Results 721-740 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Drug Abuse: Motion (Resumed). (24 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: I welcome the opportunity to support this motion. This is one of the most important issues facing the country. Unfortunately, Ireland has had enough experience of the drug problem in the past three decades to know what must be done. The courage of inner city communities who reacted against local pushers acted as a spur for the implementation of the national drugs strategy. It has its roots in...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (25 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of urgent national and local importance, namely, the need to implement the recommendations contained in the report produced by Comhairle na nOspidéal on rheumatology services, including budgets and the timeframe for the roll-out of the identified needs and recommendations. Ireland currently has the lowest number of...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: I wish to share time with Deputy Eamon Ryan.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I believe in integrated planning, including the timely delivery of critical infrastructure. In his opening remarks the Minister placed the need for this Bill in the context of the national spatial strategy, regional guidelines and county development plans. Section 27 of the Planning and Development Act requires local authorities to have regard...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (25 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: The public representatives of County Kildare were invited to visit some classrooms in order to understand why overcrowding will make the new curriculum impossible to teach. Does the Minister accept the influence this issue will have on the educational outcome of the children concerned? Schools face space problems alongside the challenge of pupil-teacher ratios. If local authority housing is...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: Question 258: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the purpose built classrooms at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare for children with autism spectrum disorder remain closed years after they were constructed; the number of children who are on a waiting list for the places at this school; the resources which are being sought by the school to enable them to open...

Ryder Cup. (31 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: The review of the designated events was a sham. There is no excuse for not having this event free-to-air. I do not know why we went through that process when commitments had clearly been made. I received replies to parliamentary questions stating no commitments had been made. In recent weeks I read in a daily or Sunday newspaper of the amount of money the Government has committed towards the...

Ryder Cup. (31 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: The review was a sham. Will the Minister indicate if commitments were entered into? I have been told categorically by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources that no commitments were entered into. Not only are people taking a short-term view of the tourism industry by ripping people off but they are letting down the industry and the voluntary effort that is being put in...

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (31 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: It is very difficult to focus on sentencing norms when there is a such a gaping hole in the legislation protecting our children. We have been told by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in recent days that legislation exists to prosecute people for both sexual assault and rape. The reality is that no offence now exists for statutory rape. What makes this offence different in practical terms is that...

Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (31 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: I will move on to that. It is insulting to think people equate the two offences. There is a chasm in the laws protecting children from sexual predators. I do not have many difficulties with the principle of the existence of a database. Not only would it be in the public interest, it would be helpful for those who must impose sentences to know the norms. There is no doubt that people convicted...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (31 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: Question 18: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount allocated for sporting purposes per county for the years 2002, 2003 , 2004 and 2005; the projected figure for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20879/06]

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (31 May 2006)

Catherine Murphy: Question 52: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent of applications for funding under the ACCESS and Capital projects relating to arts projects: the counties they originate in; when decisions will be finalised for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20858/06

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Jun 2006)

Catherine Murphy: Question 30: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the consideration she has given to the follow up care for patients who present with acute symptoms at private hospitals for conditions that are chronic in nature such as rheumatoid arthritis; her proposals for such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21131/06]

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Jun 2006)

Catherine Murphy: Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will establish a citizen's information type service in children's hospitals specifically designed to give parents who have received a diagnosis for their child that will require long-term health care, education and other types of support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21132/06]

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (1 Jun 2006)

Catherine Murphy: Question 232: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of persons employed by town councils in 2005 by town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21488/06]

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Catherine Murphy: We were assured last week that no criminal would walk as a result of the Supreme Court judgment, and that the crimes of sexual assault and rape were still on the Statute Book. I listened to the Minister this morning and ask where he was last week when we received replies from the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste. He tells us that he knew immediately that this decision could have extreme...

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Catherine Murphy: Cancellations and those who do not attend for their tests are making the system even more inefficient. I have heard from some people waiting for tests that they are almost afraid to go on holidays because they fear that notification of their tests will arrive. Those to whom I refer have waited a substantial period for tests. It seems that market research could be carried out in respect of...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (7 Jun 2006)

Catherine Murphy: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter of urgent national and local importance: the need to move beyond the existing sex offenders register as purely a means of notification and towards a multi-agency approach with the aim of reducing re-offending. Such an approach, in addition to monitoring the whereabouts of those on the register, should...

Special Educational Needs. (7 Jun 2006)

Catherine Murphy: I am pleased that this matter was selected on the Adjournment. A purpose built unit was constructed in 2003 in Celbridge specifically for children with autism. Three years later, the two classrooms, which would cater for up to 12 children, have not been opened. This is not because no children require these places. I am personally aware of several children who require such a place within a...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (7 Jun 2006)

Catherine Murphy: Question 72: To ask the Minister for Transport the liability the Government will assume in the event of the sale of Aer Lingus to the workers transferred from Aer Lingus to Team Aer Lingus; the status of the guarantees and assurances given to the workers by the Government at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21852/06]