Results 41-60 of 7,970 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Seanad: Free Speech, Homophobia and the role of the State Broadcaster: Motion [Private Members] (18 Feb 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Minister for joining us to discuss this very important matter. Recent events in RTE, for whom the Minister has line responsibility, have brought this topic to the forefront, which is welcome. Last week I heard a certain newspaper columnist bemoan the fact that her own newspaper was the first to interview her since the "Pantigate" episode. She made the case that she was being...

Seanad: Free Speech, Homophobia and the role of the State Broadcaster: Motion [Private Members] (18 Feb 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: The fact is that those particularly conservative views that were imposed on our society for decades are now being openly challenged. That does not amount to persecution but it amounts to valid criticism. I urge both sides of the debate to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and not to lose the goodwill of the citizens and voters of the middle ground. Most amazing of all in this...

Seanad: Teaching Council of Ireland: Statements (19 Feb 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will not be long because many Senators have already covered many of my issues. I welcome the Minister to the House today. The council is a progressive and positive step forward in maintaining and improving teaching and learning standards. I was a primary schoolteacher and can see its value. Like Senator Moran, when we received notification about the Teaching Council we all wondered where...

Seanad: Teaching Council of Ireland: Statements (19 Feb 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: If there is a complaint then at what point does the Teaching Council engage in the process? I want to understand the process and I ask the Minister to elaborate on the provision. I welcome the minimum service requirement for probation. It has been reduced to 100 days in order to allow student teachers to complete their probation period. I want the Minister to clear up another issue which...

Seanad: Community Courts: Motion (25 Feb 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I second this motion and welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. In an associated way, I commend the Minister for Justice and Equality on his intention to deal with the court poor box issue. It was a practice with no statutory footing and opaque rules and it had no place in our system of criminal justice. I fully support this proposal which seems to have two main...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council: Chairman Designate (25 Feb 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome Ms Pratschke and wish her well in the new role. My first question concerns the Arts Council and the role it will play in encouraging young people and children to experience the arts. This relates to the point made by previous speakers about the arts reaching out into the local community and being accessible to everyone. The education system is key to this idea, as is the idea of...

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I have read with great interest recent comments made by the Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Dr. Rhona Mahony, who expressed the view that a lack of investment in education resulted in cycles of intergenerational and socio-economic disadvantage. In a similar vein, Professor Morgan Kelly, in his very interesting views on potential negative impacts on the SME sector, to which the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is opportune in light of the recent flooding and storm damage that the Seanad should debate insurance cover. We are all aware from interaction with people on a daily basis that significant issues remain in terms of the impossibility of insuring homes and businesses which were affected by flooding. The insurance federation estimates that 2% - 40,000 to 50,000 homes and businesses - have...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: There is a need for joined-up thinking in this area and there is also a need for a forum where present needs, future works and insurance risks could be discussed and matters resolved to benefit the population as a whole. I hope the Leader will facilitate such a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I highlight what Mr. Tom O'Malley of the National University of Ireland, Galway, calls the "quiet revolution" in the sentencing practice in our courts that has recently occurred. In three cases where judgment was delivered on 18 March, the Court of Criminal Appeal for the first time effectively introduced sentencing guidelines. This is something for which many legal academics and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Towards a Zero Waste Approach to Water: Dublin Institute of Technology (8 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I apologise for having missed the presentation but there was a vote in the Seanad. Mr. McCarton referred to a pilot project in schools. I know the slogan, reduce, reuse and recycle from the litter campaign in the schools. When the children went home from school they would teach their parents about the importance of reducing waste. Will the witnesses elaborate on the school project in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Towards a Zero Waste Approach to Water: Dublin Institute of Technology (8 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: Would one trial different pilot projects in different areas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Leadership in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the group. We are discussing a very important issue. With the backdrop of lack of resources and funding issues nationally, could the group outline their short-term and long-term visions? To progress this as quickly as possible, could the witnesses outline what could be done in the short term with current resources to reduce principals' work loads. A witness referred to New South...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: On Tuesday, the European Court of Justice issued its judgment on the EU data retention directive, No. 2006/24/EC. The court struck down the directive on the basis that it is incompatible with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and stated that it entailed an interference with the fundamental rights of practically the entire population of Europe. This is a significant statement. I ask the...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Second Stage (15 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I also welcome the Minister to the House. I very much welcome this Bill and its concentration on producing a modern registration system for Irish-registered vessels, including small inshore craft. My local authority in Galway, like others, had to introduce by-laws some years ago in an attempt to regulate the actions of jet-skis in Galway Bay. Registration of these vessels will go some way...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters relative to An Garda Síochána and other persons) Order 2014: Motion (16 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to share time with Senator Paul Coghlan. I welcome the Taoiseach to the Seanad to discuss this vital issue. Whatever criticism, both valid and otherwise, has been levelled at Government in the past months about its response to the various issues surrounding the Garda Síochána, it is to the Taoiseach's credit that when he took the decision to set up a commission of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Technological Universities Bill: Discussion (16 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: There is no mention of the merger of the south-east technological universities in the scheme of the Bill. How can we speed up the merger? Mr. Donohoe of IBEC mentioned concerns about quality. Could he expand on the main concerns from the perspective of IBEC? Is it regarding general educational standards? This is a very important issue and in this economic climate we need to target our...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank Dr. David Robert Grimes, physicist at Oxford University, for his excellent opinion piece in The Irish Timesyesterday. He notes that UNICEF estimates that immunisation saves 9 million lives a year and has eradicated smallpox and made polio a thing of the past, among other huge advances. Many here will know survivors of the disease who are living with post-polio syndrome, from a time...