Results 21-40 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Seanad: Redundancy Payments Bill 2003: Second Stage. (14 May 2003)

Mary Harney: All companies would have to be covered.

Seanad: Insurance Industry Reform: Motion. (5 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: I am delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this debate on one of the most important issues facing the country. I compliment Senator Ryan on selectively quoting a number of commitments which were made. He did not say, and it is in some of the material from which he read, that the timeframe for the legislation was 18 months. We have always said we would have the legislation in...

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this matter. It is helpful to begin by placing the matter of embryonic stem cell research within the context of the overall EU framework programme for research and development. The Union organises the bulk of its research and development activity under the ambit of multi-annual framework programmes. The current programme, FP6, as the title...

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: That would not be enough. There would have to be a majority to block it rather than a blocking minority.

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: If it helps, I am prepared to stay until 5 p.m. and reply then.

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: I thank all the Members who contributed to this worthwhile and thoughtful debate. They expressed different points of view honestly and sincerely. I did not unilaterally adopt a position on behalf of Ireland. When this issue arose, I consulted the Minister for Health and Children in the first instance. The question was raised regarding whether this issue is more appropriate to the Department...

Seanad: Stem Cell Research: Statements. (19 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: Yes. There are huge issues involved. From my experience in this Parliament over 26 years, these debates are always painful, difficult and emotive. In our most recent abortion referendum, the question of when life begins was a major issue, including the question of implantation, which caused a great deal of concern. Since I am neither a scientist, a doctor nor a lawyer, I am not in a position...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: I thank the Leader and all the groups in the House for their agreement to give the Bill a speedy passage. The House has agreed to meet on Monday to deal with Committee Stage and I very much welcome the House's support for the Government's efforts to ensure this legislation is enacted rapidly.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: We will not have one in every constituency.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: I hope to be in a position to do so in January. It will depend on when the Bill is signed into law but it is intended to have the commencement order by the end of January or early February.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: As the Senator knows, an enormous amount of work has been done by the interim board. It has just completed the interview process for the chief executive and I hope to be in a position to make that appointment in a matter of days. It will then be up to him or her to recruit staff members, which should happen a few weeks from now. However, if the Senator's question concerns when we will be able...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: I am well disposed to this amendment and have consulted with the Parliamentary Counsel on it. I will come back on Report Stage here or in the Dáil with different wording if we cannot accept that of the Senator. I take the point and we are happy to accept it, subject to legal advice.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: When the proposals from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Minister for Transport are in place, the volume of claims in this area could be reduced over time. We are talking about 27,000 cases per annum.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: I am satisfied on the basis of the work that has been done in advance of the statutory establishment of the PIAB that we will have the necessary resources. Whatever resources are needed will have to be applied to the area and since this will be a self-financing board, if additional resources are required they will have to come from the fees that will be levied on respondents, but the...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: In the first instance, we are talking about a central office. The board has identified a suitable premises and it is negotiating with the landlord with a view to acquisition. We are looking at a staff complement of approximately 80 to 100 and an annual bill of €7 million to €8 million. These will not be civil servants. Many of them will come from the private sector. Obviously, once...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: Yes, and perhaps also people with legal—

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: —or other expertise. It will not necessarily be just people who work in insurance. Many people who work in insurance and claims assessment would be suitable to work in this area. I know the applications for chief executive came from a wide variety of sources. I do not want to be too specific.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: I did not see any Members of the Oireachtas among the applicants, but they came from a wide variety of sources. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment No. 2 not moved. Section 3 agreed to. SECTION 4.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: Before I respond to this amendment, was amendment No. 2 moved?

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (24 Nov 2003)

Mary Harney: My attitude to amendment No. 2 is different from that to amendment No. 1. Amendment No. 2 seeks to remove product liability. If someone sat on a broken chair at work and was injured, it would involve product liability and employer's liability. I would not be as positive about that as I was about amendment No. 1. I do not want any misunderstanding.