Results 721-740 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will the Leader reconsider not having an Order of Business on Fridays in this House? As Senator O'Toole raised this issue yesterday, I would ask the Leader to reconsider it. The precedent in the House has been that when there is business there would be an Order of Business and I would like to see us reverting to that. It is clear from the debate on and the international reaction to what has...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: We do.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Admissibility of Evidence) Bill 2008: Second Stage (10 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is correct. We asked the Government to support the adjournment of the Second Stage debate.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Admissibility of Evidence) Bill 2008: Second Stage (10 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: No. The question is, "That the debate be adjourned", in response to which we will say "Tá".

Seanad: Criminal Law (Admissibility of Evidence) Bill 2008: Second Stage (10 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: We want the debate to be adjourned. The information is correct.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Taoiseach is in Brussels to hammer out a deal with his European counterparts today which, it appears, will almost certainly result in another referendum in this country in less than 12 months. The Government failed to convince the people previously. It is extremely important, if the Taoiseach gets the clarification in Brussels and if the concerns of the people are met, that we have a...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on human rights. Our human rights aspirations should be reflected in legislation. In recent months, organisations that promote human rights in Ireland have been attacked. This is clear from the reduced funding and budgetary changes in respect of the Irish Human Rights Commission, IHRC, which falls under the Good Friday Agreement, the...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I regret that we must discuss this ill thought-out legislation because of the Government's failure to see the error of its ways. This Bill more than anything else has taken away the peace of mind of our elderly citizens, who contributed hugely to this society and who hoped to have the peace of mind that the medical card offered. The Minister of...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can understand why it would not want more scrutiny or delay. The Government wants to rush it through because it is unjust and it does not want it to undergo the sort of scrutiny it deserves. Therefore, the Government is doing what it did towards the end of this term in the Dáil and Seanad. It is bad parliamentary practice which is bad for the legislation and for older people, who will...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: This comes at a time when all sorts of other actions are being taken by the Government that will create significant problems for the elderly. I spoke yesterday to a person on the front line dealing with people in a hospital and I was told there were 60 people waiting for community care packages in Tallaght hospital and there are vetoes on community care packages in a number of areas, despite...

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: What is next? That is the question.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Does the Senator think people will be able to afford VHI cover now?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: We met the health providers.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Richard Burton had credibility in government.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: The then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, negotiated this measure. The Government to which the Senator is a party negotiated it.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Senator is projecting the issue.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: She must be squirming.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: They reacted themselves. They did not need any whipping up?

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: People reacted to the announcements themselves.

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was a natural reaction.