Results 721-740 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Committee Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I was about to ask the same question in respect of the Cathaoirligh of the various councils throughout the country who take time out to visit the US at this time of the year. What is the position in respect of these people? Can former Deputies and Senators apply for a diplomatic passport if they are on official business relating to an area in which they have a specific interest? Would they...

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Committee Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I am delighted to hear this. When the legislation comes into effect, perhaps we would alert county managers to the existence of this facility so that lord mayors and Cathaoirligh could apply because I am sure they are not aware of this and it would be an opportunity. When it is implemented, county and city managers should be alerted.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for a full debate on the breakdown of law and order and how alcohol abuse is damaging the fabric of society. I ask the Leader to consider a different format for this debate given that this is a cross-departmental issue. I propose a whole-day debate, bringing in the Ministers for Education and Science, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Social and Family...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: That is right.

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: Any misuse or abuse of a passport, whether the use of a false passport or the passport of another person, is a serious offence. While I understand Senator Alex White's position, I accept the points made by the Minister of State. It must be clearly spelt out that the abuse of a passport will not be tolerated.

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: This is an important issue. We are discussing two eventualities, the misuse of another person's passport and the falsification of a passport. The former offence is less serious than the latter.

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: The penalty for using another person's passport is a fine of up to €500. Is that correct?

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: Is the penalty for the offence of falsifying a passport an unlimited fine?

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I am satisfied with that clarification.

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Michael Kitt, and Members on all sides of the House for their contributions and easy passage of the Bill. The Committee Stage debate was worthwhile in teasing out certain points. Senator Alex White made me think about some of the issues he raised. I thank the Minister of State for facilitating us during Easter week....

Seanad: Sustainable Residential Development: Motion (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister and thank him for staying to listen to our statements on the guidelines. It is good he has submitted them for consultation, as it gives us an opportunity to brainstorm and reflect in advance of the Minister's return. Our discussion of the guidelines in conjunction with the planning laws is necessary. In the context of the guidelines, we may need to re-examine how the...

Seanad: Sustainable Residential Development: Motion (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: It will destroy the fabric of Donnybrook, Sandymount and Ballsbridge. I hope the high-rise development is not allowed to the extent proposed. I have taken a lead in this respect because it is of concern to the area, which I hope the Minister will acknowledge. The Minister stated that once-off housing was not included in the guidelines, which I accept. However, once-off housing is a part of...

Seanad: Sustainable Residential Development: Motion (19 Mar 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I hope the Minister will reflect our opinions on how to protect the heritage of our areas and ensure we respond to the past while building to the future.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I also endorse the call for the Taoiseach to come to the House so that we can pay tribute to him for his high achievements over the past 11 years and not listen to a list of negatives from people who have achieved nothing politically so far. We have a golden opportunity to do this. I would love to have a full debate on and full praise for the Taoiseach for his work over the past 11 years. ...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs: Motion (9 Apr 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs: Motion (9 Apr 2008)

Ann Ormonde: In that case, I am pleased to endorse the amendment. I listened to what other speakers stated on the motion and there is no doubt that the record of the State and successive Governments over decades in providing for children with special needs has been poor. We can all put up our hands and state that down through the years nothing has been done. It is only in the past couple of years that...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Ann Ormonde: He did not get back into Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Ann Ormonde: Dr. Garret FitzGerald did not get re-elected.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I, too, want to acknowledge the Taoiseach's role in the peace process on the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Without him we would not have reached this stage of peace. We have talked about many of the stakeholders who were involved in the peace process, but there is no question that without the Taoiseach and his facilitating skills, it would not have happened. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Ann Ormonde: I also support the call for a debate on the Tibet situation. At a meeting yesterday of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs I said that politics and sport should not mix. To boycott the Olympic Games is not the road to go down. It is important to have the Minister here so that a proper debate can take place. We understand that the Dalai Lama is due to visit England, and we have asked...