Results 5,041-5,060 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am a little surprised that other Members across the House did not raise the issue of the fear that is mounting around the new proposed special educational needs model. My inbox is full with e-mails since last Wednesday or Thursday. There was a large meeting in Galway prior to Christmas with about 100 teachers and parents in attendance who are very concerned that the new proposed model by...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, was in this House just over a week ago talking about the HSE's service plan. He said he would not comment on the state of accident and emergency units in individual hospitals. However, the Minister has to deal with hospitals individually because there is a difference between them and a crisis in some. The information I have is absolutely shocking....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Physical Education Facilities (11 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. My request to the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is that she lead a new scheme to provide gymnasiums for existing schools which do not have them and that it be a cross-departmental scheme involving Departments such as the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs, Health and Transport, Tourism and Sport which all have a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Physical Education Facilities (11 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Minister of State who is always generous with his comments. However, his official reply is very disappointing. He indicated that a cross-departmental approach is being taken in the discussions. I want the Minister for Education and Skills or the Minister for Transport, Sport and Tourism to offer leadership in developing the appropriate infrastructure. That may involve local...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Physical Education Facilities (11 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Two.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Physical Education Facilities (11 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is not a general policy issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I heard all about Donegal Tuesday for about two hours when I listened to "Liveline" this afternoon. This morning at 8.45 a.m., 500 young people queued outside a particular public house in Galway. Apparently this is a new tradition that started about four or five years ago, and since Donegal won the all-Ireland, where people don Donegal shirts and queue. Really it was queuing to commence...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am being straight when I say it is impossible to fight such a culture alone and families are finding this really tough. We have to start breaking down this culture. It is hard to change culture but we have begun to be successful in terms of drink driving, for example. I call on the Leader to say to the Minister in charge of this matter that we need a systematic plan to combat binge...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: He was incorrect.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We need a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I said I will.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the amendment tabled by Senator Katherine Zappone and others. I attended a human rights day in Galway last Friday week with Professor O'Flaherty, who has since written an interesting piece on the Bill in The Irish Times. I was struck by the fact that he called this a bad law. Those are strong words. He took the view that it falls far short of where we could be. I have heard...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I support in particular amendment No. 12 tabled by Senators van Turnhout and others on an interim gender-----

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Excuse me, that is what I am discussing. My apologies. I support the amendment for an interim gender recognition certificate. I am struck by the knowledge and awareness of young children about their need to live in their preferred gender. I do not know how these children survive in society and in school without any recognition they are transitioning or have transitioned. The amendment is...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I want to talk about intersex people, which is something I have learned a lot about since the start of consultations on this legislation. This Bill appears to fail intersex people, despite the fact that the Minister of State says it will be open to them.The Bill is more specific to the needs of transgender people, and provision for intersex people appears to be just added on. Based on what...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It applies at this stage too because of the medical evaluation provision. I would therefore like to speak to it at this stage. The figure of 1% of the population equates to 46,000 people. Many of these people may not know they are intersex. The condition varies. In terms of a medical and psychiatric evaluation, the terminology is not applicable to intersex people. They have not been...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like the Minister of State to address the questions I asked him. I have much more detail on this issue and I can come back on it.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will come back in on amendment No. 29, but some of my questions relate to amendment No. 13.