Results 701-720 of 4,931 for speaker:Mary White

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (2 Mar 2005)

Mary White: That is true.

Seanad: Waste Management: Statements. (2 Mar 2005)

Mary White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: That is not correct.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: It is a choice.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: I am surprised at Senator Terry. That opinion is very Fine Gael.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: Playing politics.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: The Celtic tigresses.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House this evening. It is a pity the Minister, Deputy Michael McDowell, did not remain in the Chamber because as we all know the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the main driver of child care policy. I am not casting aspersions on the Minister of State but I would have preferred if the senior Minister had remained in the House...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: I know. I have been here for the full debate.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: I am saying he did not remain for the full debate.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: He did not hear what the other Members had to say.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: I am not being personal about the Minister but I am entitled to make my comments.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the main driver of child care policy for the Government and it is important that the senior Minister is here for this debate. If we were debating a criminal, justice or legal issue he would have remained in the Chamber. My experience is that he remains in the Chamber for the full debate, and I have nothing against the Minister of State. I...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: The studies to which I refer are the national child care strategy, the national children's strategy entitled Our Children — Their Lives, the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion implementation plan, the White Paper on Early Childhood Education — Ready to Learn — and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's strategic statement. These are technical...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: Social skills are different to those one uses to support one's opinion. Senator Terry — I hope she will support me on this — knows what I am talking about.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: The children learn great social skills by mixing with other children and receive intellectual stimulation. I saw children aged 18 months who are learning to paint. I have first-hand experience of this matter from visiting crèches and meeting parents and those who own these crèches. I held a public meeting on 27 February in Baggot Street which was packed out. As this poster shows, I intend...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: I apologise. I did not realise that was the case. The meeting to which I refer is designed to help evolve my proposals on child care. Those proposals are not carved in stone because it is dangerous, in political terms, to carve anything in stone. I met people who informed me about the draconian regulations which have been set down and to which Senator Terry referred. These regulations are...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: ——and the establishment of a Department of children and the family. The approach suggest would remove responsibility for child care and family issues from the 11 Departments to which I refer. The bottom line is that every child, rich or poor, born in this country should have an equal chance. During my research I discovered that the parents of economically disadvantaged children cannot...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: I will conclude. Increasing child benefit is not the way to provide for people's child care needs. One of the main points raised in the documents I listed earlier is that tax relief is one of the key instruments that should be used. The proposals I put forward do not exclude——

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Mary White: Yes, I am disappointed that he is not here. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform drives policy in this area and the Minister should be present. Paying people €35.40 per week in the form of child benefit when a crèche place costs approximately €1,000 per month is not the way to proceed. Being obliged to pay €1,200 per month to place two children in child care is the...