Results 941-960 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We are moving forward. We attend all the Minister's meetings weekly and I have to say he works hard.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Fianna Fáil will support this amendment today. Like previous speakers, I also was a councillor. I am aware that councillors are always asked to make submissions or observations on planning applications. It is all about transparency. This is a really good amendment and we in Fianna Fáil will support it.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will speak at the end before we vote on the Bill.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: On the final section of this Bill I wish to say a few words about the national planning framework. We are an island on the edge of Europe and we need to behave as if we want to become connected to Europe and not become just a place to take nice holidays. A key part of this national planning framework is to develop Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford as points of economic and...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I spoke on this.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Under a freedom of information request the article said "In a draft of the plans circulated in late January, a senior official at the Department of the Taoiseach emailed the Department of Public Expenditure to state: 'It’s weak on the South-East'" Senators have brought up many issues on this and when I wanted last week to put to a vote an amendment that never again should any national...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely, but I want to clarify that because I thought we should have had a vote then. It is important to me to highlight this today as I felt my amendment could not have been passed because the Minister of State, Deputy English, had told me that it would take too long, and yet this came out under a freedom of information request. I just wanted to clarify that.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am aware of that.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: There is no difference.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Minister has already launched the national planning framework, which should never happen again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Supply Project: Discussion (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with other speakers. Irish Water is getting great headlines again today with the proposed Shannon project. It is ironic that, for such a small country surrounded by water, we have a massive problem with water supply. I was in Tempe, Arizona, several years ago, which is surrounded by desert but has an excellent water supply. Looking at the Shannon as a source of water supply is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Supply Project: Discussion (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Is there something in the policy document on joined-up thinking between agencies, for example, gas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Supply Project: Discussion (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is important that the issue be considered. I would be happy as long as they reverted to me.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the two new Senators. We often have a few battles here but overall, everyone gets on extremely well. I echo what has been said regarding this disturbing information dripping from the HSE in the past few days. Thousands of women across Ireland have been on tenterhooks in case their telephone will ring to inform them that they are among those women who are walking around with...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I appreciate that. This is a major issue for the women of Ireland.

Seanad: Commencement Matter: Schools Building Contractors (3 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, for coming to the House. I am a bit disappointed that the Minister for Education and Skills is not here but I understand he is busy. I have a very serious issue to raise this morning which relates to my home town of Carlow. Two nights ago I met with very concerned subcontractors in Carlow who had worked on the construction of Tyndall...

Seanad: Commencement Matter: Schools Building Contractors (3 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Having heard the Minister of State's reply, I am not better off than I was in the aftermath of having a parliamentary question on the matter tabled to the Minister for Education and Skills on my behalf. It is good to know that the responsibility for payment to Sammon Contracting Ireland Limited lay with Carillion Construction Limited but the subcontractors are seeking a meeting with the NDFA...

Seanad: Commencement Matter: Schools Building Contractors (3 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I know that.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I second Senator Mark Daly's amendment to the Order of Business. It is crucial that the Minister should come to the House to discuss the relevant matter. I acknowledge the many Lyme disease patients from across Ireland who gathered outside Leinster House with their families and friends to highlight the plight of Irish sufferers of Lyme and tick-borne co-infections. We should do more to...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (3 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for coming before the House today. This is a really serious issue. Ms Vicky Phelan's case really is a tragedy that could have been avoided. She is a hero to all Irish women. She has been an example of what a woman can do. She was relentless, she was tireless, she was exhausted. She was a solitary soul fighting against the State. That is what she was. The Minister...