Results 341-360 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2002 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (24 Jun 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I welcome the Bill and I welcome the Minister of State to the House for consideration of these amendments. Clearly, significant amendments were made to this Bill in the Dáil. It is a pity we have only a short period of time and only one opportunity to speak here in the Seanad. Nevertheless, I welcome the Minister's and the Department's open attitudes to the proposals put to them in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jun 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I accept that the Leader of the House could not have been aware of the level of amendment of the Arts Bill. The fact that it was amended to such a great extent in the Dáil meant that it came to this House in a form satisfactory to us. The level of debate in the Dáil meant that we were quite happy with the Bill. The Leader of the House wanted to provide sufficient time for discussion of it...

Seanad: Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed). (25 Jun 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I welcome this debate. As the Leader pointed out, this House has been given the opportunity to be the first to debate these important reports which were published last week by the Department of Health and Children and the Government's announcement of a reform programme arising from them. We have already heard some interesting comments. I listened carefully to Senator Minihan, in particular....

Seanad: Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed). (25 Jun 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Senator Minihan will know that we all have monitors in our rooms and are well capable of listening to debates while we do other work.

Seanad: Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed). (25 Jun 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for restoring order. I wish I had more than 15 minutes because I have a lot to say about these three reports, of which we are debating two. The Hanly report will be the third to be published. It will constitute a very important part of the analysis of the problems within the health service and the way forward in terms of a framework for reform and change. I do not...

Seanad: Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed). (25 Jun 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is the other way around. I presume that the Hanly report will balance that out to some extent. The issue of democratic accountability is important in the context of the reform and the total abolition of the health boards. One only need only consider issues such as the blood scandal. Democratic accountability is extremely important, as is the way in which the system of accountability is...

Seanad: Arts Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Jun 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I commend the work of the Minister and his officials on this legislation. I know it did not spend a lot of time in this House but it had a long period of consideration and had amendments made to it in the other House. I wish the Department and all the players connected with the arts industry every success in the future with the new framework outlined in the Bill. I hope it signals a...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I wish to comment on the points raised by Senator Higgins, which are echoed and agreed with by Senators right around the House, regarding supports for Deputies and Senators and the ongoing need for the development of supports for both groups considering their increasingly onerous roles. There are increasing demands on public representatives. Members know it is essential for a public...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: A lot more even than in recent times. In recent months a huge number of Bills have been initiated in this House. In fairness to Senators, we have done a good job but would probably have done better if we had research facilities available to us. We are willing to have legislation initiated in this House and carry out that role. Judging from the response of Departments and various Ministers...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support Senator Higgins's amendment since it makes eminent sense. It would express regard for the standing of this House if the amendment was accepted by the Minister of State and, despite what he said, I ask him to reconsider it.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support Senator Higgins's amendment and echo his sentiments in this regard. It is very important and I am surprised the Clerk of the Seanad was not included ab initio in the legislation. It is very important that he or she is included specifically in the Bill. The Minister of State in his remarks on earlier amendments appeared to take the view that the commission should be left to do its...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support Senator Higgins's amendment. It is important, in terms of the construction of the commission, that it should include a representative of the staff of the Houses. One can think of boards throughout the country at various levels, and not only in the public sector, where the voice of the worker is heard. Considering the power and the role of this commission, particularly in relation to...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: If, when reading the subsection, one omits paragraph (a), it makes more sense.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Senator, without reaction.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I heard the interview given by Mr. Freddie Woods, the cardiologist at Crumlin Children's Hospital, on the radio this morning. I agree with other Senators that he was extremely fair in what he said. I welcome the inquiry by the Minister for Health and Children into this serious and important matter. It is worth pointing out that, over the last number of weeks in Crumlin hospital, 25 beds have...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is the way to do it.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is hard to follow those great and stirring words from Senator O'Rourke, not that I believe the Minister will listen, even though the contribution of such an eminent and long-standing Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas should be taken on board. One should have thought that if we had any sense and the system worked, the views of someone like Senator O'Rourke would be taken into account....

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 8: In page 9, line 23, to delete "and".

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Could we not debate for another 15 minutes?

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support my colleague, Senator Ryan, in regard to the number of amendments which have come before us this morning. I am concerned at the speed at which it appears we are being forced to deal with them. Will the Leader consider a temporary amendment to Standing Orders to allow us to deal with the Bills section by section? There are 62 amendments to the Protection of the Environment Bill, some...