Results 3,901-3,920 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Where is this leading?

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Sure.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: A great book.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are trying to see the pig here. I support what Senator Feargal Quinn and Senator Paschal Mooney said, namely, that the citation must include the words "abolition of Seanad Éireann".

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It would be very useful if the Minister of State deleted the word "may" and inserted "will".

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Gabh mo leithscéal. That is my first point. Second, I appreciate that the Minister of State has come back with a statement that he read into the record, which is a start, about the fact that there will be seven Stages to a Bill in Dáil Éireann. Where is that proposal? Why was that not put into this Bill? This is a very weak abolition Bill-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----because it does not propose how we can improve the other House. It could have been a reforming abolition Bill which would reform the Lower House. The Minister of State also mentioned that a review stage will be built into the new proposal in the Dáil, whereby all legislation from the previous year will be reviewed. Is that correct?

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That definitely needs to be clarified because I could see a massive choking up of the business of the House as a result of that. The Minister of State should clarify that matter, as well as telling us where that model came from. There are dangers in having a unicameral parliament. It would be dangerous for the Irish people to proceed to abolish the Seanad without first ratifying definite...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Yes. We currently have a general election at a maximum of every five years. A Bill to amend Standing Orders in one House, where there is only one House, would have such incredible power. There is no power to rethink these features. I believe the Government is serious but it needs to put some weight behind its proposals. It should enact legislation to reform the Dáil in advance of...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Must the committee meet within a year?

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I wish to make a point that I have probably never made in the House previously. I have observed in previous referenda the manner in which the Referendum Commission produces its booklet. It comes out too late.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is a point of information. By the time the information is published parties have made their positions clear and sometimes there is so much information available that people fail to read the balanced argument on time. I wish to make a recommendation in that regard.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I understand, but we are here to learn and to improve the practice of democracy. It would be useful if the point were relayed. Does the Minister of State accept that the people would see the Government is far more serious about Dáil and committee reform if the legislation were published in advance? I accept it need not be implemented if the Seanad is not abolished.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: If we are here, we are here.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Absolutely, but I am talking about the safeguards we are eliminating. Can the Minister of State understand the point I am making? The people would be able to take in good faith that the Government was much more serious about Dáil and committee reform if the Bill was published and debated in advance of the referendum.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We need Dáil and committee reform anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Economic and Monetary Union: Discussion (11 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome Professor FitzGerald. I was struck by what he said about EU fiscal policy and its effect on reducing growth rates by 1.5% this year. We all seek growth. We examine the unemployment levels across Europe and in Ireland, particularly youth unemployment, the size of the deficit and the amount of cuts that we must continue to bear. A little bit of growth in the economy would make a...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (15 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In view of concern across the House about the statement this morning of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, et al., will the Leader ask the Minister to correct the record regarding the cost of the Seanad? It is in the records of the Committee of Public Accounts.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (15 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have the floor. It is misleading and unfair. In the interests of fairness and to correct the record, I ask the Leader to do that. I have placed on the Order Paper today a reasoned amendment to the abortion Bill - the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (15 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I want to explain something. I ask Senators to take the time to read it. I am grateful to Senators Feargal Quinn and Mary Ann O'Brien for seconding it.