Results 601-620 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Averil Power: In response to Senator O'Neill I wish to state that my amendment is most definitely appropriate for this legislation. Given that it was a Road Traffic Act that introduced penalty points for not having an NCT, it would also be remiss to miss the opportunity-----

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Averil Power: -----of asking questions when the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is in the House.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Averil Power: I do not understand why Senator O'Neill does not want to debate this issue. Perhaps he is in a rush for his dinner or something else.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Averil Power: I do not understand his reluctance. I did not hear the Minister's response to this issue on Second Stage and look forward to hearing his reply. I hope there is a fair way of addressing the matter. I wish to say to Senator O'Neill that I was not referring to people only applying for a test the day beforehand. As I said, there is a four month delay. There are people who try to book an NCT...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Averil Power: One is not required to pay it four months in advance. One must pick a particular day for a month in advance when one will pay.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Averil Power: I will opt to ignore Senator O'Neill and welcome the Minister's assurance. On that basis I will withdraw the amendment. I welcome the Minister's commitment to come to the House in January. We all want to see that the system is effective. I was coming from the perspective that if someone could at least show that they had booked the test over a month ago, it should be waived. I appreciate...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: I welcome the Tánaiste to the House. I also welcome the fact she has brought forward Ireland's first gender recognition legislation. It is an important step. There is no doubt it has been a long time coming. I would like to particularly commend Dr. Lydia Foy, who fought on this issue the whole way through the Irish courts and to Europe to have her rights respected and on behalf of...

Seanad: Improving the Quality of Early Years Education: Statements (21 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the establishment of the early years education advisory group. As the Minister has said, the membership of the group includes organisations like Start Strong, Early Childhood Ireland, Barnardos and the Irish National Teachers Organisation and representatives of child care professionals. It is positive to see a Minister for Education and...

Seanad: Improving the Quality of Early Years Education: Statements (21 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: Have I just missed it?

Seanad: Improving the Quality of Early Years Education: Statements (21 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: Is the Minister's work feeding into the overall strategy?

Seanad: Improving the Quality of Early Years Education: Statements (21 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: Will the Minister respond on Early Start, if she did not already?

Seanad: Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Motion (27 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 1: “To delete all words following ‘establishing a Commission under that Act,’ and insert as follows–- calls for Schedule (11) (B) of the draft Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters) Order, 2015 to be amended by inserting after ‘their children’, ‘with particular regard to the...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Motion (27 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: I welcome the fact that the terms of reference are not as narrow as had originally been feared. I acknowledge that this is a result of the consultation the Minister has carried out with the Opposition parties and, more important, with survivor groups in recent months. That is important and welcome. However, Fianna Fáil does have some concerns about the terms of reference. We have...

Seanad: Universities (Development and Innovation) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Averil Power: The higher education sector in Ireland is at a crossroads. In recent decades there has been a major increase in participation at third level. It is hugely positive that third level education is now within the reach of communities and families in a way that it was not before as a result of having extra places in third level colleges and new pathways other than the CAO, Central Applications...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I spoke at length on Second Stage so I will not repeat those points. There are many amendments to be discussed, and I will address the specific issues later in the debate. I support the amendment tabled by Senator Zappone for the reasons already outlined. We should examine this again two years hence, particularly the forced divorce criteria. I hope it will be revisited much earlier in...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I have raised this issue at length on Second Stage, so I will not repeat everything I said then. I share the concerns raised. Under the legislation, there is no system whatsoever or arrangement by which somebody under 16 can obtain a general recognition certificate. The process for those over 16 is incredibly cumbersome. It will be next to impossible for many young people to satisfy the...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I was also very disappointed by the Minister of State's response. I am also disappointed that we get the impression that there is unlikely to be any movement on the key issues we have identified - those of the age criteria, the medical criteria and the forced divorce requirement - where Members have issues with the Bill. That is unfortunate because on this Stage and on Second Stage voices...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: If indeed there is going to be a requirement for medical evaluation, then I would support the amendments tabled by Senator Zappone that it should include the GP as the person who has the most regular contact with a young person. From a young person's viewpoint, it will also be a much more supportive environment if the GP is somebody with whom he or she has had a professional relationship...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I apologise for not being present for the HEA's initial presentations although I caught some of them on the monitor upstairs. I have a few questions that have not yet been touched on. The witnesses might provide members with more detail in respect of the growing concern that there may be a shortage of places for the next third level year. The concern is that students will be either unable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Averil Power: I prefer to take notes. They are of more use to me later.