Results 321-340 of 375 for speaker:Margaret Cox

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Margaret Cox: On St. Valentine's Day there was a different reason.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Margaret Cox: I thank the Minister, first, for spending a great deal of time looking at the Private Members' Bill when I presented it to him. There were initial discussions between the Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It will send a strong message to the consumers if we state that we want to protect them and we will do this. I am more than happy to accept the...

Seanad: Hospital Infections: Motion (14 Feb 2007)

Margaret Cox: I wish to speak about my experience when I was a member of the former Western Health Board. A number of the hospitals in the Western Health Board region which are old and have poor facilities are open territory to allowing the spread of MRSA or encouraging it to develop even further. Merlin Park Regional Hospital, the acute orthopaedic hospital for the region, was built in the early 1930s...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: I am tempted to fulfil a prophecy for which my colleagues are waiting — that I will propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I do not intend to do that today.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: Today is International Women's Day. We have seen the hullabaloo in the press in recent days about the Trócaire advertisement and the issue of young women in African countries. It is the responsibility of those of us who are lucky enough to be in government in first world countries to examine our responsibility and the role of women in politics and government. I ask the Deputy Leader and...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: I am aware the issue of the rape case in County Clare was raised on yesterday's Order of Business. Many fine Senators spoke on the issue and the Leader acknowledged that and said it was important to have a debate. The time for discussion is over and we need to ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform what action he proposes to take. He must outline that action so that we know...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: I acknowledge the statement made by the Leader of the House and accept her good faith. I wish to strengthen her hand with the Minister by proposing that she emphasise to him that it would be important to discuss the matter during the debate on the Defamation Bill 2006, or at another time today on foot of an amendment to the Order of the Business. If the Minister is not prepared to debate...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: I accept that. I withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: Yesterday, I asked the Leader to try to facilitate a debate with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand that through no fault of the Leader, she was unable to do so. I also understand the Tánaiste will address the issue in the Dáil today under the Criminal Justice Bill 2007 and is unavailable to us. For that reason, I do not intend to table an...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: For the manner in which we have dealt with issues under the Tánaiste's portfolio, he owes it to the House to discuss this serious matter. I am not calling, as Senator Norris stated yesterday, for a debate on mandatory sentencing or any particular solution. I am just calling for a debate. Some women believe the message sent by the judge two weeks ago means they cannot report rapes to the...

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 29 (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: I wish to move a motion under Standing Order 29 for the Adjournment of the House on a specific and important matter of public interest, namely, the water supply crisis in Galway. More than 90,000 people are affected by the contamination of the water supply in Galway, resulting in 93 cases so far of serious gastric illnesses and the people of the county being denied their basic human right of...

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 29 (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: I thought I was allowed to speak.

Seanad: Request to Move Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 29 (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: How then can I convince the Cathaoirleach that the matter is of national importance?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: It is important to recognise that as the Minister of State said: This is the largest social welfare package in the history of the State at €1.41 billion, announced in last December's budget. This substantial investment brings total expenditure on social welfare this year to €15.3 billion, or almost €1 for every €3 of current Government expenditure. One of the great things about being...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: Let me cite a further example based on my having spent three terms of pregnancy while a Member of this House, bearing in mind the circumstances that would obtain if I, as a Senator, did not earn enough money to allow me to have only one job. It is quite acceptable for people to say a man must earn a certain amount to support a family but women may also need to earn such an amount. No...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: What is the State getting out of this? We continue to provide reasons for private landlords to buy houses to rent, to give them facilities that are not really adequate and to encourage individuals to do all sorts of funny things with rent because there is a cap on how much money can be paid. This is not right. I acknowledge that there have been some changes to the scheme but one must ask...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: Consequently, they are being forced to buy their water, which costs 39 cent per litre. It is not only poor families on social welfare who are affected but also families in middle-income households who have been experiencing increases in mortgage repayments, child care fees and other inflation related increases every month. I have four children. In this regard, has the Minister any concept...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: Next steps forward.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: On a point of order——

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Margaret Cox: I would like the Minister of State to give me an undertaking regarding the anomaly in section 50 which I raised. I have a better understanding of it having talked to the officials. The Minister, Deputy Brennan, should be made aware of the issue and we should deal with it on Committee Stage tomorrow.