Results 921-940 of 7,123 for speaker:Mary O'Rourke

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: When I spoke on Second Stage, I brought up the fees issue. This is an enabling section, giving the Minister authority to introduce fees by regulation or some other means but it is too punitive. I ask him, as did the proposer and seconder, Senators O'Meara and McDowell, to look benignly at this section. It will cause hardship and limit the amount of information which may be obtained in various...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I would not bet on it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Has the Senator got the manifesto?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: It was.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: As Leader of the House, I would like to state this Bill has been debated for 27 hours in this House over all Stages. Any Bill that evokes so much debate is an important one and there is no point in saying it was rushed, rammed through or guillotined, as it was not.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I want to make that quite clear.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: We listened to Senator Ryan for a long time.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for Finance.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I listened to the Senator's rant this afternoon and I am entitled to a mini-rant of my own.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for Finance for contributing to the debate in such an attentive manner. It is rare that a senior Minister stays in the House for a full day but the Minister did so today and I appreciate it. I thank the Minister's officials, Niamh, Michael and Ronan, who were present for all 27 hours of the debate. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, who, as I said last...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: He said he would return with an amended version after the Bill had been considered in the Dáil.

Seanad: Tributes to Deputy Head Usher of the Houses of the Oireachtas. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I pay a well deserved tribute to the deputy head usher, Mr. Tony O'Reilly. I realise the name has other connotations, but for those of us who know Tony it means 32 years of service to Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas. He has been deputy head usher since 1991 and is essentially a very courteous and kind man who possesses the highest qualities. I know I speak for everyone when I say...

Seanad: Tributes to Deputy Head Usher of the Houses of the Oireachtas. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: He has remained so.

Seanad: Tributes to Deputy Head Usher of the Houses of the Oireachtas. (20 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the commencement of military action by a United States led coalition against Iraq, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and on which Senators may share time. There will be a sos from 1.30 p.m. until 2 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Senator Coghlan referred to the Competition Authority report on the professions, in particular, the legal and medical professions. For a long time Senator O'Toole has been calling for a for a debate on competition law. Perhaps the latest report could form the catalyst for such a debate for which I believe the Tánaiste would be interested in coming here. We will not be able to have a general...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: We do not. The way the war is being depicted strikes horror into me. It is being depicted like a third rate movie with bangs, illuminations and breathless commentary. These are heightening it as if it was an event with a capital "E" rather than the terrible thing it is. I watched it recently on Fox Television which portrayed it in a "gee, gosh, golly" way all the time. I am surprised at the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: Yes, I am conscious of that aspect. In relation to the references to RTE, I will make a telephone call to that body as soon as I get back to my office. "Oireachtas Report" involves both Houses and the proceedings in the Seanad are covered in quite some detail. I was not aware that an edition of "Oireachtas Report" is not included in tonight's television programme schedule. I will make...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: I move: That Seanad Éireann, noting the commencement of military action by a United States led coalition against Iraq; –reaffirms Ireland's commitment to the United Nations as the guarantor of collective global security and as the appropriate forum for the resolution of disputes threatening international peace and security; –condemns the continued refusal of the Government of Iraq over a...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

Mary O'Rourke: His time is up.