Results 3,341-3,360 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (8 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Glynn called for debates on fishing and type 2 diabetes. Senator Norris mentioned the Human Rights Commission report and I would very much like to read and debate it. Senator Ulick Burke raised the case of the four autistic children who were taken into care. I only know what I have read but I am sure there are many sides to that case and my hope is that the children will be best...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (8 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I spoke not of Senators but of public representatives. That was the wording I used. However, they are fellows of the Senator. Senator Ó Murchú wished to discuss the new planning guidelines. He has asked for a debate on them previously and we will seek to have the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, attend the House. Senator Browne raised the home...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. a1, a motion the subject matter of which is to be referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children for consideration, to be taken without debate. We are endeavouring to have a debate on this issue tomorrow. We have been in touch with the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children's office. The Tánaiste is before the committee currently and,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Yes, tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The matter will be discussed in the Dáil tomorrow between 1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. and we are seeking time tomorrow for a similar debate on the report. No. a1 is a procedural matter that must be agreed. The joint committee is meeting currently and, because the Tánaiste is attending the meeting, an exact time for the debate could not be ascertained. We will be informed later in this regard....

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Vincent Browne.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Finucane, the acting leader of the Opposition, referred to the Travers report but stated he would wait until tomorrow to comment definitely on it. He also referred to the IRA statement from the infamous P. O'Neill. The Senator set the tone for the mini-debate we have had. The statement was breathtaking in its chilling obscenity. One could hardly believe what one was reading or that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It was one of the weekend newspapers. It was something else to try to hold one's own in that atmosphere. I was amazed that somebody would seek to direct the tone of the debate in that way. Well done to the Senator. Senator Ryan referred to the quality of governance and stated that killing other people is murder, which it is, and that the killers are not republicans but murderous thugs....

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I am not in charge of those issues in the various Departments.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank the Cathaoirleach. As I read it, the Travers report made recommendations which if implemented would mean that maladministration would not be repeated. Senator Mooney called for a debate on emigrants and asked if that would be suitable when we return after the recess. Senator Norris said there was clear evidence of IRA criminality. If there was any doubt about that, the IRA laid it...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It would be rather silly to introduce a means test in the course of a by-election. Senator Quinn said we do not treasure or talk up enough the democracy we all share. He noted that in Egypt, where the opposition candidate is daring to challenge the leader, who has ruled for so long, a newspaper which would have supported the opposition candidate was suppressed. Thankfully that is the sort of...

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That Seanad Éireann requests the Joint Committee on Health and Children, or a sub-committee thereof, to consider, including in public session, the report on Certain Issues of Management and Administration in the Department of Health and Children associated with the practice of charges for persons in long-stay care in health board institutions and related matters, and to report back...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: This issue arose 28 years ago.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the Report on Certain Issues of Management and Administration in the Department of Health and Children Associated with the Practice of Charges for Persons in Long-Stay Care in Health Board Institutions and Related Matters, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 1.30 p.m., with the contributions of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Start it now?

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: That is not fair. The Senator has spoken but others might not have spoken on it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I am looking forward to that development.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: On a point of order, it is difficult for me to hear what Senators are saying when other voices can be heard.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Finucance, acting leader of the Opposition, asked why better estimates were not available on issues which were to be settled by the taxpayer. He wondered how the PAC report has concluded that an extra €700 million has to be paid for the redress scheme than was originally estimated. That is a fair point and I do not know why it arises. It is the same with roads and other issues. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: He has been demoted to the back of the House. I will speak during the debate on the Travers report this morning. If the Senator is present, he will hear what happened in the nine weeks I served as Minister for Health before I was chucked out.