Results 3,961-3,980 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: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Like Senator Bradford, I was very disappointed to receive this letter from the Government Chief Whip in this House. This is party business and in my view, it should not have been conducted in a House of the Oireachtas. I am not angry, but I am disappointed. I am really philosophical this evening, because I fundamentally believe we have missed an opportunity for reform. One of the biggest...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I lived in America. I lived there for a three and a half years as a very young teacher, from 23 to 26 or 27 years of age, and I had a vote in the Senate during that time while I lived outside this country. I continue to have a say in my country, while a member of the diaspora. I wonder how constitutional it is to rip that away from people without them having a say in it. It is something...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I accept there may have been delays earlier in the debate on this Bill. The central point is this. No matter what is said, not enough time was given to debate every amendment and every article that will be deleted from the Constitution.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is fundamentally wrong.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have said what I want to say on amendment No. 28. There is something fundamentally unhealthy at the core of the way business is being done here and how this House is being abolished without offering the people an opportunity to reform it. This is not good for democracy. Consider how hard people fight-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----to get democracy when they do not have it. We are about to chuck it out for what was essentially a populist move. We know that very well in the party of which I have been a member and still am.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister is very welcome. I wish to speak on amendment No. 38, which seeks to insert: "(d) where the unborn is sixteen weeks gestation or older, an effective anaesthetic for pain relief shall be administered to the foetus before the medical procedure is commenced.” Truly, I regret that we even have to discuss this issue. However, we know what we are legislating for. We are...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: On a point of order, who is the Cathaoirleach in this House?

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: On a point of order, Senator Bacik constantly decides to act like the Chair from the floor.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is completely inappropriate.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I want an answer to the questions I put to the Minister on the issue of pain. We are all human beings in this House. We understand pain. I have put the evidence on the record. There is evidence that the foetus feels pain from 17 weeks onwards. It is unbelievable that they do not feel pain before that, but that is the science I am bringing to the Minister. I ask the Minister to answer...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They cannot provide an anaesthetist unless it is provided for by the State.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is the first time.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will wait for the Minister's response but will put this point to it. I will not put the amendment to a vote at this time if I get an assurance from the Minister, but will resubmit it on Report Stage when the Minister might return with answers to the questions we asked around pain and evidence of pain felt by the foetus. I have put quite a bit of evidence on the record. Would an...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will not withdraw it but will wait for the Minister's reply.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In his response to me and to others, the Minister said he did not wish to be prescriptive and does not want to tell doctors what to do. I can accept that. What will the doctors do? That is what I want to know. What will they do in the course of a termination-abortion? Will an anaesthetist be present to ensure the baby is given an anaesthetic so that when its life is ended it is ended...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I listened to what the Minister said and I have to say-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am only speaking on amendment No. 38(d), my amendment on delivering a pain-free ending to the baby. That is the only one I am speaking on. I am happier with what the Minister said in his reply. I will read the regulations over the weekend. None of my Fine Gael colleagues would want an unborn baby to feel pain as life is ended. No colleague would. I am giving the Minister and his...