Results 3,221-3,240 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like to continue in the same vein as my Seanad colleagues, particularly following Senator Bradford's remarks. If Arthur's Day was health day, it would not enjoy the same notoriety. Let us call a spade a spade, alcohol is embedded in our culture; that is the fundamental problem we have never grappled with. I call today for Arthur's Say to sponsor a drugs day and in that show how...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Fairness must be at the core of the debate on universal payments. We must face up to the question of equality. Since when were we all equal? We must take the approach of assessing each person according to his or her means. A balance must be struck in the debate because, currently, middle-income families are being squeezed as well. In fact, the evidence is that they are the ones paying...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: For once.

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is a good day for all of us. Nelson Mandela's comment to the effect that "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children" highlights the stage we have reached with the referendum on children's rights. I compliment the Minister, who has taken the lead in respect of this matter and spent a great deal of time researching it, on the work...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I apologise. Given that foster parents may now be enabled to adopt the children they originally fostered, will there be any change in the assessment of foster parents? How will the due weight be given to the views of the child? What type of new training will be available to judges or experts in order to assess these views, given the age of the child, or the influences or pressures being...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (3 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are looking at proposed Articles 42A.2.1° and 42A.2.2°, which are part of the same section but are separate points. For that reason, Senator Mullen's argument does not add up. The proposed Article 42A.2.1° deals with where the State must take the child into care because of neglect, but the proposed Article 42A.2.2° deals specifically with the test of failure of the parent and in the...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (3 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It does.

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (3 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is implicit in the failure test.

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (3 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: My point is that the three-year rule strikes a very good balance because in the case of a very young child, three years is significant. It is quite a long time in terms of the formative development of the child.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I note the very sensible and inspirational words uttered in the Dáil by Mr. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament. He spoke about the importance of the Heads of State honouring their agreement that sovereign and bank debt be separated. He stated clearly that unless that happened, the citizens of Europe would lose trust in the Union. We need to stand firmly behind this view....

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish to be associated with the comments on St. Patrick's Institution. It was a very wise move by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to state earlier this year that the institution was no longer a suitable place for 16 year olds and 17 year olds. I refer in particular to the report in The Irish Times about a Garda sergeant's wife who spoke anonymously...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This all points to the need for this country to grasp every opportunity for growth. Yesterday I attended an EU meeting which, in my view, brought hope. It showed that if this country moves quickly to implement the EU services directive we will increase our growth by 2.4% GDP. Let us do it. In addition to the Minister, Deputy Burton, we must ask the Minister of State at the Department of...

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank Senator Noone for the one minute of her speaking time. I appreciate it. I have one main point to make to the Minister of State, who is most welcome. He is a former Member of this House. We sat together in the Chamber. I congratulate him on his Ministry. We are expecting great things.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I know he can deliver them. There is no pressure whatsoever. As a nation we have a dangerous relationship with alcohol. It is a culture ? the word should not be misunderstood. If something is part of the culture then it is accepted. One of the most shocking things I learned recently was from the child deaths report. A total of 196 children died in care in the past ten years, and 68 of...

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is a difficult job to be a parent, not to mind being under the influence of alcohol as well. Many of those concerned became parents sooner than they planned because they got pregnant as a result of being under the influence of alcohol. We must tackle the issue. The Minister of State is now in charge of primary health care. He has a key resource in public health nurses.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will finish. I apologise but I wish to make this point. Public health nurses knock on 10,000 doors a day. I am the patron of the association and they tell me about it every day. They can detect where child welfare issues relating to alcohol arise. I urge the Minister of State to please involve them in the solution-----

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----and to involve also the Child and Family Support Agency.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Minimising Unemployment: Discussion with Department of Social Protection (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Minimising Unemployment: Discussion with Department of Social Protection (17 Oct 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the officials. I am sorry for being late. I am rushing to the Seanad. I would like to endorse much of what Deputy Conaghan has just said. I am hugely impressed with the very broad range of work that is being carried out under community employment schemes throughout the country. I am from Galway. A recent event in the Shantalla area of the city brought all of the community...