Results 821-840 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: ——only two have been discussed. It is an absolute disgrace.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not agreed. It is disgraceful.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are 20 amendments to the Bill and only two of them have been discussed. It is an outrage.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Earlier Signature Motion (20 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We want a walk through vote.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Earlier Signature Motion (20 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I also did the same.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I received a letter from the Cathaoirleach before I came to the Chamber which stated he did not intend to take any further the matter of the vote which was not called on the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009. We had a number of serious concerns about the fact that a vote was not taken by you, a Chathaoirigh, despite a vote having been called for by Senators Norris, Cummins and others....

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Despite all the talk by the Government about partnership, the legislation was rushed through the House last week. Some 18 amendments were tabled by Fine Gael but not even the first one was reached that evening. I would like an assurance from the Leader that important legislation will not be rushed through in that manner without adequate time. It was really important legislation yet not...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have discussed this matter in the House a number of times. It is clear that Members on all sides are concerned about this case. An all-party motion should be tabled and agreed by the House to allow Pamela Izevbekhai and her daughters to remain in the country.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The guidelines are not being implemented.

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We are discussing this matter in the context of the appalling revelations about a family in Roscommon where there was abuse and neglect over many years and the children were not protected. I imagine this report will shed light on a very dark corner of our history. More than 1,000 victims of abuse have been interviewed by the commission. Obviously we support the extension of the...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I say that as an aside. It is an incredible sum of money to investigate a sad part of our history and how it has affected individuals. I want to make the point about the commission.

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will conclude on this. I appreciate this is not strictly the brief of the Minister of State. However, we need to have interconnectedness between the work he is doing and that of the Minister of State with responsibility for children. The investigation into the Roscommon case clearly should be an independent investigation. I know the person appointed as chair, who I am sure will do a...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: ——but also the school, the community and the court decisions that were taken. The terms of reference simply do not allow for that, which is very disturbing. On a day when the Seanad is discussing the issue of 1,000 people who have been abused in various residential settings and a report on it costing €79 million, which will be well spent if it prevents the sort of abuse it will...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (27 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: —— to subpoena witnesses is simply unacceptable. It is bad governance on the part of the Government and bad decision making. I hope it will be changed before the inquiry begins.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the Dáil yesterday the Taoiseach said he would come back to the Lower House when he had a policy and agreements with the social partners. That approach is reflected in the Seanad, but it is a reversal of what any good business would do. Before deciding on how to manage a business in a difficult economic environment, involving cutbacks, managers would discuss the matter with their team,...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Today's edition of The Irish Times contains a copy of the Government's framework document on economic renewal. It has been raised several times in the Dáil and the Seanad that when they returned, they both had a general debate on the future of the economy without the Government outlining any of its plans, policies or details. Very little thought was given to the role of the Dáil and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was not good enough to have the general debate we had this week. Yesterday's display by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and other Ministers, in dealing with the debate in the Dáil was appalling. They did not come with any detailed plans from their Departments or detail how they intended to handle the crisis. They did not speak on priorities or cutbacks and where they...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will oppose the Order of Business if the Leader cannot arrange for the Government to send a representative, preferably the Minister for Finance, to the House to outline to us the Government's plans. I understand the Dáil is being briefed at 4 p.m. today and I would ask that the Seanad is also briefed today on the Government's plans, given the breakdown and failure of the social...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Please, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: A framework document was published in The Irish Times the next day.