Results 581-600 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I do not think every debate will be as riotous.

Seanad: Treaty of Amsterdam: Referral to Joint Committee. (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approve the following proposals: that Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion provided by Article 1.11 of the Treaty of Amsterdam to take part in the adoption of the following proposed measure:

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: As is the Minister, but fair play to the Senator and all those who are here.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Ours will be closed 20 years before its time.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I did not intend to speak, but I decided to do so having listened carefully last week, when the debate sparked a good deal of interest and many Members contributed. Having listened this morning to Senators McCarthy, Cox and McHugh, I can see that there are many varying points of view.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: One cannot arrange to meet a county manager these days. One will see the person down the line. The managers are protecting themselves with a wall of advisers who supposedly deal with matters at local level.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: There is a wall of under managers and then more under managers. At first, people were pleased that there were these various elements. They thought they would be chairmen of the bodies and do plenty of work. It has not worked out that way. It is just a huge increase in bureaucracy. I am a great supporter of local government and decision making at local level. That is what people are elected to...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I am making my point; the Senator will have plenty of time to make his. There are some councillors who do not want to take decisions on matters that will affect their electoral prospects. They like to have somebody they can put in the stocks and at whom they can throw rotten turnips. In this case, it is the county manager. The Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, is welcome to the debate. I...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: No, I will use all my time. I hope the Minister when dealing with amendments on Committee Stage will, in an amendment, position the Bill as a temporary measure and set a benchmark for waste disposal, through various means, for the counties. It is easy to take the decision now to provide a new landfill site that will be modern and properly lined and layered. However, there will be seepage from...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: The Leas-Chathaoirleach will have to control the Senator.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I know all about the development plans and the arguments pursued on their variations. I have spent years on local authorities, but the Senator suggests I know nothing about them. If he can find a county which adopted waste management charges with the unanimity and delight of all its members, he will have found a county in Tír na n-Óg. I have not come across a single county where unanimity...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: They were wrong.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on rural development policy and actions with particular reference to the problem of population decline, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business until 5.30 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and on which Members may share time; No. 2, a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: It would be hard to make them better, they look so good.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Brian Hayes, Leader of the Opposition, asked why the House is not sitting on Thursday next. A Government Department requested that the House take a particular Bill on Thursday and we agreed to do so. However, late last Thursday, the office of the Minister contacted us with a request that the Bill be deferred to a later date. While I am aware that Members are anxious to be in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: My photograph did not take long but then I am beautiful.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Brian Hayes also requested a debate on housing matters, including the cap imposed by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs on private rented accommodation. In my experience, owners of houses whose rental income was paid by the health boards continually increased their rents.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I am surprised the Senator did not attend. I saw Senators Feighan and Leyden in attendance and looking very holy.