Results 921-940 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I will not hold up the Order of Business. All the points have been raised. I welcome the call for a debate on energy and the points raised by Senator Quinn on the role of Bord Gáis and ESB. I do not know what their role is anymore and I would welcome a debate on that issue. We should have an ongoing debate on the economy. Given the nature of what I am hearing and the statements and...

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a contribution on this awful crisis in the Middle East. As with everyone in the House and people throughout the country, I have been deeply shocked by the recent events in the Middle East and the impact they have had on the efforts to bring about peace. Ireland's invasion of Gaza and its...

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I beg the Senator's pardon.

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: Israel's invasion of Gaza and its disproportionate ground and air assaults have caused untold human misery, devastated local infrastructure and set back peace efforts, possibly by years. The devastation, tragedy and human misery brought by Israel's disproportionate response to rocket attacks on its own people have severely damaged the cause of peace. The bombing of United Nations facilities...

Seanad: Report on Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann: Statements (25 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am a very fair-minded person and I am delighted to be here because all contributions so far, even Senator Buttimer's, have been very constructive.

Seanad: Report on Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann: Statements (25 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I love constructive thinking rather than talking the talk, as we do much of the time here. At long last we have what I would call a brainstorming exercise. I do not have great knowledge on this area. I did not have time to read the report. I scanned it this morning and, from my scanning, I can see there is much more to read in it. I would love to have a more detailed debate on it....

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: That is all right. I listened to the comments of many speakers and it is evident we are still on the blame game. I want to get away from that. Of course we have to blame the banks and the Financial Regulator who misrepresented the solvency of the bank. They have damaged the reputation of this country but let us get away from that. I would welcome an ongoing debate on the economy where...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I will not condemn him until I know something about him. Here we go again, before the man has time to think about his appointment he has been knocked straight away as if he has no hope——

Seanad: Middle East Conflict: Motion (26 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: Is it in order to share time with Senator Ó Murchú?

Seanad: Middle East Conflict: Motion (26 Feb 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State. I am also pleased to speak on this motion on the conflict in the Middle East. Like everyone else I was shocked by the recent events there and the impact they have had on the efforts to bring about peace. During the three-week war in Gaza no respect was shown for human rights and ground and air assaults caused untold human misery resulting in more than 1,000...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (3 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I also endorse the call for an ongoing discussion on the economy, especially on financial services regulation as raised by many Members. For one, I know very little about the regulator's role, the work he does and what will be the new regulatory role. The public wants to feel comfortable that the new regulations will be transparent. Many want to understand the role and function which up to...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (3 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I did not interrupt the Senator when she spoke. How dare she interrupt me now.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (3 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: The Senator is so rude it is unbelievable.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (3 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I want the Minister to return to the House to give the facts as he always does. It is out of order for the Senator to suggest otherwise.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I endorse some of the points raised by Senator Bradford. It is important that we all work together. All heads must work on this serious issue, the fact that we must increase taxation and cut expenditure. Nobody knows what will come at us next week. I would welcome an all-party debate in this House to put all our heads together. I am sure many ideas would come from the other side that I...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: We have to work together to do this. There is no other way.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I agree with my colleagues in condemning the brutal murders in the North. I extend my sympathy to the families of those murdered and injured. The exercise is purely to derail the political process and put down a trap to lure the British troops back on to the streets. As many have said, there is no going back. As Senator Harris said, if the names are known, and they are known, they should...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: Ba mhaith liom an Ghaeilge a labhairt, ach níl mórán focail agam. Tá suim agam mo chuid Gaeilge a fheabhsú. Tá mé ag freastal ar rang Gaeilge chun é sin a dhéanamh. I welcome this afternoon's debate on Irish, to which I will listen. I do not have enough confidence to make a contribution, but I hope to be able to do so in future. The House discussed social partnership and whether...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am delighted to be here to make another contribution on how best to reform the Seanad. This matter has been raised several times since I first came to this House in 1993. Several debates have been held on the subject of how best to reform the Seanad for the 21st century. I have read the report and I have scanned it again and again, and there are two...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Ann Ormonde: ——who to me have been elected by the public, and they elect us. Are we suggesting that people who have been elected are not good enough to elect us to the Seanad? That, to me, is democracy. For somebody to say to me that there should be a list system——