Results 541-560 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2006)

Ann Ormonde: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2006)

Ann Ormonde: Two issues were raised which I would like to support. Senator Hanafin and others raised the fears over the export of beef from this country as a result of the dispute between Poland and Russia. I would welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Treacy, to the House to discuss what is becoming a serious issue. Senator John Phelan raised the crime issue. This...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State. Listening to this debate is like listening to a record player because it has been repeatedly pointed out by the Minister of State and other speakers that the Government is completely opposed to the practice of extraordinary rendition and would never allow it. The Government's position stands as fact. We cannot deviate from the fact that the Government made...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Who lied?

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I also support Senator Brian Hayes in seeking a system that could be used when we are trying to make representations on behalf of families of prisoners, taking into account the sensitivities surrounding such issues. I compliment Mrs. Lynch on the way she handled the situation. I studied her comments and she had a holistic approach to the issue. She was hurt, yet she was able to manage that...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I was appalled when I heard the attitude of the CAO representative in Galway this morning. It is not the first time this has occurred. I have experience of this, having dealt with applications for third level courses. One often finds that students can be treated as issues or numbers by the CAO. The old-fashioned system whereby a guidance counsellor handled the applications in a school and...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Listening to Senator Ross, I began to ponder what I was about to say. I intended to speak positively about the proposed agency and, after hearing the negative opinions expressed by the Senator, I remain intent on emphasising the positive ends this legislation will achieve. A national consumer agency will be established which will make consumers count because they need a new direction which...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I wish to make a few points in support of Senator O'Toole's comments regarding the removal of children by their parents from school off-season to avail of low fares and special offers from airlines. While a standardised mid-term break was introduced to prevent such actions, it is creeping in again. Many parents and teachers have expressed concern regarding the flow of young people from...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I ask the Acting Leader to ask the Minister to investigate this concern. Parents and teachers are highly concerned about it.

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: The Minister said it all.

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister. It was a breath of fresh air to hear him speak. Once he spoke I was convinced it would be very easy to speak on this motion. I listened to all the negative things said by those opposite and I was getting depressed. I drove to Mullingar this week and I have driven to Galway, Cork and Waterford and it is so easy to get from A to B. From where did the money come to...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Motion (7 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Some 7,000 additional people with disability will be in employment by 2010 under social inclusion provisions. I go to Europe with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and representatives of member states ask me for the formula for our success. I tell them it is as a result of proper management of our resources and the economy. The Opposition is jealous because it has nothing...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: That is what it is about.

Seanad: Hospital Infections: Motion (14 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, and thank the Minister, Deputy Harney, for attending to listen to the first half of this debate. I seldom agree with Senator Ryan but I was nodding quite a lot regarding points he made. He made practical suggestions, which I thought about making myself, on how best to overcome the problem of MRSA. It is a serious problem and our task is...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Senator Ryan knows that is not true,

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have listened to Senator Ryan's contribution. While I like the Senator as a person I would hate to sit down to table with him because of his doom and gloom and negative thinking. In his view, no matter what the Government does, it is wrong. I do not understand that approach. Extra powers are being given to the consumer. The...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and the opportunity to speak on this issue. I must declare that I am not a primary school teacher. Hence, my knowledge of teacher colleges and teaching programmes is not in-depth. However, I came from a teaching background, as my father taught in the multigrade system. I have often maintained that what matters is not the numbers in a classroom but how good...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Better than anyone, the Senator knows what I am talking about. He has experience of 30-35 pupils in a classroom, good teachers and good discipline. I am not too worried about class sizes, as the numbers are reducing. If a teacher is good enough, the system works.

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the report in so far as it gives us an opportunity to discuss the matter. It has strengths and weaknesses and the Minister has acknowledged the latter, but why should we throw out the dirty water until we have the clean inside? We should examine what we have and determine how to improve the system. If we must, let us criticise the report, but let us not throw it out. Everything...