Results 321-340 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Alex White: In her remarks at the outset of the debate, the Minister reminded us about the progress made in the past ten years on this issue and she is correct in this. This point is often made by Ministers in these debates and when it is the wonder for me is not the improvement made in these ten years but the slow pace of improvement. This is in light of the incredible prosperity we had during this...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Alex White: The reason I am perplexed about this matter is that the Minister gives the impression of a major level of disagreement, argumentation, debate, and scratching of heads among the experts. Where is the evidence of this? Will the Minister publish this for us? A leading member of the task force of 2001 stated the unbiased literature reviews and related research of the task force undoubtedly...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I only have three or four minutes to speak and I ask the Minister to indulge me. If the Minister believes as strongly as she appears to that ABA is one of a range of options and should not be given centre-stage, will she publish the convincing evidence she appears to have read? When she makes her argument she does so second-hand. She states all of this evidence exists. Will the Minister...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Is there a single person who does not favour a child-centred approach? Is there a single person who believes this is anything other than an attempt to do what is best for children with autism? For the Minister to make a statement like that in the cut and thrust of a debate is unnecessarily divisive. Everyone is for a child-centred approach.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Alex White: The Minister will have an opportunity to respond. I have had to listen to Easter lilies and everything else for the past two hours. I will take my last three speaking minutes. I received a letter from the parents of an eight-year old autistic boy in Rathfarnham, Dublin. The father informed me that he could testify to the efficacy of the ABA methodology in reaching children such as his son....

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Transport to the House for a debate on the proposals of the consultation document he has published in respect of public transport and transport strategies. I am particularly interested in Dublin city but it is clearly a national question and a crisis that affects the entire country. It is commendable that the consultation document appears to...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: A few months ago the leadership of the Green Party described the Taoiseach as "dead man walking" on the basis of what we knew then. With what we know now, how else can we describe him?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: When the Senator is covered by privilege.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: No one ever said it was.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Is that in order?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: On a point of order, that is an accusation that the tribunal does not have fair procedures. That is quite a serious allegation, a Chathaoirligh. It must be out of order.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: That is out of order, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: That is what Fianna Fáil hopes.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: The Senator has a problem with the Taoiseach's own words.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: The Taoiseach is condemned by his own words and admissions.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Could we hear the Minister of State's comment on that?

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I understand what the Minister of State is saying and I acknowledge that his Department has prepared these new amendments in the context of the strong and compelling arguments put forward by Deputies on all sides in the Lower House. My party colleagues in the Dáil raised this matter and, as the Minister of State correctly indicated, the amendment tabled in the names of Labour Senators...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I agree wholeheartedly with Senator Mullen's contribution. I have heard the argument made and have noted the Minister has made statements in the Dáil and elsewhere to the effect that essentially, this Bill was a piece of criminal legislation and was not an appropriate place in which to deal with such measures. Perhaps the Minister of State will respond to Members in due course in this...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: Once again I find myself in full agreement with Senator Mullen's comments on his amendment, which is more or less identical to the one proposed by my party. I am perplexed by some of the arguments put forward by the Minister of State on this occasion. Not only I am entirely unconvinced by them, but also they raise other questions in my mind. The Minister of State is right in saying we need...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Alex White: I will let that go.