finance Bill. I have bad news in respect of the latter for the entire House. It appears we may have to be back in the House on 22 and 23 March to debate the Finance Bill. That is Holy Week, so Members will have their penance done in advance of Easter. This has yet to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Department of Education and Science is the lead player in that regard. Senator Paddy Burke raised the matter of public private partnerships. That question arose in the House before Christmas in the context of education. However, the broad question of public private partnerships should be dealt with comprehensively. I will seek to arrange a debate on that matter. I believe Senator Feighan...

Seanad: Tributes to Usher of Houses of the Oireachtas. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I believe the entire House agrees with the Cathaoirleach and wishes Mr. Edwards a happy retirement.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business today is No. 1, statements regarding the tsunami disaster in south-east Asia to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude at 1 p.m. with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 12 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed eight minutes and the Minister to be called upon to reply no later than five minutes before the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: That is correct.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Before I reply I wish to inform the House that a former Senator, Gordon Lambert, has passed away. The House will express sympathy tomorrow. I mention it now to give Senators an opportunity to prepare their contributions. Senator Brian Hayes, Leader of the Opposition, asked for a debate on libel laws and standards in journalism. It is ironic that it took the invasion of the privacy of a member...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It certainly merits a debate in the House. Senator O'Toole also raised the issue of intrusion into personal privacy by newspapers. The experience of the young man, details of whose private life were highlighted yesterday, was appalling. He was clearly a mature student, aged 29, but had got himself together and was going to Trinity College, and details of who he was and his parentage and so on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Will they be past their sell-by date?

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Mansergh stated that the gender imbalance in public appointments is beginning to thaw. Although I will not mention her name because it would not be correct to do so, we wish the new appointee to the post of Secretary General at the Department of Education and Science the best of good luck. The Senator also sought a debate on immigrant labour laws. This matter was raised before...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: He should be here.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: For whom the bell tolls. A debate would be worthwhile. Senator Quinn suggested that a court should be included in the new prison complex, which seems sensible. I am indebted to my colleague, Senator Leyden, who has informed me that a new courthouse was built and is operational outside the gates of Castlerea Prison. I thank the Senator for that information. Senator White wished to point out...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Who is the Senator's companion?

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Norris raised the issue of the management of roads and speed bumps and also the fact that the American ambassador did not turn up yesterday. He was told not to attend. Senator Feeney raised the issue of libel laws and privacy. She had raised the matter previously relating to the Anabel case. I will seek to have that debate next week. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform,...

Seanad: Tsunami Disaster: Statements. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I hope this will be the first of many visits to the House by the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill. The legislation was promised under Sustaining Progress. It is the result of the social partnership process and endless discussions between all the relevant bodies, including employee and employer representatives and the voluntary pillar. Listening to Senator O'Meara, I recalled my days of child rearing when parental leave was not available....

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Were it not for our membership of the EU, I do not believe we would have had any of this legislation.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: There is still a grudging attitude towards entitlements such as parental leave. This is an example of a deep-seated chauvinism which holds that women can stay at home and mind their children, notwithstanding the fact that employers are screaming out for employees, education can contribute to our economic well-being and we can ill afford to have people with talent and ability outside the...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I thought the public service gave paid parental leave. I would be keen to know which employers give it. I would like to know why we are so out of step with all those other countries — it is quite amazing. I think France has excellent paid parental leave which can be taken by mothers or fathers until the child is two years of age. It is only right that is the case. A grudging attitude is...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Dooley is a young father. Does he get up at night to tend to his child?