Results 3,781-3,800 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Brian Hayes raised the Garda Síochána Bill. It is the intention to bring the Garda Síochána Bill back to the Seanad during the last week of this session to deal with amendments made in the Dáil. Senator Maurice Hayes mentioned that he did not think it should be left on ice for too long or the momentum towards reform would be lost. Senator Brian Hayes thought there would be time...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Perhaps it was a case of uisce faoi thalamh. This is a great opportunity for restaurants and they should now also function as cafés where one can have small portions of food with a drink. Senator O'Meara wishes to stop the Garda Síochána Bill and she supports Senator Maurice Hayes in what he said on the matter. She also expressed concern at the outcome of the Morris tribunal. I agree with...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I think that the proposal on restaurants is a good idea and that the Minister, Deputy McDowell, is a sensible man. He recognised what he could and could not do.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: He was able to shift his ship quite quickly into the idea of restaurants having licences. Senator White referred to 40% of chief executives not wanting women at the top of their companies. In fact they did not say that; they said that women would not make it to the top. She said that targets should be set and achieved. Senator White also referred to the decision on Portmarnock Golf Club at...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Henry points out that 600 to 700 doctors are needed according to the Hanly report and that the Minister for Education and Science should come to the House to discuss the enrolment policy and the numbers studying medicine. That is one aspect of Hanly on which we would all agree. I will try to arrange that. Senator Leyden asked for a debate on the situation in Palestine. We did not have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Coghlan suggests the Garda Síochána Bill be parked for six months but if that happened everyone would complain and question why it was parked. The Senator is aware of this. He asked for further consultation on Dingle and I hope that can be facilitated. Senator Bannon referred to the report on charges in nursing homes, which he alleges was censored. He also referred to the Cabinet...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator is winding me up. Senator Maurice Hayes points out that the Oireachtas will decide on the Garda Síochána Bill and we appreciate the role he will be playing. The Senator did not think the Bill should be put on ice. Senator Quinn referred to the quality of water and how more vigilance was needed in that regard. I cannot report on Senator Glynn as this was a matter between himself...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Ulick Burke refers to the BMW region and notes there is a serious underspend of capital. We will seek the presence of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Senator McHugh referred to the status of the Irish language and pointed out that Irish graduates now know two official languages in Irish and English. I never thought I would see that. Instead of having...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Yes, they would.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I have sympathy with Senator Terry's viewpoint, though that does not mean I will support her amendment. Building regulations are now quite demanding. Any current planning application for a house must allow for a conversion in the future, if that were to be needed for a person with a disability. No doubt Senator Terry feels that if no legislative demand for disability access is made, people...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Were those issues allowed to be debated in the Dáil? I do not think they were because I understand the rule with regard to a charge upon the State applies there also.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I agree with the amendment before the House. The proposed new section 6 states that the Minister "shall, not later than 5 years after the commencement of this Act, carry out a review of the operation of this Act". Will the five-year review be an ongoing review? I know the Minister will carry out an initial review, but I would like to know whether the review will be ongoing.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It could start after a year.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Will it be an ongoing review?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Minister of State was in the Department of Education and Science when I was the Minister in that Department and when this process started. The difficulty is getting the professional staff that will be needed to meet all the requirements that will be shown up by the assessment. One can compel a Government to give a timeframe but, sadly, that timeframe might not be capable of being complied...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Will it show up the professional vacuums as well?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Will the regulations list the various types of disabilities by name and the assessment period needed?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: We all share Senator Terry's concern that there is fine intent but that the person being assessed might be let go. Does the assessment falter and fail them? I read many of the submissions which were made and this is what people are worried about. Their concern is motivated by doing good for the person and safeguarding that the applicant is assessed within a specified period. This is laid out...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Can the Senator explain what she means?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: That person would be an advocate.