Results 941-960 of 1,966 for speaker:Mary Henry

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2005)

Mary Henry: The strength of this legislation is in its ratification.

Seanad: Mental Health Services. (26 Jan 2005)

Mary Henry: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, of whose interest in the area of mental health I am aware. The Minister for Health and Children has made a resolution of the chaotic situation in accident and emergency departments a major objective of her term of office. However, this problem is caused by a lack of staff, beds and funding in other areas. Too frequently we focus on...

Seanad: Tsunami Disaster: Statements. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Tsunami Disaster: Statements. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I welcome some of the points in his speech. It is very important that the delivery of aid will be monitored by the UN and that we will give assistance in this respect. While promises were certainly made regarding the Iranian earthquake in Bam, apparently only one fifth of the money promised turned up. I am extremely glad that the Government did...

Seanad: Tsunami Disaster: Statements. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: No one would want that idea to become accepted. I would prefer it if we could try to get back to our original aim. When the reconstruction of tourist resorts takes place, could we remind those involved that the destruction of the ecosystem in parts of Thailand where tourist resorts are built may have contributed to the devastation in such areas? Mangrove swamps have been completely removed...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I am delighted to hear a Government Senator, such as Senator White, speaking with such courage and conviction on this important issue.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: She is absolutely right — the child care situation here is appalling. It is more difficult for people to bring up their children in this country than anywhere else. When one considers that we have always placed such emphasis on the child within the family, it is extraordinary that we should be in this deplorable situation. I salute Senator White's courage in raising this matter. I hope the...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is as well part of his speech was optimistic and pointed out positive developments. All Members are disappointed at the turn of events because considerable work has been invested in recent years by all Governments and many Members of both Houses in the effort to bring to a conclusion the problem in Northern Ireland. During the Minister of...

Seanad: Waste Disposal. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I have an interest to declare in that I am a director of a company that imports equipment and materials for the tyre remoulding industry. I hasten to add that I do not receive any payment for it. I, like many others, am very concerned about the disposal of waste tyres. There has been a great increase in the number of cars and other motor vehicles...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I previously asked the Leader of the House for a debate on the Mental Health Commission report for 2003. I am sure she has it on her list. However, it looks like the Central Mental Hospital lands in Dundrum is to be sold without any suggestion that the money will be ring-fenced for mental health projects. It could be used to fund the entire prison complex in north County Dublin, which will...

Seanad: Human Rights Abuses. (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I thank Senator Ross for sharing his time. This is a very serious case. Mr. Bennett has been subjected to the most terrible conditions in prison and has lost a couple of stone in weight. The question of whether he has contracted tuberculosis remains to be seen. We must object strongly on this aspect of the case, not just from Mr. Bennett's point of view, but also from the point of view of all...

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I must ask the Senator to conclude.

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I will have to impose penalties.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I support Senator White's amendment, and Senator Kett put the case very well also. The situation for people with disabled children can be very serious and this proposal could make a great difference at a time when the child may have a serious problem that has to be dealt with.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I too hope the Minister will look again at this issue because it is going to be null and void for a large section of the population. Many people would subject themselves to poverty if they were to leave their employment to take up these added benefits. I must declare an interest in a particular group, namely single parents. I am the chairperson of One Family, formerly Cherish, which...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I am always delighted when Senator White refers to the fact that she had to leave her job when she married as I did too. I am quite relieved Senator John Paul Phelan is not here as the last time I made the point, he stood up to say his mother had to do so also. It demonstrated that there has been a change in the age profile in the Seanad. We are discriminating against people who cannot afford...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I support these amendments. The flexibility could easily be needed, for example, if people were trying to plan ahead regarding various doctors' visits and so on. They are not designed to make life more difficult for businesses. I would have thought it was designed so that better planning could be engaged in regarding the person going back to work.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I support Senator O'Toole in this amendment. I am horrified that any employer could not see such situations as an emergency. The provision must also be considered in the context of proposed medical treatment. If a doctor is dealing with a minor, he or she must have parental consent for any required treatment. We do not want the situation to arise that since a parent was docked pay on one...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: The school would phone.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (9 Feb 2005)

Mary Henry: I am glad that Senator O'Toole pointed out with regard to this issue that people did not need to be in a sexual relationship because the important aspect of the amendment is that it involves people acting in the role of parent or the child.