Results 5,121-5,140 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: He is in the US.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Urgent work is going ahead in Longford-Westmeath General Hospital. The Department of Finance is right to look for value for money. If one is going to invest large amounts of money, there should be a proper explanation of the value to be obtained from such an investment. Senator Morrissey raised the matter of the Railway Procurement Agency and sought a debate on public transport. As he said,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Indeed. Senator Coghlan raised his hardy annual, or hardy daily, which is the Great Southern Hotels group. He referred to the paintings therein, which have gone to de Veres for valuation. I cannot see those hotels being sold. There is a lot of mouthing going on about them but I do not know if they will ever be sold. It is like a perennial story with no ending. Senator Mansergh mentioned...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: It is so interesting because everyone hated the Luas until the day it ran and then everyone loved it. One can see all the faces of passengers looking out when the Luas comes along. Thank God something worked out.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Norris sought a debate on housing and house prices. He also mentioned the US-EU summit meeting in Vienna. I would be very suspicious of all that. He also referred to the age of sexual consent and said it was correct to seek young people's views. I would have my own views on that, however. Senator Brennan raised the non-return of 300,000 census forms. The forms are supposed to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I am sure he is delighted with the good news for the hospital. As regards the cost of housing, I agree with the Senator about freeing up zoned land. Equally, however, no matter what explanatory guidelines are issued, the biggest question facing anyone dealing with people is planning in rural areas. One cannot obtain one-off planning. There are three or four weeks before validation is issued....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Castlecoote is a nice place. I know where it is. I have been in it several times.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator O'Meara raised the report on regional hospitals and the delivery of services. She indicated that certain facts were suppressed concerning what is in the report.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The full report rather than taking pieces out of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Ó Murchú said that human life is sacred and referred to the "official murder" of three Palestinian children. He asked if a wedge was being driven between the Palestinian people. Of course it is, leading to civil war and a diminution of their own efforts to govern themselves. Senator Terry said that anything which attracts over €50 in customs tax is returned by the US postal...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: It is hard to say "Let's have a balance" in that situation. Of course, Hamas will fight back. Senator Bradford sought a debate on the carnage in Iraq. He met some elected representatives of that country here yesterday. I was not able to attend that meeting but they need our support. Senator Bradford also referred to the plan to build a high security prison at Spike Island. There was always a...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: It is detailed and precise.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I never thought I would see the day when Senator Ryan advocated dictatorship. This is essentially what he is suggesting, that the Taoiseach be top dog in everything and his word never gainsaid. This would be an incorrect way to do business. Many people commented last week that a particular person who passed away, God rest his soul, was a dictator and so on. This element of the Bill is...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Ryan is an advocate of dictatorship and I never thought I would see such a day in this Chamber. It is proper that the Minister for Finance must cast his eye over all of these ideas and plans to examine their spending and misspending potential.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: Of course he should.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: The idea is that the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance would work together. I know the incumbent in the Office of the Taoiseach would not seek to be a dictator. I do not approve of Senator Ryan's amendments; I approve of whatever the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Tom Kitt is about to say.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: So do I.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: We will not go down that road.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: I wonder what it is.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Mary O'Rourke: He is going to sack those who waste money.