Results 401-420 of 3,053 for speaker:Mary Upton

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: This issue should also be teased out on Committee Stage because it is important. I welcome a number of positive provisions in the legislation such as making it an offence for an employer to take and keep documents such as passports. Migrant workers are vulnerable and they have sufficient reason to be frightened and scared without their passports being withheld. Those who are considered to be...

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion. (18 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Having listened to the Minister's robust defence of her position on this issue, I find it difficult to counter-attack on some of the issues.

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion. (18 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: She will be pleased to hear that I will be seeking some clarity on certain matters. My colleague, Deputy Penrose, has assured me he will ask many questions.

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion. (18 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: The single most important aspect of the prescribing of animal remedies is the need to assure consumers that the food derived from animals which have received such remedies is safe and of good quality. Consumer confidence, which is a top priority, must not be compromised. It is equally important that the welfare requirements and health status of animals being treated must not be marginalised....

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (18 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Question 192: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a letter by the Health Service Executive stating clearly that medical card national assessment guidelines require terminally ill patients to be means tested before being given a medical card; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that despite letters such as these being...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Question 202: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the Food Safety Authority that some food companies are misleading the public by falsely claiming that their products are free of genetically modified ingredients; if she will consider the introduction of stricter guidelines regarding labelling; and if she will make...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: I support this amendment. Members commented on this issue on Second Stage. In terms of the income that will be generated from this measure, the cost to the Department of collecting it will be fairly significant. Moreover, making an individual pay the amount in its entirety in one lump sum could cause substantial hardship. It is reasonable and fair to ask that it could be paid in instalments....

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: I support this amendment for the same reasons that I supported the amendment on payment by instalments. It will be difficult for a number of farmers, admittedly a small number, to find the revenue to discharge their arrears within the recommended period. It is in everybody's interest that they are given that extra time to have a clean sheet so there would not be a build up of arrears and...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: I support the amendment. I share the views already expressed by the previous three speakers. This seems to be a very heavy-handed approach to redeeming arrears. I presume those people who would be in arrears are, perhaps, a vulnerable group. Otherwise, they would have found the way and means to repay the arrears before this heavy-handed instrument would have to come in. I see this provision...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: I support this amendment for the same reasons I supported the previous one relating to a similar set of circumstances whereby there may be attachment of debts. The key point is that a dangerous precedent is being set. Despite any guarantees and assurances that people will be dealt with sympathetically, the legislation will apply if this is challenged. If somebody finds himself or herself in...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and their officials for the way they handled amendments to the Bill. I appreciate the effort they made to address our concerns. While we may still have reservations about some aspects of it, serious time and effort was put into ensuring that the various issues were given a good hearing and dealt with fairly. The Bill will not be reflected in the...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: I do not have particular concerns about its implementation in Walkinstown or Terenure. I thank the Minister of State and his officials.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Question 144: To ask the Minister for Transport the target date for the establishment of a national public transport commission; and his decision in respect of the arrangements that will apply to the greater Dublin area. [29083/05]

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Question 97: To ask the Minister for Transport his targets for the average waiting time for a driving test; and his target date for reaching same. [29082/05]

Social Welfare Benefits. (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I am disappointed that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs is not present to listen to it. Three of my constituents who are homeless have managed to secure places at college. One, to whom I will refer as Anne is 19 and has just enrolled in Liberties College for a one-year child care course....

Social Welfare Benefits. (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Anne is not entitled, because having been in the care of the State since she arrived in Ireland, has not been able to build up the kind of relationship with the social welfare system that would enable her to conform to the length of time in receipt of benefits criteria stipulated under the VTOS, BTEA and ETD schemes. Worse, when Anne was discharged from the residential care home, she was...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Question 18: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Minister for Health and Children abandons the proposed Alcohol Advertising Bill which is due to be published before the end of 2005, will he take ownership of the Bill, publish it when it is ready and process it through the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29757/05]

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Question 37: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress he has made towards drafting new defamation legislation; if such legislation is conditional on the introduction of prior privacy legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29756/05]

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Question 135: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to provide long-term accommodation solutions for those who are homeless as opposed to the current emphasis which is on emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30383/05]

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Upton: Question 156: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will amend the regulations introduced under the WEEE directive in view of the fact that the operation of the current regulations has placed the greater proportion of the recycling cost of electric and electronic equipment on to the consumer and not on the producer; and if he will make a statement on the...