Results 841-860 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome the Minister to the House. Many good comments have been made on the heads of this Bill. Like others, I welcome this process of change but recognise change comes slowly and cannot be all together. I say, “Well done” to the Minister for being in the Chamber for this debate even if there are other jobs that need to be done. Senator Bacik referred to the difficulties...

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: The Senator should not have walked into that one.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: I pay tribute to Christine Buckley whose death was announced yesterday for her courage and strength in raising the difficult issue of the abuse of children in State institutions. She fought her fight with dignity until the end. Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time. I welcome the Garda Inspectorate's reform proposals, about which I hope we will hear more later. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: Let them eat chocolate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (12 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: The Wild Atlantic Way involves a considerable investment of money. One of the key issues emphasised in the plan is proper signage. This is a golden opportunity to assist the petitioner and others in ensuring proper signage is put in place. It is a great idea but it will not work without signage. I hope the petitioner can take that seriously and that it will work in a way that addresses...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (12 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: Bring it on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (12 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: The Government has made its position clear in regard to this matter. It is completely opposed to these practices. We start from that position and, therefore, the claims made by the petitioners are very serious, not least in respect of the allegation that gardaí at Shannon Airport were advised by the Attorney General not to search or investigate aircraft. This is a serious matter and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (12 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: All petitioners will argue that they have been meticulous, and we will treat them as such. We will treat each of them as meticulous, but in their meticulousness they must provide sufficient evidence to back up any claim they make, whoever they are and on whatever occasion they come here, and in that case they would, hopefully, get a fair hearing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (12 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: The argument for the legalisation of cannabis has raged for years and it generally falls into two camps, namely, health and crime, which divide the issue. In a way, I am quite delighted to see it raised at our committee, even though I do not think this is the right one to deal with it. It does not really fall into the matter of oversight or public policy. However, it is very close to the...

Seanad: Beef Industry: Motion (26 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: I second the amendment. I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I accept his views in regard to a regulator and appreciate that would not send the right signals at a time when much work has been done by many, not least the Minister, in respect of the beef industry. I am aware that his main concern is that we protect and continue to grow the beef industry in Ireland. The number of...

Seanad: Beef Industry: Motion (26 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: That is rich.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (26 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: The response from RTE is thorough and sets out the position not only on the people whom it employs on-screen who may come from an ethnic background but also the content of programmes and what it is hoping and planning to do. RTE makes the point that because of its constrained circumstances it is not enagaged in much recruitment at this time. However, I would like to seek Mr. Sharkey's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (26 Mar 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: It is good to receive petitions from members of the public which are positive. Many of the petitions we receive concern dilemmas and difficulties being experienced by people. This petition is refreshing and I am grateful to the petitioner for sending it to us.

Seanad: Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (2 Apr 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Apr 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister of State for an extremely thorough presentation on a relatively small Bill, although a very important one. Other Senators alluded to the fact we live in a strange time where the world is shrinking and where we talk about globalisation and large corporations all the time and yet where co-operatives, in particular, have a very special place in our culture in Ireland....

Seanad: Participation in Sport: Motion (2 Apr 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for being with us. I thank the Fine Gael Senators for raising this issue because it gives us an opportunity to show-off a bit, I guess, about our own area. As we all know, sport in the community is strong and we are lucky to have so many who are so dedicated to sport for both adults and children. In many ways, the profile of sport has changed. It used to be just a case...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Equality Budgeting Petition: Equality Budgeting Campaign (2 Apr 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank the witnesses for coming here and for bringing this petition. The ship of state moves awfully slowly and it changes even more slowly. I say that because it is true. Any changes people try to introduce will also be achieved slowly. However, while there have been observations about the way we have a last-minute budget - having spoken to various Ministers, they say there is always a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Equality Budgeting Petition: Equality Budgeting Campaign (2 Apr 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: I meant to imply I assumed that it existed. I was apologising for not knowing about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Equality Budgeting Petition: Equality Budgeting Campaign (2 Apr 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: We know that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Equality Budgeting Petition: Equality Budgeting Campaign (2 Apr 2014)

Susan O'Keeffe: Yes, it does.