Results 4,481-4,500 of 4,931 for speaker:Mary White

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Mary White: I second the amendment put forward by Senator MacSharry. I ask that the Leader request that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Flanagan, come to this Chamber prior to the recess to brief us on the shambles of the collapsed talks last week between the democratically elected British and Irish Governments. A recent article in the Irish Republican Newsby Mr. Brian Feeney, an esteemed...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Mary White: The discussion centred around reform of the welfare system rather than address of the issues outstanding from the talks chaired by Dr. Haass. This is a very serious issue for those of us involved constantly on issues relating to the North. The elections in the North will be held soon. I believe the two main parties will hang in there together and, hopefully, a Labour-led coalition...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

Mary White: I wish to refer to the most serious matter affecting the country at present, namely, the position with regard to the talks in the North. I raised this matter yesterday and asked the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, to come before the House to discuss it. My colleague, Senator Mooney, has now asked that the Taoiseach come before us to...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2014)

Mary White: I support the comments made by Senator Leyden in respect of the dramatic developments in the relationship between Cuba and the United States. We have been made aware that Pope Francis, who celebrated his 78th birthday yesterday, played a crucial role in brokering the landmark deal between the United States and Cuba. As more details emerge about the watershed normalising of diplomatic...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Mary White: He got an important portfolio for the Irish.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Mary White: I welcome the Minister to the House and compliment him on delivery of his proposition for Irish Water during his first speech on this issue a couple of weeks ago. I know he personally has made intelligent, valiant efforts to turn the situation around. However, Fianna Fáil believes it is time to abolish Irish Water and to suspend water charges pending a full review of the policy.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Mary White: This latest U-turn by the Government underlines the complete mess it has made of our most importance natural resource. Reference was made by a Senator opposite to the ESB. When the ESB was established in 1927 it was the most tremendous entity ever delivered for Ireland. It was a well managed project from beginning to end. This Irish Water project has been disastrously managed. The people...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Mary White: People should stand back from the populist view that water should never be privatised. Let us consider it and decide what is the right way to go. I am not throwing bouquets at the Minister but he is doing his very best. I always admire people who put their heart and soul into the job they have to do.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Mary White: The Senator should be careful in what he says about South County Dublin.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Mary White: Over recent months, I have held a series of public forums on issues of great relevance to our communities. The first was how on how we should respond to the suicide crisis, the second was on activating and social networking and the third was on threats to women's health today, in particular alcohol and smoking. I wish to say, without preaching, that this is a time when people are inclined...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Mary White: Ms Costello said that younger women tend to drink spirits rather than beer which leads to them drinking more units of alcohol on average than men of the same age. At this time of year we all have to be proactive. We have been very successful in the campaign to decrease the number of people driving with alcohol. We, as leaders in society, have to drive the lesson home and get rid of smoking...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Mary White: The Government is going to sell Aer Lingus too, which would be a kamikaze move.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Mary White: This whole Irish Water situation is a national shambles. It is our policy in Fianna Fáil to abolish Irish Water and suspend the charges pending a full review of the policy. Fianna Fáil has consistently opposed the creation of Irish Water, and the controversy of consultancy costs, bonuses and over-staffing of this super-quango has borne out our fears. Irish Water is top-heavy in...

Seanad: HSE National Service Plan 2015: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Mary White: I welcome the Minister here this evening and wish him the best of luck. We all depend on him to show that the country can manage itself and its projects but that all depends on how health reform is delivered. There is no hope for the country if reform cannot be delivered. Professor Crown has explained that there are more medical schools in Ireland producing doctors than other countries....

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Mary White: We all have to get in.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Mary White: It is my pleasure to state Fianna Fáil supports the principle and concept of introducing a gender recognition Bill. The Bill will allow each person to identify in the gender he or she feels internally, which may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. In 2008 the High Court ruled the Irish State was in breach of its obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights...