Results 4,061-4,080 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: He will. The Senator also referred to his visit to Trim to examine where a new hotel is being built. He also said Members were rightly not enthusiastic for the Centre for Public Inquiry. We are not enthusiastic about it because we do not know what it is about. Now we see there will be another Comptroller and Auditor General. Senator Quinn asked for a debate on this issue and we will see what...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: As it is no longer in the constituency, what would I be going there for?

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator O'Meara wants to hear the Government's thinking on the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill. While I do not know, I will endeavour to find out. Senator Hanafin raised the issue of a gun amnesty. The Criminal Justice Bill will be before the House soon and it may be relevant to debate this issue in that context. The Senator also requested a debate on the matter of biodiesel. Senator Ulick...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Sir Reg Empey of the UUP was here the previous week with three or four of his colleagues for a debate. Sometimes I think the perception of being excluded is more important than what is actually happening. Senator Scanlon is also interested in double tagging.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Senator deserves congratulations on his recent nomination. He will be busy too. He raised the issue of private bus operators. I know that is an important issue in his area. I will try to get the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, to debate the matter. Senator Browne raised the issue of school transport. The VECs were blamed unfairly, as was Bus...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. (28 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That the practice of calling the Leader of the House to reply to the Order of Business no later than 30 minutes after the proposal of the Order of Business shall be continued until the Christmas recess.

Seanad: Garda Investigations: Motion. (28 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: As the Leader of the House, I wish to add my voice to this debate. I thank the Fine Gael Party, which deserves credit for using its Private Members' time to initiate a debate on this issue. I give credit to the Minister, Deputy Michael McDowell, and his colleagues on the Government side who produced an amended motion that took the views of all parties into account. The leaders of the parties...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business today is Nos. 1 and 2. No. 1 is a motion referring a proposal to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights for consideration. It concerns the establishment of a specific programme of civil justice as part of the general programme of fundamental rights and justice. The motion will be taken without debate; No.2, the Employee (Provision of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Finucane, who acted as leader of his party in the Seanad today, raised the matter of rip-off Ireland, Eddie Hobbs and the debate surrounding this issue. I juggled my time and watched the four episodes. It is his presentation that is attractive. He is quirky and funny and the Cork accent helps. I am sorry if I have offended Cork people. I just mean the Cork accent helps.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Minihan has a posh accent.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Eddie Hobbs did the State some service. People were riveted by his programme judging from the numbers that watched it. Senator Finucane also referred to the Comptroller and Auditor General and senior officials. I will return to that point to which Senator Mansergh replied. A Minister has overall responsibility for his or her Department and that includes the actions of civil servants and the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: No, it is not. It is masquerading under the guise of redundancy. The same thing could happen in the retail sector or some other sector of employment. Workers from other countries are being invited to come here and work for half-price. It is a terrible situation. I hope there is no watering down of the Taoiseach's condemnation of it. Senator O'Toole also referred to the partnership programme....

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: That was some accolade. We are so busy beating ourselves up that we do not make the good points. Certainly, Mr. Trichet's remark was a good point. Senator Maurice Hayes referred to immigration policy and said the Polish version ofNewsweek had a very damning report on how the Poles perceive themselves to be treated in Ireland. The Polish people are everywhere, including in hotels, restaurants...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I have to curb my tongue. After three months, it is hard, a Chathaoirligh. It is very difficult. After Senator Quinn had vanished from the Chamber yesterday, I praised him on his excellent article on the Oireachtas in The Irish Times. Senator Ormonde called for a debate on immigration and asked a very relevant question which I cannot address because the Cathaoirleach will not allow me to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: It is an interesting point.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Glynn called for a debate on cystic fibrosis, men's health and type 2 diabetes. It would be difficult to frame a health debate just on those three issues but we will have to find some mechanism for doing so because he has been raising the matter for some time.

Seanad: Treaty of Amsterdam: Motion. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approve, in accordance with Article 29.4.6° of Bunreacht na hÉireann, the exercise by the State of the option, provided by Article 3 of the fourth Protocol set out in the Treaty of Amsterdam, to notify the President of the Council of the European Union that it wishes to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I did not say a word.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: My lips are sealed.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Sep 2005)

Mary O'Rourke: I welcome the Minister to discuss this Bill, which is part of the social fabric, being the translation into legislation of an EU directive. I am glad it is the subject of primary legislation, because ministerial orders do not have the same effect. The law is the law and people have more respect for legislation. When I was in the Minister's job there was an ongoing struggle between the...