Results 601-620 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is because the Government keeps changing its mind.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Boyle certainly has not listened to us in the past week.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: On a point of order, could I ask the Deputy Leader why the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is meeting representatives of proposers of an incinerator if it is against Government policy?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is correct.

Seanad: Health Promotion Priorities: Statements (23 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State for joining us here to discuss this area of health promotion priorities. This is the first debate in this session on this issue and it is very important. The Minister of State has covered a wide range of areas and we should return to particular areas, such as alcohol, smoking and obesity, in the Seanad because there are many reports covering different areas....

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Chair for giving me an opportunity to raise this matter. Our schools are facing many problems at present. Schools in the Lucan area have been badly affected by the initiatives announced in the recent budget. I am concerned that many children in the Lucan and Clondalkin area are being educated in prefabricated buildings. Some of the schools in question were hoping to get...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Can the Minister of State give me any idea what the phrase "this project has a band rating of 1.1" actually means in terms of the timescale for the conclusion of the negotiations?

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Perhaps the Minister of State will ask the Department to contact the VEC.

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister for her contribution and for the briefing she and her officials provided earlier on the need for this legislation. This is obviously the best course to safeguard the health of those persons who have been involuntarily detained and in respect of whom there is uncertainty pending the outcome of the court case tomorrow. It is somewhat unusual to anticipate tomorrow's...

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will the Minister confirm that each patient to be reviewed will have access to a mental health tribunal, with most having been before one already? With the new assessment and renewal to be made, will each patient have access to such a tribunal? It is interesting that the form ran into difficulties because it mentioned three-month, six-month and nine-month periods. I understand the Attorney...

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Oct 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: It pertained to the mental health tribunals.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy Leader's announcement was very brief, which raises the question as to why so little legislation is coming through from the Government to this House. One must ask what is happening. We know what is happening on the financial side, namely, that the EU is taking on the Government over the enormous rise in borrowing and criticising its entire approach and does not believe the figures...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: How can a party that has long been concerned about human rights justify what is happening to these organisations——

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: ——and the disempowerment they are experiencing as a result of the cutbacks? If the Senator is not familiar with what is happening to those organisations, I urge him to make it his business to find out about the difficulties they are facing because of the Government's action. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business so that the Minister for Education and Science can come to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: The rip-off has not changed.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Check the funding.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I join the Leader in sending the congratulations of this House to President-elect Barack Obama. To see the first African-American commander-in-chief is truly a historic moment for America. It is a moment of hope for America and, I hope, for the world. Many people will be pleased to see the end of President Bush's era.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was wonderful to watch the results coming in last night, to see the engagement of people with politics and to see the people queueing for long hours to vote. I do not think we would have the same patience here if we had to endure a five-hour queue. It was a wonderful moment for democracy and it was tremendous to see the engagement of Mr. Obama with young people and minorities across the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Obviously the focus in the United States has been very much on human rights. Yesterday I raised in the House the issue of human rights in Ireland with regard to the Irish Human Rights Commission and the changes to the Combat Poverty Agency and the Equality Authority. The Leader was not here yesterday, but I want to ask him to convey to the Government the concern of those on this side of the...